HYMN: Lord Jesus, Son Who Sets Us Free

A blessed Festival of the Reformation to you and yours.

I had a rare Sunday off this morning, so there is no sermon to post today. However, while I was listening to Pastor Anderson at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, something he said sparked an idea for a hymn text. I'd written a text for the Reformation before, but it wasn't my best work, and I'd always hoped that something better would come to me eventually. Today it did.

Built mostly on John 8:31-36, which is the Gospel appointed for the Festival of the Reformation, and with a nod to the boasting mentioned in the Romans 3 reading for today, this is a hymn of praise to Christ, the Son who sets us free from our slavery to sin. The tune is ALL EHR UND LOB, which is the tune for the hymn "All Glory Be to God Alone (LSB 948). 

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, feedback is love.

Lord Jesus, Son Who Sets Us Free

1. Lord Jesus, Son who sets us free

From sin, our chains of slavery,

Who by His cross did overthrow

The devil, tyrant, evil foe:

To You, O Christ, for all our days

Be honor, glory, might, and praise. 

2. Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word. 

Let not Your children fear the sword,

For Your disciples we would be

And know the truth that sets us free. 

For we, who once to sin were slaves,

Rejoice in Christ, the Son who saves.

3. Not by descent from Abraham,

But by Your blood, O Christ the Lamb,

Are we as God’s own children made,

And through that blood are unafraid

To name Your Father as our own

And boldly stand before the throne. 

4. In sparkling-bright baptismal dress,

With boldness grant that we confess

And boast alone in Jesus Christ,

Who for our sin was sacrificed. 

O Father, Son, and Spirit, One:

All thanks while endless ages run.

88 88 88

ALL EHR UND LOB (LSB 948)

Reformation; John 8:31-36