The freedom that Paul...
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The freedom that Paul describes in this text is a word we need badly in America today, as according to a 2001 poll of the Barna Research Group 7 in 10 Americans think that our works earn salvation. Most of us are still under the bondage of God's law, thinking that freedom leads to a "do-whatever-you-feel-like" faith. Martin Luther offers two comments that seem to defend Paul's perspective:
"I shall set down the following two propositions concerning the freedom and bondage of the spirit: A Christian is perfectly free lord, subject to no one; a Christian is perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all" (Luther's Works, Vol. 31, p. 344).
"Since then all law exists to promote love, law must cease where it is in conflict with love... If you are a Christian you have the power to dispense with all commandments so far as they hinder you in the practice of love, even as Christ... teaches" (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/1, pp. 161, 166).
"I shall set down the following two propositions concerning the freedom and bondage of the spirit: A Christian is perfectly free lord, subject to no one; a Christian is perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all" (Luther's Works, Vol. 31, p. 344).
"Since then all law exists to promote love, law must cease where it is in conflict with love... If you are a Christian you have the power to dispense with all commandments so far as they hinder you in the practice of love, even as Christ... teaches" (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/1, pp. 161, 166).