ccordingly, we must learn how
to distinguish among good works from the Commandments of God, and
not from the appearance, the magnitude, or the number of the
works themselves, nor from the judgment of men or of human law or
custom, as we see has been done and still is done, because we are
blind and despise the divine Commandments.

[Sidenote: Faith the Best Work]

II. The first and highest, the most precious of all good works is
faith in Christ, as He says, John vi. When the Jews asked Him:
"What shall we do that we may work the works of God?" He
answered: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom
He hath sent." [John 6:28 f.] When we hear or preach this word,
we hasten over it and deem it a very little thing and easy to do,
whereas we ought here to pause a long time and to ponder it well.
For in this work[6] all good works must be done and receive from
it the inflow of their goodness, like a loan. This we must put
bluntly, that men may understand it.

We find many who pray, fast, establish endowments, do this or
that, lead a good life before men, and yet if you should ask them
whether they are sure that what they do pleases God, they say,
"No"; they do not know, or they doubt. And there are some very
learned men, who mislead them, and say that it is not necessary
to be sure of this; and yet on the other hand, these same men do
nothing else but teach good works. Now all these works are done
outside of faith, therefore they are nothing and altogether dead.
For as their conscience stands toward God and as it believes, so
also are the works which grow out of it. Now they have no faith,
no good conscience toward God, therefore the works lack their
head, and all their life and goodness is nothing. Hence it comes
that when I exalt faith and reject such works done without faith,
they accuse me of forbidding good works, when in truth I am
trying hard to teach real good works of faith.

[Sidenote: All Works done in Faith are Good]

III. If you ask further, whether they count it also a good work
when they work at their trade, walk, stand, eat, drink, sleep,
and do all kinds of works for the nourishment of the body or for
the common welfare, and whether they believe that God takes
pleasure in them because of such works, you will find that they
say, "No"; and they define good works so narrowly that they are
made to consist only of praying in church, fasting, and
almsgiving. Other works they consider to be in vain