Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church

When Jesus said, “You will become free,” His listeners protested, claiming they had never been enslaved. But Jesus revealed a deeper truth — all are bound by sin. Every outburst, grudge, and selfish act exposes our captivity to our sinful nature. However hard we try, our efforts to overcome it fail, like a game of Whack-a-Mole where sin always reappears. Christ came to end that bondage. Through His cross and resurrection, He conquered sin and death, freeing us to live as God’s children. In baptism, our old selves are drowned, and we rise renewed — no longer slaves, but beloved sons and daughters. The Reformation was not rebellion, but rediscovery: that true freedom comes only through the grace of Jesus Christ, who makes us free indeed.