Christian Freedom

Martin Luther wrote the following:

“A Christian is an utterly free man, lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is an utterly dutiful man, servant of all, subject to all.”

These two ideas seem to contradict each other; surely they mean the opposite and can’t both be true! There are those with power and freedom, the “lords” of our day. And those without power, who serve. So those without power seek power to free themselves. We are stuck in a power war.

And yet, Luther offers a different way. That in Christ, we are utterly free, subject to none. God has given us everything we need and promised life to the full, and no one can take that away. And yet, in Christ we become servants of all. We seek their good, and not our own.

In this, we follow our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. He was perfectly free, and Lord of all. And yet, as the Lord, he came to serve all, dying on the cross for all people.

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