Luther: "We are not impressed when our opponents are offended and shout that no good will come of the preaching of the Gospel.... We who believe see the enormous and innumerable benefits and results of the Gospel, even though outwardly and temporarily we are oppressed by many evils, despised, despoiled, slandered, condemned... put to death, and inwardly crushed by the consciousness of our sin and vexed by demons. For we are alive in Christ, in whom and through whom we are kings and lords over sin, death, the flesh, the world, hell, and every evil.... Therefore the doctrine of justification must be learned diligently; it alone can strengthen us against those endless offenses and comfort us in all trials and persecutions" — AE 26:452-53
Luther wrote this in the 1500s. I wonder why so many followers of Jesus have lost this amount of confidence in their faith. Now, it seems we believe we must fight as though the battle is not won.
