They Just Do It

This morning's writing in Treasury of Daily Prayer was an excellent quote from C.F.W. Walther - 1st President of the LCMS. Enjoy:

(Luther) taught that good works do not save a person, but only faith, without good works...He did not say that, to be saved, a person must have faith and, in addition to that, good works, or love; but he did teach that those who would be saved must have a faith that produces love spontaneously and is fruitful in good works. That does not mean that faith saves on account of love which springs from it, but that the faith which the Holy Spirit creates and which cannot but do good works justifies because it clings to the gracious promises of Christ and because it lays hold of Christ. It is active in good works because it is genuine faith. The believer need not at all be exhorted to do good works; his faith does them automatically. The believer engages in good works, not from a sense of duty, in return for the forgiveness of his sins, but chiefly because he cannot help doing them. It is altogether impossible that genuine faith should not break forth from the believer's heart in works of love.

- C.F.W. Walther

Some may ask, "Where does it say that in the Bible?" The one that immediately comes to my mind is one of my favorites:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17.