Bondage of the Will - Luther - XX - Conclusion, Appendix 1-2

Required reading
The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the Conclusion, Appendix 1 and Appendix 2.
 
My summary
This week we conclude Luther's book.

Firstly we read his conclusion which gives:
(i) his primary reasons for believing in the bondage of the will;
(ii) a personal appeal to Erasmus and his readers to assent to his view.

Secondly we read two of Luther's letters to friends about Erasmus.  The longer letter to Nicolas Armsdoff was written to provide reasons why Luther won't respond to Erasmus' teachings any longer.

What grabbed me
The conclusion was excellent.  Luther succinctly laid out his reasons for denying free will:

'For if we believe it to be true, that God fore-knows and fore-ordains all things; that He can be neither deceived nor hindered in His Prescience and Predestination; and that nothing can take place but according to His Will, (which reason herself is compelled to confess;) then, even according to the testimony of reason herself, there can be no “Free-will” — in man, — in angel, — or in any creature!

Hence: — If we believe that Satan is the prince of this world, ever ensnaring and fighting against the kingdom of Christ with all his powers; and that he does not let go his captives without being forced by the Divine Power of the Spirit; it is manifest, that there can be no such thing as — “Free-will!”

Again: — If we believe that original sin has so destroyed us, that even in the godly who are led by the Spirit, it causes the utmost molestation by striving against that which is good; it is manifest, that there can be nothing left in a man devoid of the Spirit, which can turn itself towards good, but which must turn towards evil!

Again: — If the Jews, who followed after righteousness with all their powers, ran rather into unrighteousness, while the Gentiles who followed after unrighteousness attained unto a free righteousness which they never hoped for; it is equally manifest, from their very works, and from experience, that man, without grace, can do nothing but will evil!

Finally: — If we believe that Christ redeemed men by His blood, we are compelled to confess, that the whole man was lost: otherwise, we shall make Christ superfluous, or a Redeemer of the grossest part of man only, — which is blasphemy and sacrilege!'

The last reason has to be one of the strongest!

Next week's reading
Commence The attraction of the cross by Gardiner Spring (Available from Amazon or free here) by reading Chapter 1 (The narrative of the cross).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.