Martin Luther on Psalms 130:8

Verse. 8. And he shall redeme Israel from all his iniquities.

This promise is a conclusion of the Psalme. Wherein againe he sheweth what cause he had to pray, & what we also in like daunger should hope for. And in deede it is a sweete and a ioyfull thing to behold the goodnes of the Lord, not onely in that he giueth, gouerneth and preserueth this life, but much rather in that he sheweth him selfe an enemie to sinne and death: and this he doth to saue and to deliuer vs from the daunger thereof. For this is it that maketh all other gifts of God more sweete & pleasant. For although we know that we are the creatures of God, yet notwithstanding, because we are oppressed with heauines, feare, death, the gilt of conscience and such other calamities, we can not enioy the giftes of God with a free and a chereful hart. This is then to paynt out God in his owne colours, so that this life & Gods creatures may be sweete vnto vs, when he is sette forth according to this verse, namely that he will deliuer his people from their sinnes, slay death, destroy hel, and treade downe Satan vnder his feete. Such a God is the God of those that beleue: that beleue I say. For they that beleue, although they be weake and feeble harted, and vexed of the deuill and death, yet they knowe that God is their deliuerer from all their iniquities. Therefore they are reysed vppe with comfort and begin to hope, wayting for deliuerance promised in the word.

Ye shall therefore apply this verse to this ende, A definition of God, and what he is properly. that it may be as a definition what is the office of God, and what his will is properly to doe: namely that he will haue to doe with sinners, that he will abolish sinne & create life, righteousnes & all good thinges. Now, the meane whereby God worketh these thinges, you know is Christ, whom he sent into this world and layed vppon him the punishment of death, that they which beleue on him, might obteine remission of their sinnes and be made the children of God. Thus teacheth and treateth the whole Psalme: not of this externall life or good workes, but onely of faith and hope towards God through Christ, and of the finall victorie ouer sinne and death. For these things are not gotten by the workes and power of man, but by the worke and power of God alone: and they are communicated vnto vs, because there is mercie with the Lorde, and with him is plentifull redemption. This is the onely meanes and the way whereby this victorie is gotten. The doctrine of works hath an other end, and is so to be taught, that the glory of God and the merite of Christ be nothing thereby diminished: like as we by the grace of Christ haue sincerely and faithfully euery where handled this doctrine. God graunt that the same light may shine also to our posteritie. Amen.