The Call to Freedom

For freedom Christ has set us free (Gal. 5:1).

We confess that Scripture shows us our need of a savior and the Savior we need.

We confess that our Savior is Jesus Christ, who through his death and resurrection has freed us from the law, sin, and death.
Because Jesus’ gift to us is Christian freedom, we claim our freedom from all added requirements for salvation, including a required church structure such as the historic episcopate, as well as any required rites, practices, or works. Our faith and life are based on his promise that “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17).

Because Jesus’ gift to us is Christian freedom, we are free to serve others. As Luther taught us, we are perfectly free rulers of all, subject to none, and perfectly dutiful servants of all, subject to all.

Therefore our mission is to spread the good news that “if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed,” (John 8:36), and to proclaim his cosmic Lordship, as St. Paul writes: “Creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21).

To guide us in carrying out our mission we look to his Word alone, trusting in his promise: “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32). 1


1 These affirmations are developed more fully in “Our Charter of Freedom,” which is found in our Constitution ¶ 2.01