Psalm 46; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36

Gospel Freedom!

            We live in the land of the free. It’s something we take great pride in as Americans. But I’ve also found that many people don’t understand what freedom truly means. When we talk about freedom, most of the time we talk about being freed from something. Israel was freed from slavery, America declared freedom from Britan, even when talking about our schedules, we say we’re free from work, school, or other activities. Yes, so often, our definition of freedom is simply the absence of the negative. That is, we don’t have to worry about overlords, like slavery, work, subjugation, etc. Likewise, many fled to America to find freedom from the bloody wars being fought over religion and territorial disputes. But do you recognize the part of freedom I haven’t talked about yet? For freedom isn’t just the release from bad things, it’s also the binding to good things. I’m free to play; I’m free to sing; I’m free to do the things I want to do, rather than being chained to what I don’t want. When we come around to talking about the Reformation, this is an important distinction in our faith. God has set us free from sin, death, and the devil. This is an amazing thing… but he has also set us free to faith and good works. Yes, our freedom that we have as a Christian should never be assumed to be one dimensional. Rather, it’s our freedom to live the life God had always desired for us.

            As we come to celebrate another anniversary of the Reformation (509th), we must learn about the freedom we’ve been given. Luther knew of the shackles that were placed upon him by a church corrupted by the Law. What Luther discovered wasn’t just a freedom from the Law, but a freedom to something even better. As we dig into our readings today, let us come to learn: 

WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST!

I.

             So, I must ask you, are you actually free if you don’t use your freedom? If you put yourself back into bondage, does your freedom mean anything? Once Luther was enlightened by the Scriptures to his bondage under the Law, he knew that he could no longer willingly submit to such bondage. The Gospel declared him to be free, so he had to live in that freedom; he had to use it every day. Submitting himself to the traditions and teachings which he knew to be opposed to Scripture would just make him a slave again. Consider what Jesus says today, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin,” John 8:34. For as Lutherans, we pride ourselves on having the pure Gospel. We pride ourselves on knowing that we’re saved by grace alone through faith alone. Indeed, these were the core teachings of the Reformation. But did you know that Luther and the other reformers still cared a great deal about your works… that is what you do? Luther goes to great lengths, writing instructions for how Christians are to live their lives. So too, did Luther write instructions for how the church was to conduct herself in a manner consistent with Scripture. I’m fairly certain that many so called “Lutherans” today would be appalled by all the “rules” that Luther set forth.

            But there’s one key difference in this that matters a great deal. For Luther knew full well how much the law could help us. Just as St. Paul writes, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin,” Romans 3:20. The truth of the Reformation centered on this fact. There’s no number of laws or rules you can make that will stop us from sinning. Again, St Paul writes, “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:22-23. We’re sinners, plain and simple. Nothing we do can change that. We were slaves who had to be set free from the shackles of the Law, the shackles of sin and death. We had to be made free first before anything we do matters. So, why would we ever want to place the shackles back on ourselves?

II.

            What does freedom mean then? And how do we use this freedom which we’ve been given? For let’s toss out whatever ideas of freedom our country has given us. Freedom doesn’t mean we get to do whatever we feel like. For we haven’t just been freed from sin. We’ve been freed to a new and redeemed life! For what does Jesus say? “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed,” John 8:35-36. Christ has burst the bonds of our sin, so that we may no longer be slaves to sin, but rather children of righteousness! The Christian is perfectly free to live as Christ in our world. We’re free to do the good works which God has given us to do. We’re free to forgive, to love, to care for, to share the Gospel throughout the whole world. We’re free to live the righteous life God had always destined for us. This is why Luther wrote so many “rules” during the Reformation. They weren’t rules perse, but rather instructions or advice for us Christians on how to live a new and redeemed life. For if faith and the Gospel haven’t completely changed your life, then consider whether you’re actually free.

            For the Son has set you free. He has freed you from sin, death, and the devil so that you may be free to live like Christ! Lay aside the chains that have held you captive and use the freedom Christ has given you by his cross. This is how important the Reformation was. This is why it’s important for us to preach the pure Gospel, that is Jesus Christ and him crucified. For the only way we’re made free is by Christ and faith in his death and resurrection. But let us not fall off the other end and stop there. For we use our freedom to follow Christ and the example he has given us. As our Psalm said, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way…” Psalm 46:1-2. A mighty fortress is our God. He alone can keep us from evil that permeates our world, and he alone can lead us into a new and redeemed life by his cross. For we’re free to be unafraid of our world because we know that God is holding us in his hands.

            This is what it means to be free in Christ. We’re free to run into his arms, free to turn away from the temptations of this world, free to live as God had always desired. We’re free to inherit eternal life because of Christ. For the Son has set us free so we may dwell in his house forever! In Jesus’ name! Amen!