誇耀呼召
為了上帝的榮耀、教會的成長、世人確信我們說的是上帝之道，我們應當誇口上帝的呼召。
所以，你看到我們應當如此誇耀我們的呼召，以榮耀教會事工。
過去，當我還是年輕的神學家和博士時，我以為保羅在他的書信里常常誇口上帝呼召他是輕率的。當時，我不明白他的目的，因為我不覺得上帝之道的事工怎麼重要。我不知道任何信心的教義，不明白真正的良心。學校和教會的教導也含糊不定，充斥著各樣詭辯的瑣事、法學家幼稚的韻文、注釋者的《語錄》注釋。所以，沒有人理解保羅針對呼召而作的神聖的、屬靈的誇口。
當我們誇口上帝的呼召時，我們並非期盼得到屬世的威望、從人來的贊美或錢財、或為了得到世俗的快樂和福利。
我們之所以驕傲地誇口是因這真是神聖的呼召：是上帝工作的結果。
我們誇口，首先，是為了上帝的榮耀；
其次，為了拓展教會的事工；
也是為了我們自己和他人的益處，為了使人確定我們所說的實在是上帝之道。所以，人們應該確信我們的呼召。
這誇口不是虛空的驕傲，而是抵擋魔鬼和世界，最聖潔的驕傲。這驕傲在上帝的眼中是真正的謙卑。——馬丁路德（《加拉太書》注釋，1535年）（AE 26:20–21)
Thus you see how necessary it is to boast and glory in our ministry this way. In the past, when I was only a young theologian and doctor, I thought it was imprudent of Paul in his epistle to boast of his call so often. But I did not understand his purpose, for I did not know that the ministry of the Word of God was so weighty a matter. I did not know anything about the doctrine of faith and a true conscience. In the schools and churches no certainty was being taught, but everything was filled with the sophistic trifles and nursery rhymes of the canonists and commentators on the Sentences. Therefore no one could understand how forceful and powerful is this holy and spiritual boasting about a call, which serves first to the glory of God, secondly to the advancement of our own ministry, and also to our own benefit and to that of the people. When we boast this way, we are not looking for prestige in the world or praise from men or money, or for pleasure or the good will of the world. The reason for our proud boasting is that we are in a divine calling and in God’s own work, and that the people need to be assured of our calling, in order that they may know that our word is in fact the Word of God. This, then, is not a vain pride; it is a most holy pride against the devil and the world. And it is a true humility in the sight of God. (Lectures on Galatians, 1535)(AE 26:20–21)
