Clement On Justification By Faith

"Whosoever will candidly consider each particular, will recognise the greatness of the gifts which were given by him. For from him have sprung the priests and all the Levites who minister at the altar of God. From him also [was descended] our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. From him [arose] kings, princes, and rulers of the race of Judah. Nor are his other tribes in small glory, inasmuch as God had promised, "Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven." All these, therefore, were highly honoured, and made great, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness which they wrought, but through the operation of His will. And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Chapter XXXII.-We are Justified Not by Our Own Works, But by Faith.

Luther did not invent the doctrine of Justification by faith alone. By this quote we see that it was not only taught in Scripture, but also that Clement, a student of the Apostle Paul, taught it as well. This letter was written around A.D. 96 from Rome to the church at Corinth.
Luther recovered this doctrine which had been hidden by Popes, councils, and the teachers of the Catholic Church. These were the methods that Satan had used to blind the world to the Gospel. But even through this time of darkness there were a few candles which burned, shining the light of truth in the Dark Ages. But with Luther came a flood of light that brought the knowledge of the glory of Christ in the Gospel of God to the forefront. That Gospel is that Christ is our Justification and that by faith alone we acquire this Justification.

Post Tenebras Lux

Happy Reformation Sunday!!!