I wish to know the condition of your soul, namely, whether you have at last come to hate your own righteousness and, instead, desire to rejoice in the righteousness of Christ and to be of good cheer because of it. For these day, people are desperately tempted to be arrogant, particularly people who work mightily to be righteous and godly and who do not know of the immaculate righteousness of God that is freely given in Christ. For this reason they keep searching for something good in themselves, until they become confident that they can pass muster before God as people who are properly dressed with virtuous and meritorious deeds—all of which is impossible. While you were with us, you held this opinion, or rather, this error—just as I did. For my part, I am still wrestling with this error and am not quite rid of it yet. Therefore, my dear brother, learn Christ—Christ crucified. Learn to sing praises to Him and to despair completely of your own works.
Martin Luther, Letter to George Spenlein, 1516
Cited in C.F.W. Walther, Law & Gospel, (St. Louis: Concordia, 2010), 123.
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