REFORMATION DAY
Freedom Lived, Known, Found
October 31, 2021

Reformation Sunday is not just a special day to celebrate our history by remembering the story of Martin Luther it is a perfect opportunity to rejoice in the freedom we have been given from sin and death through Jesus Christ alone. By gathering to receive His Word and to share in His Supper, we come to know yet again the eternal Gospel that is being proclaimed to all who dwell on earth. This good news not only sets us free from our captivity to sin and death, but it also enables us to live a life of freedom in Christ and boldly share with others how they, too, may be set free. The same Savior who speaks His Word to us says to all who will listen: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

HYMN “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word” [LSB 904]
1 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word, We are gathered all to hear You.
Let our hearts and souls be stirred, Now to seek and love and fear You,
By Your teachings, sweet and holy, Drawn from earth to love You solely.

2 All our knowledge, sense, and sight, Lie in deepest darkness shrouded
Till Your Spirit breaks our night, With the beams of truth unclouded.
You alone to God can win us You must work all good within us.

3 Gracious Savior, good and kind, Light of Light, from God proceeding,
Open now our heart and mind Help us by Your Spirit’s pleading.
Hear the cry Your Church now raises Hear and bless our prayers and praises.

4 Father, Son, and Spirit, Lord, Praise to You and adoration!
Grant that we may trust Your Word, Confident of our salvation,
While we here below must wander, Till we sing Your praises yonder.

PRAYER
Almighty and gracious Lord, to know You is to know true freedom from sin and to live in the transforming power of Your Holy Spirit. Grant that we, who hold fast to the Word of Your Son, may never return to our captivity but walk daily in the new life we have received through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

EPISTLE Romans 3:19–28

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. HOLY

GOSPEL John 8:31–36
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” It is clear that the source of truth comes from the Word of God clearly spoken by Jesus. What is this truth? It is simply that by faith in Jesus Christ we are forgiven our sins and we have the promise of eternal life in heaven with God before us. Paul expresses this with words we know well. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Jesus’ death and resurrection is how forgiveness is won for us. It is a gift offered to us freely and can be received from no other source. This is the freedom we are offered freedom from the burden of our sins. Such freedom can only be offered by Jesus because only He could pay the price. We can be confident in our faith in Jesus because, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.