The Freedom Of A Christian October 26, 2008 Reformation Sunday

(First, read the text for this sermon: John 8:31-36)

We read a strange little passage each Reformation Sunday. It’s from the gospel of John. It’s an exchange between Jesus and “the Jews who had believed in him.”

That phrase, actually, would be worth a Bible study. It surprises many to know that the first followers of Jesus were Jews. But, of course, Jesus was a Jew, as were all of his disciples. We come across multiple references in the gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles where Jesus and his disciples are practicing the faith of the Jewish tradition: gathering in the local synagogue for worship and taking time out for daily prayer.

So the Bible study would explore the conflict in the first century synagogue between those who were traditional Jews and those who had become part of the very controversial Jesus sect within the synagogue. (Isn’t it cool to read between the lines of a Bible story and get a sense of what’s going on behind the story?!)

This morning, though, I’m drawn into this story by something strange that “the Jews who had believed in him” say to Jesus. Jesus has told them, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Now, here’s what’s curious: They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?"

My first response is, “They’ve got to be kidding! They have never been slaves to anyone?” What about the slavery in Egypt? What about the epic story of Moses leading the people out of that slavery? As a matter of fact, by the time of this conversation between Jesus and the others, the Jews have been politically and militarily subjugated for, oh, roughly 500 years. First they were overrun by the Assyrians, who were later themselves overrun by the Babylonians, and now the Roman Empire has the people of God under its boot heel. “Never been slaves to anyone?!”

Or, am I being too literal here? That could be. Are these Jewish believers in Jesus talking about a sense of spiritual freedom that is theirs – because they are descendants of Abraham? Perhaps they are referring to their status as the chosen people?

In any event, Jesus turns the conversation in a new direction. He begins talking about sin. Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

Jesus has reframed the whole debate. Being “descendants of Abraham” counts for nothing in itself. They are unfree because they are slaves to sin – and slaves are not permanent members of the household, and so they cannot receive an inheritance. In contrast to slaves, the son has a place [in the household] forever. The inheritance is the forgiveness of our sins, the freedom from this slavery. The only way to gain that inheritance is to leave slavery behind, and to become children of God, which we do, through Jesus the Christ, who is “the Son” of God!

How does that happen? Through baptism.

Here, of course, is where Christianity parts from Judaism. Here is the root of the conflict that is going on in the first century synagogue. That conflict is a daily reality in the community that produced this gospel of John.

Since many of us are Lutheran Christians, and since this is Reformation Sunday, let me take off from here, to raise a primary theme of the Lutheran tradition.

Our freedom is rooted in that baptism into Jesus the Christ!

Our vocation is to act out of that freedom!

There are many things that many people are captive to. Isn’t that right? There is the captivity to: “What will others think?” There is the captivity to status, and how my status compares to your status. Many people are held captive by worry and anxiety. Regrets over the past enslave an awful lot of people. Many are captive to lies that they have internalized from their parents or spouses: lies such as, “You’re not good enough.” Some are captive to fear. The list of captivities goes on and on. You could check off the boxes on the list!

Why do you and I allow ourselves to be held captive by these concerns and messages? It’s because I think it’s up to me! You think its up to you, to prove yourself in the eyes of others. It’s because I thinks I am judged worthy by others. It’s because you are allowing others to determine your value.

In theological terms, we allow ourselves to be captive to anxiety and regrets and lies and fear when we are trying to save ourselves!

But who saves us? Who frees us?

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

The God of grace calls us back from our false selves to be the people God created us to be. (That is why repentance – the turn back to God – is such a joyful movement!) God the Father who created us; God the Son who saves us; God the Holy Spirit who makes us holy – this God of grace calls us out of captivity into the freedom of a Christian. This happens when we are baptized, and as we daily return to our baptism.

Baptism is God‘s grace in water and word. The word is that you and I do not need to prove our worth, because God has created us and God values us. You and I do not need to save ourselves, or to justify ourselves. That is because God has done that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

Listen to the gifts that come to us through Holy Baptism, as Luther explains it in his Small Catechism. Three gifts. Baptism “brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe it, as the words and promise of God declare.”

That is done! We are freed from our sinfulness by Jesus the Christ. We are freed from death and the devil by Jesus the Christ. We are freed from anxiety over our salvation, over proving our worth to God, by Jesus the Christ. We are freed from having to justify ourselves, because God has done that, on the cross and through the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

And so, here’s the payoff. Since we are freed from all of that, we are freed too be joyful servants in God’s kingdom that is even now dawning on earth. That is our vocation. We are freed to serve those who are in need. We are freed to give of ourselves, using the talents we have received from God our creator.

The result is our ministries, among the people God gives you and me to work and to play with; and in the places where God puts us to work!

It’s the freedom, simply, to do the work of the kingdom!

What joy!

In the name of God who is Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pastor Andy Ballentine
St. Stephen Lutheran Church
Williamsburg, Virginia