上帝之道和人之道、真信心和假信心的區別
道（而不是人）自己必須使人心得到滿足，必須擁抱並俘獲人。
首要之事是信心。如果這些牧羊人不相信天使，他們就不會去伯利恆，也不會去作任何與福音有關的事。但是，有人說：「如果天使由天降下，也對我說話，我也會相信這信息」，那麼，這人就是在自欺欺人。
因為人如果不相信信息本身的內容，無論是誰，即便是天使向他講道，他都不會接受。人如果因講道者而相信，他就並非相信這信息，也非相信上帝，他不過是相信講道者。如果真是這樣，這「信心」必不長久。
這也是上帝的信心與人的信心的區別：人的信心依附於人：它因著說話的人而相信、依靠、榮耀某個信息。但是，上帝的信心依附於上帝的道，就是上帝自己，它相信、依靠、榮耀某個信息，並非因為傳說這信息的人。上帝的信心以為這信息是如此真切的真理，無人可以將其撕裂分開。即使同一位講道者嘗試這樣作，也不能成功。
撒馬利亞人可以證明這一點。在約翰福音第四章中，起初，他們從那異教徒婦人那裡聽到基督。然後，他們跑到村外，找到基督。在他們親耳聽到了基督之後，就對那婦人說：「現在我們信，不是因為你的話，是我們親自聽見了，知道這真是救世主。（約4:42）」
另一例證：所有因為基督其人和他的神蹟而相信他的人都在他被釘十架的時候，而離棄他了。這樣的事現在正在發生。
道（而不是人）自己必須使人心得到滿足，必須擁抱並俘獲人。——馬丁路德(AE 52:32–33)
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
The first and chief item is faith. If these shepherds had not believed the angel, they would not have gone to Bethlehem nor would they have done any of the things which are related of them in the Gospel. But if anybody should say. Of course, I, too, surely would believe if the message were brought to me by an angel from heaven, then such a person deceives himself. For whoever does not accept the word on its own account, is never inclined to accept it on account of any preacher, even if all the angels were preaching to him. And whoever accepts it on account of a preacher, he believes neither the word, nor in God through the word, but believes the preacher and in the preacher. If such is the case, faith does not last long.
This is also the real difference between godly faith and human faith: human faith clings to a person; it believes, trusts and honors the word on account of him who speaks it. But godly faith clings to the word, which is God himself; it believes, trusts and honors the word not on account of him who has spoken it, but feels that here is such a certainty of truth that nobody can ever tear it away from it, even if the very same preacher should try it. The Samaritans prove this, John 4[:42]: initially they heard of Christ from the pagan woman, having left town and come to Christ on her word. Now, having heard him with their own ears, they said to the woman: 「We do not believe any longer on account of what you have said; for now we recognize that this is the Savior of the world.」 Again. all those who believed Christ on account of his person and his miracles deserted him when he was crucified. That is the way it is now and has always been. The word itself, disregarding the person, must satisfy the heart, must embrace and capture the man.(Sermons) (AE 52:32–33)
