Faith is usually listed as a Christian virtue, but I don't think Martin Luther would have looked at it that way. As human beings, we tend to think of virtue as an admirable quality that we can develop through hard work and discipline. or that we can choose to cultivate. Luther saw faith as a gift from God, totally unmerited. As he says in this quote:
"... faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are. Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many words."
In a sense, all the virtues flow from faith, and faith comes from God.
""We are nothing with all our gifts be they ever so great, except God assist us." Martin Luther
Can we grow in our faith and in virtuous living? For sure! Through practices of piety like worship, Holy communion, prayer and study, we mature and deepen our faith and our desire to please God in our actions. However, it all starts with abiding in Him.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing." John 15:5
For more posts about faith see:
Humility and Faith
Resilient Faith by Lewis and Sarah Allen–Book Review
Bold: Moving Forward in Faith not Fear by Sean Feucht–Book Review
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