--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Luther’s words, “Good works are not…" description: "\"“In Luther’s words, “Good works are not the cause, but the fruit of righteousness.”3 It is a very common mistake when one is a new believer, that if yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d49/patrick-davis-13750_justice_in-luther-s-words-good-works-are-not-the_926742.jpg" --- # In Luther’s words, “Good works are not the cause, but the… ![“In Luther’s words, “Good works are not the cause, but the fruit of righteousness.”3 It is a very common mistake when one is a new believer, that if you just try a little harder, then just maybe this time, you can get it right. Actually, that is not at all Biblical, and we only need Paul’s reminder…” quote by Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d49/patrick-davis-13750_justice_in-luther-s-words-good-works-are-not-the_926742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d49/patrick-davis-13750_justice_in-luther-s-words-good-works-are-not-the_926742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d49/patrick-davis-13750_justice_in-luther-s-words-good-works-are-not-the_926742.jpg) > ““In Luther’s words, “Good works are not the cause, but the fruit of righteousness.”3 It is a very common mistake when one is a new believer, that if you just try a little harder, then just maybe this time, you can get it right. Actually, that is not at all Biblical, and we only need Paul’s reminder that that which he would do, he cannot, and that which he would not do, he does. We are in a terrible dilemma when we depend on our own flesh to try to get things right, and it is usually something a new Christian learns quickly.”” [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage warns that good works are a result of righteousness, not a means to achieve it, and that reliance on personal effort leads to spiritual struggle. **In simple terms:** Righteousness produces good works; effort alone can’t earn salvation. Key Takeaway Trust divine grace over self‑effort. Themes grace faith humility Mood thoughtful encouraging Type theological motivational When to use this quote - personal prayer - church study - ethical decisions - overcoming self‑reliance Key Concepts theology of works human limitation Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on effort or grace? - How can you balance faith and action? A Different Perspective May overlook the role of good works in expressing faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fruit Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit-righteousness-907883/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Luther Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luther-words-1477316/) [New Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-believer-1282310/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Righteousness Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness-common-1477317/) ## Related quotes > [The fruit of humanity is devotion to one's parents. The fruit of righteousness is to respect one's elders. The fruit of wisdom is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/the-fruit-of-humanity-is-devotion-to-one-s-parents-the-fruit-of/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [“Moses saw the burning burn, yet the bush was not consumed. He turned aside at the wonder of it all, and in doing so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/moses-saw-the-burning-burn-yet-the-bush-was-not-consumed-he-turned/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“These are Luther’s own words: I greatly longed to understand Paul’s Epistle to the Romans and nothing stood in the way but that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-h-bainton/these-are-luther-s-own-words-i-greatly-longed-to-understand-paul-s/) [Roland H. 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But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wurmbrand/when-chris-tians-in-free-countries-win-a-soul-for-christ-the-new/) [Richard Wurmbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wurmbrand/) > [Remember this-all the sighing, mourning, sobbing, and complaining in the world, does not so undeniably evidence a man to be humble, as his overlooking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/remember-this-all-the-sighing-mourning-sobbing-and-complaining-in-the/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [What one thing does the world need most today-apart, that is, from the all-inclusive thing we call righteousness? Aren't you inclined to agree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/what-one-thing-does-the-world-need-most-today-apart-that-is-from-the/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [“Righteousness is faith in motion. It is the work of faith. The faith we have is expressed by the things we do. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-houge/righteousness-is-faith-in-motion-it-is-the-work-of-faith-the-faith-we/) [Adam Houge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-houge/) > [“Jesus came to give his righteousness not to condemn the unrighteous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-canoza/jesus-came-to-give-his-righteousness-not-to-condemn-the-unrighteous/) [Mac Canoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-canoza/) > [“Our faith in Christ does not free us from works but from false opinions concerning works, that is, from the foolish presumption that justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-faith-in-christ-does-not-free-us-from-works-but-from-false/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Two Things that measure Righteousness: The Way You Manage when You Have Nothing & Way You Behave when You Have Everything!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sultan/two-things-that-measure-righteousness-the-way-you-manage-when-you/) [Sultan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sultan/) > [Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in moving mountains - if moving mountains accomplishes God's purposes and is in accordance with His will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/righteousness-and-faith-certainly-are-instrumental-in-moving/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [Not simply the righteousness of our Saviour, not simply the beauty of His holiness or the graces of His character, are we to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adoniram-judson-gordon/not-simply-the-righteousness-of-our-saviour-not-simply-the-beauty-of/) [Adoniram Judson Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adoniram-judson-gordon/) > [The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-i-shall-not-want-he-maketh-me-to-lie-down-in/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) ## More by Patrick Davis > [“Why does God not heal when we pray?   My wife and I discussed this question for quite a bit before I attempted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/why-does-god-not-heal-when-we-pray-my-wife-and-i-discussed-this/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“I think of human singing, and note that angels are not said to sing. The gift of singing, of making music, and of composing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/i-think-of-human-singing-and-note-that-angels-are-not-said-to-sing/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“Sincerity is often mistaken for a truth, when it fact it may have no resemblance to truth whatsoever. 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What if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/what-if-mankind-has-become-so-neurotic-in-their-loss-of-fellowship-to/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“My father’s generation, who for the most part did not know Christ, knew at least there was a right and a wrong. They may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/my-father-s-generation-who-for-the-most-part-did-not-know-christ-knew/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“As Chafer said, long ago, “If men go to perdition it will be because every possible mercy from God has been resisted.”3 I cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/as-chafer-said-long-ago-if-men-go-to-perdition-it-will-be-because/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“After we become Christians, we have let him, so to speak, into our house. But there are all sorts of messes in our house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/after-we-become-christians-we-have-let-him-so-to-speak-into-our-house/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“American Christianity has come to show a blandness that offends no one, a gospel that is adaptable to fit every lifestyle, and a message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/american-christianity-has-come-to-show-a-blandness-that-offends-no/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“Doctrine should come from the Bible and it should never be that we prove our doctrine from the Bible, but rather that the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/doctrine-should-come-from-the-bible-and-it-should-never-be-that-we/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“As watchmen working through the night we need to come again and again with our petitions, but always knowing that each prayer, each petition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/as-watchmen-working-through-the-night-we-need-to-come-again-and-again/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“No, the Bible stands all alone, by itself, and there is not one other book which could share its glory. It is a shimmering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/no-the-bible-stands-all-alone-by-itself-and-there-is-not-one-other/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“If you want to understand why the church is so enthralled with Israel, you need to understand that the church is waiting, with bated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/if-you-want-to-understand-why-the-church-is-so-enthralled-with-israel/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [“In our city, there is a growing homeless problem, and a number of city churches work to alleviate the problems. 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Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. 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Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-p-ryan/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [There is no freedom without justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/there-is-no-freedom-without-justice/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. 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