1.
Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!
Martin Luther
Whoever quaffs beer, they slumber swiftly; whoever slumbers long, does not transgress; whoever does not transgress, ascends to Heaven! Therefore, let us swig beer!
2.
I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess.
Martin Luther
'I have held many possessions in my grasp, and they have all vanished; but the things I have entrusted to the Lord, those remain forever.'
3.
God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.
Martin Luther
Divine providence does not require your efforts, but your fellow man does.
4.
I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people joyful; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.
Martin Luther
5.
Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason-I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other-my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.
Martin Luther
6.
Lord Jesus, You are my righteousness, I am your sin. You took on you what was mine; yet set on me what was yours. You became what you were not, that I might become what I was not.
Martin Luther
'Lord Jesus, You are my justification, I am your transgression. You assumed what was mine; yet bestowed upon me what was yours. You morphed into something else, so that I could become something new.'
7.
God created the world out of nothing, and so long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.
Martin Luther
God fashioned the universe from oblivion, and so long as we are destitute, He can form something of worth from us.
8.
We need to hear the Gospel every day, because we forget it every day.
Martin Luther
It is essential that we are reminded of the Good News on a regular basis, as our memories can be fleeting.
9.
From the beginning of my Reformation I have asked God to send me neither dreams, nor visions, nor angels, but to give me the right understanding of His Word, the Holy Scriptures; for as long as I have God's Word, I know that I am walking in His way and that I shall not fall into any error or delusion.
Martin Luther
10.
A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.
Martin Luther
A faith that offers nothing, requires no investment, and entails no hardship is worthless.
11.
Pray like it all depends on God, then when you are done, go work like it all depends on you.
Martin Luther
'Invoke the divine as if your fate was in its hands, then when you are finished, act like success is entirely up to you.'
12.
No one can believe how powerful prayer is and what it can effect, except those who have learned it by experience. Whenever I have prayed earnestly, I have been heard and have obtained more than I prayed for. God sometimes delays, but He always comes.
Martin Luther
13.
The whole being of any Christian is faith and love. Faith brings the person to God, love brings the person to people.
Martin Luther
The entire essence of any Christian is trust and affection. Trust elicits the individual to God, affection brings them to others.
14.
When Satan tells me I am a sinner he comforts me immeasurably, since Christ died for sinners.
Martin Luther
When the devil reminds me of my iniquity, it is a tremendous solace knowing that Christ sacrificed Himself for the transgressors.
15.
The first thing I ask is that people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans but Christians. What is Luther? The teaching is not mine. Nor was I crucified for anyone...How did I, poor stinking bag of maggots that I am, come to the point where people call the children of Christ by my evil name?
Martin Luther
16.
A happy fart never comes from a miserable ass.
Martin Luther
'A content fart never emanates from a disgruntled posterior.'
17.
We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished.
Martin Luther
We are not yet at our full potential, but we are striving to reach it, and the journey is still ongoing.
18.
The sin underneath all our sins is to trust the lie of the serpent that we cannot trust the love and grace of Christ and must take matters into our own hands
Martin Luther
The fundamental transgression that lies beneath all our wrongdoings is to accept the falsehood of the serpent that we cannot trust in the mercy and benevolence of Christ and must take control into our own hands.
19.
A Christian is never in a state of completion but always in a process of becoming.
Martin Luther
A Christian is never settled but continually evolving.
20.
The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.
Martin Luther
The Bible is animated, it resonates with me; it has legs, it pursues me; it has arms, it grasps me.
21.
Every week I preach justification by faith to my people, because every week they forget it.
Martin Luther
Every week I advocate absolution by belief to my congregation, because every week they neglect it.
22.
We must make a great difference between God's Word and the word of man. A man's word is a little sound, that flies into the air, and soon vanishes; but the Word of God is greater than heaven and earth, yea, greater than death and hell, for it forms part of the power of God, and endures everlastingly.
Martin Luther
23.
A simple layman armed with Scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it
Martin Luther
A humble worshipper equipped with the Bible is more powerful than the most influential pontiff without it.
24.
The bible is a remarkable fountain: the more one draws and drinks of it, the more it stimulates thirst.
Martin Luther
The bible is an incredible spring: the more one partakes of it, the more one hungers for it.
25.
Lord, grant that anger or other bitterness does not reign over us, but that your grace, genuine kindness, loyalty, and every kind of friendliness, generosity, and gentleness may reign in us. Amen
Martin Luther
Oh Lord, may we not be ruled by wrath but instead be blessed with your graciousness, benevolence, devotion and all forms of cordiality, munificence and amiability. Amen.
26.
We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.
Martin Luther
'Our redemption is through trust alone, yet the trust that brings salvation never exists in isolation.'
27.
Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man would stake his life on it one thousand times. This confidence in God's grace and knowledge of it makes men glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and with all creatures; and this is the work of the Holy Ghost in faith.
Martin Luther
28.
The prosperity of a country depends, not on the abundance of its revenues, nor on the strength of its fortifications, nor on the beauty of its public buildings; but it consists in the number of its cultivated citizens, in its men of education, enlightenment and character.
Martin Luther
29.
There are some of us who think to ourselves, 'If I had only been there! How quick I would have been to help the Baby. I would have washed His linen. How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manger!' Why don't we do it now? We have Christ in our neighbor.
Martin Luther
30.
Show me where a man spends his time & money, and I'll show you his god.
Martin Luther
'Demonstrate a person's dedication by the allocation of their resources and I will reveal their highest priority.'
31.
May a merciful God preserve me from a Christian Church in which everyone is a saint! I want to be and remain in the church and little flock of the fainthearted, the feeble and the ailing, who feel and recognize the wretchedness of their sins, who sigh and cry to God incessantly for comfort and help, who believe in the forgiveness of sins.
Martin Luther
32.
The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man was the idea that somehow he could make himself good enough to deserve to live with an all-holy God.
Martin Luther
The most abhorrent and destructive delusion that has ever infected the consciousness of humankind was the notion that they could render themselves sufficiently righteous to be allowed to coexist with an all-divine Being.
33.
I am much afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which means are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must be corrupt.
Martin Luther
34.
Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.
Martin Luther
Even if I was aware that tomorrow the world would collapse, I would still sow my apple tree.
35.
As long as we live there is never enough singing.
Martin Luther
As long as we breathe, the melody never ceases.
36.
The world doesn't want to be punished. It wants to remain in darkness. It doesn't want to be told that what it believes is false. If you also don't want to be corrected, then you might as well leave the church and spend your time at the bar and brothel. But if you want to be saved-and remember that there's another life after this one-you must accept correction.
Martin Luther
37.
Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.
Martin Luther
Encourage the spouse to create a warm atmosphere in which the other partner is delighted to arrive home and regretful to depart.
38.
Pray, and let God worry.
Martin Luther
Entreat, and permit Providence to take care of it.
39.
Prayer is climbing up into the heart of God.
Martin Luther
Invocation is ascending into the bosom of God.
40.
I simply taught, preached, wrote God's Word: otherwise I did nothing. The Word of God did it all.
Martin Luther
I merely relayed, proclaimed, communicated God's Word: otherwise I did naught. The Word of God accomplished it all.
41.
To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
Martin Luther
To be a Christian without prayer is no more achievable than to exist without respiration.
42.
Now the Church is not wood and stone, but the company of believing people; one must hold to them, and see how they believe, live and teach.
Martin Luther
The Church is not simply a physical building, but rather an assembly of devoted individuals; one must adhere to them, and observe how they believe, behave and instruct.
43.
God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
Martin Luther
Divinity inscribes the epistle not just in Scriptures, but also in foliage, and through the petals, cumulus, and stellar bodies.
44.
Temptations, of course, cannot be avoided, but because we cannot prevent the birds from flying over our heads, there is no need that we should let them nest in our hair.
Martin Luther
We can't avoid being lured by enticements, but since we cannot prevent the birds from soaring above us, there is no reason to permit them to make their home in our locks.
45.
It is not necessary for a preacher to express all his thoughts in one sermon. A preacher should have three principles: first, to make a good beginning, and not spend time with many words before coming to the point; secondly, to say that which belongs to the subject in chief, and avoid strange and foreign thoughts; thirdly, to stop at the proper time.
Martin Luther
46.
I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!
Martin Luther
'I accept my culpability for the consequences of my wrongdoings, what does it matter? For I am aware that Someone endured and redeemed me. He is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is, I shall be too!'
47.
Peace if possible, truth at all costs.
Martin Luther
Harmony if achievable, accuracy regardless.
48.
Whenever the devil harasses you, seek the company of men or drink more, or joke and talk nonsense, or do some other merry thing. Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves, and even sin a little to spite the devil, so that we leave him no place for troubling our consciences with trifles. We are conquered if we try too conscientiously not to sin at all. So when the devil says to you: do not drink, answer him: I will drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to.
Martin Luther
49.
But know that to serve God is nothing else than to serve your neighbor and do good to him in love, be it a child, wife, servant, enemy, friend....If you do not find yourself among the needy and the poor, where the Gospel shows us Christ, then you may know that your faith is not right, and that you have not yet tasted of Christ's benevolence and work for you.
Martin Luther
50.
I have so much to do today, I'll need to spend another hour on my knees.
Martin Luther
I have so much to do today, I'll need to spend another hour in earnest prayer.
