Luther on Faith and Good Works

First, from Ephesians 2:8-10:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— ⁹not the result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Martin Luther reflects:

If we esteem them too highly, good works can become the greatest idolatry...It is faith--without good works and prior to good works--that takes us to heaven. We come to God through faith alone.