I have been asked many times whether a person can be saved without faith in Jesus Christ. Martin Luther answered this question in a letter and I would like to share a portion of his response with you. Notice that Luther begins with a consideration of the spiritual condition of the person asking the question, and ends by pointing the questioner to Christ.
A Letter to Hans von Rechenberg on the Question Whether a Person who Dies Without Faith Can Be Saved
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Therefore, gracious sir, I counsel that you consider who is concerned with this question and with whom it is discussed. In accord with that, I enjoin either speech or silence. If the people are rationalistic, presumptuous, and disputatious, eschew the question promptly; but if they are simple, spiritual, profoundly tried and tested in the faith, then no more useful question than this can be treated. For just as strong wine is the death of children, it is a refreshing draught of life for old people. In view of this, you cannot discuss all kinds of doctrine with just anyone.
Now for our answer we have formidable passages of Scripture [to the effect] that God cannot and will not save anyone without faith. Mark 16:16 says, “He who does not believe will be lost.” Also Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Also John 3:5, “Whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Also John 3:18, “He who does not believe is condemned already.”
If God were to save anyone without faith, he would be acting contrary to his own words and would give himself the lie; yes, he would deny himself. And that is impossible for, as St. Paul declares, God cannot deny himself [2 Timothy 2:13]. It is as impossible for God to save without faith as it is impossible for divine truth to lie. That is clear, obvious, and easily understood, no matter how reluctant the old wineskin is to hold this wine—yes, is unable to hold and contain it.
It would be quite a different question whether God can impart faith to some in the hour of death or after death so that these people could be saved through faith. Who would doubt God’s ability to do that? No one, however, can prove that he does do this. For all that we read is that he has already raised people from the dead and thus granted them faith. But whether he gives faith or not, it is impossible for anyone to be saved without faith. Otherwise every sermon, the gospel, and faith would be vain, false, and deceptive, since the entire gospel makes faith necessary…….
Gracious sir, that is what my love for you prompts me to write to you. And I ask you, gracious sir, do not let the presumptuous and capricious spirits have their way in this matter; but, as I said, confine them to Christ’s humanity, and let them first gain strength and be taught until they have matured sufficiently. For why should the man Christ have been given us as a ladder to the Father if we ignore him and bypass him and presume to ascend to heaven and measure God’s judgment by our own reason? Whatever is necessary for us to know is taught us best in Christ’s humanity, since he is our Mediator and no one can come to the Father except through him. When Philip inquired for a way to the Father other than Christ, Christ told him, “I am the gate and the way” [John 14:6], for in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [Colossians 2:3].
Herewith I commend you, gracious sir, to God’s grace; and I gladly offer you my Christian services at all times.
Written in Wittenberg on the Monday after the Day of the Assumption of Mary, 1522.
Martinus Luther
Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 43 : Devotional Writings II, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann, Luther’s Works (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999, c1968). 43:III-55.
