What does it mean to be free? For some people, freedom means being able to do whatever theywant to do. For others, freedom means to live without anyone telling them what to do. For somecollege students or young adults, it means having the freedom to make their own decisions. Here in America, we have the freedom to worship.
But Jesus speaks of a freedom far greater than any personal desires or the freedom to worship. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
What is truth? And from what does Christ set us free? Today, we celebrate the Reformation. We will learn that truth is found in God’s Word alone. We will also learn that freedom from sin, death, and the devil is found in Christ alone.
Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (v 34). Deep down, we don’t like to hear that we are slaves of sin. We often think of sin as merely making a mistake here or there. But Scripture tells us that sin is a condition; that we have a sinful nature. Again, we don’t like to hear this because we like to think that we are in control of our lives. We don’t like to confess our sin.
Notice how the Jewish people responded to Jesus. They said, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone” (John 8:33). Really? Their ancestors were slaves in Egypt for more than four hundred years. They also experienced seventy years of captivity in Babylon. During the time of Jesus, they were living under the rule of the Romans. Yet they insisted that they had never been in bondage? Their greatest problem, however, was their spiritual blindness. They failed to recognize their sinful nature. They failed to recognize Jesus as the solution to their problem.
The same thing exists among us. We recognize the sins of others while excusing our own sin. We become angry when someone points out our faults. We justify our actions by blaming people around us. We say, “At least I am not as bad as that person.”
But God’s Law will not allow us to hide behind excuses. God’s Law exposes our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. It reveals that we have not loved God with our whole heart nor have we loved our neighbors as ourselves. It exposes our greed and our pride.
We are children of Adam and Eve. St. Paul says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin is not simply bad habits that we can overcome by hard work. Sin is not merely a mistake here or there. We have a sinful nature. We are in bondage to sin. We promise to do better, but we fall into the same sin over and over again. No amount of money or education can release us from the bondage to sin. We cannot save ourselves. We need a Redeemer. We need a Savior.
Martin Luther struggled with this question, “How can a sinner stand before a holy God?” Luther learned that he cannot stand before a holy God on his own. He also asked the question, “How can I find peace with God?” He learned that peace and freedom from a guilty conscience does not come from looking within himself. Rather, peace and freedom come from looking at Christ.
The same is true for us. If we look to our own righteousness, we will have reason to fear. If we try to solve our own problems, we will fail.
Jesus said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Jesus does not tell us to free ourselves. He does not say that we must earn our freedom by our good works. He says that the Son makes us free.
Jesus entered our world to redeem us poor sinners. He lived a perfect life. He fulfilled the law. He was obedient to His Father. He then took upon Himself the punishment that we deserve. On the cross, Jesus redeemed us “not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.” Our salvation has been purchased, not by money, but with Christ’s precious blood. When He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30), His saving work was accomplished.
Then, on the third day, He rose from the dead. Death could not hold Him in the tomb. The devil could not defeat Him. Christ conquered our enemies and opened the way to everlasting life. Our freedom rests upon these historical acts of salvation.
You are free from the condemnation of the Law because Christ fulfilled it for you. You are free from the guilt of sin because Christ borne your guilt. You are free from the power of death because Christ has risen from the grave. You are free from the devil because Christ has defeated him.
This is the great truth that Martin Luther recovered through his study of Holy Scripture. The righteousness that God requires is not something we earn through our own works. The righteousness that God requires is the righteousness Christ given to us sinners through faith.
St. Paul writes, “We are justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). To be justified means that God declares you righteous for Christ’s sake. God forgives your sins on account of Christ. Christ’s righteousness is your righteousness.
Faith hears this wonderful news and says, “Amen.” Faith receives this gift. Faith trusts the promise of forgiveness in Christ.
If our salvation depended on our works, we would never know whether we had done enough. But our salvation rests on Christ. Therefore, look away from yourself and look to Jesus. He is your righteousness. He is your Savior. He is the One who makes you free indeed.
Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples.” (John 8:31).
To abide in God’s Word means to remain in it, to hear it, to believe it, and to trust its promises. God’s Word is our bread of life. It is the foundation of our faith. It is our only source of truth. It exposes our sin. It proclaims the Gospel. It teaches us God’s will and how to love the neighbor.
God’s Word was central to the Lutheran Reformation. When Martin Luther stood before the emperor at the Diet of Worms in 1521, he was commanded to recant his writings. Yet Luther’s conscience was captive to the Word of God. He stood upon the authority of Holy Scripture. He could not deny the truth of God’s Word.
Luther also wanted people to have access to the Scriptures in their own language. So, he translated the Bible into German so that people could read God’s Word for themselves. The Word of God is not merely for professors and clergy. It is for everyone.
We have Bibles in our homes even on our phones. Yet, do not take this privilege for granted.
Dearly beloved in the Lord, abide in the Word of Christ. Hear the Scriptures read and preached in the Divine Service. Study them in Bible class. Read them in your homes and teach them to your children. Let God’s Word guide your thoughts and how you live. Let God’s Word comfort you in your troubles.
Above all, hear the Gospel. The Scriptures testify of Jesus’ life, His death, and His resurrection. Through this Word, the Holy Spirit nurtures your faith in Christ.
And where does God deliver the forgiveness Christ has won? In Holy Baptism, God joined His saving Word to water and made you His own. In Holy Absolution and in preaching, Christ speaks forgiveness to you. In the Lord’s Supper, He gives His true body and blood to you for the forgiveness of sins. These are God’s gifts delivered to you.
What, then, does it mean to live our life in Christ?
It does not mean that we are free to continue in sin. Jesus has not rescued us so that we may return to the very sin from which He delivered us. Rather, He has freed us to live as children of God.
Jesus said, “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever” (John 8:35). There is a difference between a slave and a son. A slave works to earn his place in the master’s house. A son lives as a member of the family. He belongs to the family already.
In the same way, you do not obey God’s commandments to earn His forgiveness. Through faith in Christ, you are no longer an outsider trying to earn God’s favor. You have been brought into God’s household. God is your Father, and you are His beloved child.
You are free in Christ. This freedom changes how you live your life in your home, your workplace, at school or even within the church. You follow God’s commandments because He already loves you. You serve the neighbor because God in Christ serves you with the Gospel. You forgive others because God has forgiven you. You support the church because your real treasure is in heaven. Your good works are the fruits of faith.
As long as we live here on earth, we will struggle with sin. Therefore, we need to constantly repent of our sin and receive the forgiveness of sins. But our failures do not mean that Christ’s work is incomplete. When we fall, we return to His Word and promise. We confess our sins and receive His forgiveness.
This is the Christian life: repentance and faith, dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ, receiving God’s gifts and serving our neighbor in love.
We remember Martin Luther with thanksgiving, but our confidence is not in Luther. Our confidence is in the Savior whom Luther faithfully proclaimed. We do not trust our good works or our own righteousness. We trust Christ alone.
The world offers many kinds of freedom, but only Jesus can free you from sin, death, and the devil. This freedom cannot be purchased with money or earned through good works. Your freedom rests upon Jesus alone. He died and rose again for you.
Jesus set you free. In Him, you are forgiven. In Him, you are justified. You are free to live as God’s children. To God be all the glory now and forevermore. Amen.
