Walther: "Faith cannot be shut in."

Works are not necessary of themselves. In God's accounting they are not necessary at all for our salvation. But they are necessary for the sake of people, so that others would see Christians exercising their faith by works and so may praise the Father in heaven and accept Him as their God. Luther writes: 'Indeed, when there is faith, believers cannot help but do good works. Christians prove themselves, they break forth, in their good works. They confess their faith, teach people the Gospel, and risk their lives in the process.'

We should test our own faith by these remarks of Luther. Faith cannot be shut in. It is like a body of water that can be tapped. It rushes through any opening that is made for it. Believers are ready to serve anybody, wherever they can. They cannot help but profess the Gospel before other people; in fact, they bet their life on the Gospel.

Walther, Law and Gospel, p. 325

27th Evening Lecture, May 8th, 1885