Preface.

Also, it has been sufficiently proven and demonstrated above from Holy Scripture that we become righteous and saved before God through the knowledge of Christ—that is, through faith in Christ—or that we receive and accept the righteousness and salvation that Christ has won for us through faith.

In this, the Holy Divine Scripture always excludes our works and merits, and those of all men, when it speaks of our justification, redemption, or salvation.

Romans 3. Therefore we hold that a man is justified without the works of the law.

Galatians 2. So that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh will be justified.

Ephesians 2. Not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast.

Acts 13. You could not be justified by the law of Moses.

In these cited verses of Scripture, not only are those works invented and devised by men excluded from our righteousness and salvation—as were most works under the Pabstumb Papacy—but also the works of the Law of God, which is more significant.

VII. Whoever does good works for his salvation denies faith and Christ.

Concerning the seventh, it is also to be known here that all people who add their good works to achieve something toward their redemption and salvation, or who wish to earn forgiveness of their sins, deliverance from the punishment of sin, or eternal life, deny the true faith in Christ through their deeds.