Battle of the Soul: Luther Reforms Vice and Virtue

You slam on the brakes, fuming, and a few choice words pop into your head to spew at the person who just cut you off in traffic. Something ugly rises in your heart as you scroll past another person's latest achievement on social media. Sound familiar? We might gloss over them, but these sins have names: anger and envy. When we recognize them for what they are, by the power of the Spirit, we can begin to fight their hold over us. This is the daily battle of the baptized Christian. But how does this play out in everyday life? By linking the vice and virtue tradition with the Ten Commandments and the fruit of the Spirit, Martin Luther offered a faithful way for Christians to equip themselves for this fight. As we daily drown our vices and fight against our sinful nature, the Holy Spirit works in us to produce the fruit of faith--to help us grow in virtue and live out our faith in service to others according to the Ten Commandments. Battle of the Soul will guide you through Luther's understanding of each Christian's daily battle against sin, using the framework of the seven deadly sins and their contrasting virtues. By the end, you'll be equipped to live out your Baptism each day by fighting against sin in your life and growing more and more like Christ.