Martin Luther's Position on the Justification of a Christian

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Theology Essay 1
Introduction
Can a believer be justified by faith alone? This question led Martin Luther to write “On the Freedom of a Christian.” Luther had earlier written the “Ninety-five Thesis,” which questioned the doctrines of the Catholic Church. In this piece, Luther continues his attack on Papacy. He seeks to understand how the Pope is the authority of the Church and not the scriptures. In questioning his authority, Luther pokes holes in the popular doctrine of justification by works. Instead, Luther demonstrates from the scriptures that faith in God alone is sufficient to justify a Christian.
Author’s Line of Thought
Luther's line of thought falls under three major areas. Firstly, Luther demonstrates that Christians are made righteous by faith in Christ. He enforces the idea that works alone are not sufficient to make individuals righteous. Instead, such works only create enslaved hypocrites. It is through faith alone that the Word of God can be cherished. Luther indicates that the soul requires only the Word for its life and righteousness, hence justification comes through faith alone (Luther 58). In other words, if justification was by anything else, then the Word be irrelevant, and hence it would not need faith. Luther believes that it is through trusting in the promise of God that the Christian does not need to adhere to the demands of the law.
Secondly, since justification is by faith alone, the Christian is free from the requirements of the law. The law’s commandments are a burden to the Christian. While God has provided the commandments, He has fulfilled them on behave of the Christian in Christ. God’s promises offer what the commandments demand and fulfill what the law outlines. Given that God has fulfilled the demands of the law in Christ and applied them via faith, the Christian is free from the servitude of the commandments. Here, the Christian does not need to do any work in God’s favor. The Christian needs faith in Christ alone to experience the liberty in Christ.
Lastly, Luther demonstrates that the Christian is servant of all while free. Luther sees the criticism that may arise from the abuse of grace. Here, skeptics may oppose justification by faith because of the possible abuse of grace where people are free to sin as they please (Luther 78). Luther responds to such criticism by indicating that faith changes individuals. Justification by faith is an inward act that produces good works. While works do not justify anyone, they emerge out of love in obedience to God. The changed heart through faith loves to obey God. Such a heart of faith has an overflow in obedience to God and serves those in need. Again, while Christians are free from all, they choose to be servants to all. It is through faith that Christians serve their neighbors.
Analysis
The material can be understood within the context of two major events; Renaissance and reformation. Luther wrote the piece during the European Renaissance, a time of change and advancement in art literature. Scholars and scientists were making discoveries and presenting them to the public stylized yet approachable manner. Luther’s style resonates with writers of this period. At the same time, the piece reflects the Reformation period. It started in 1517 when Martin Luther wrote the “Ninety-five Thesis.” While serving as a monk and devoted to Biblical theology in the Roman Catholic Church, Luther discovered that the church had instituted traditions and practices that did not have a biblical basis. Luther indicated the need for the Roman Catholic Church to return to the belief that the Bible is the sole authority for a Christian, not man-made ideas (Luther 57). As a result, Luther became an enemy of the Roman Catholic Church. He was later excommunicated and forced into hiding, where he continued to write and teach what he believed.
The Freedom of a Christian is Luther’s third treatise. Unlike the other two treatises, Luther wrote The Freedom of a Chri...