In the name of Jesus. Amen. The great thing about being a Lutheran is that you're free--freed by the Son.
Doctor Luther said that when the Gospel came clear to him he was like a dog who had been released from a short chain, he was free to run and run and run. The Scriptures were open for him and the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus was everywhere.
When the Son sets you free, you are truly free and Luther was finally free. He was in the faith of Jesus. Free from the slavery of sin, free from the slavery of the Law. Free from the fear that God was not pleased with him. Free from worrying about there was something he could be doing to make God pleased with him.
Free, Luther was free. That's what was great about being Luther. No matter what the evil world and the evil clergy thought about him--and no matter how many sins Luther had done--in the eyes of His Father in heaven, Luther was really, truly free.
Dear sons of God, Jesus has set you free too. No matter what else is true about you, this is true of you--Jesus has set you free. You are free--really truly free.
God the Father loves you not because you deserve to be loved by God. No, He loves us this way: He gave up His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Faith receives what Jesus did for us on the Cross in the Word and you are saved.
When the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. Free to free to run and run, free to serve God by serving those around you. Free to treat others as more important than yourself. When you flop on your face, free to drown the Old man again. Free to live before God in everlasting righteousness and purity forever.
That's Christ alone. He saves us by grace alone, which is to say by faith alone. All of that is in Scripture alone. You are truly His disciples when you remain in His Words. You know the truth and the truth has set you free.
Which is the great thing about being a Lutheran, isn't it? You are free--freed by the Son.
Have a blessed Reformation Day! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Other readings this week: St. Matthew 11:12-15, Rev. 14:6-7, 2 Chronicles 2:29-12-19
Higher Things Reflections are written by Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX.