Bound and Free: How Faith Alone Frames the Christian Life

by William M. Marsh

In Bound and How Faith Alone Frames the Christian Life, William M. Marsh takes a fresh look at Martin Luther's 1520 treatise, The Freedom of a Christian. In this work, Marsh points to the duality of being both bound and free in Christ. Exploring the concept of "simul," Marsh offers the reality of the Christian being "simultaneously" a sinner and just.

Bound and Free is not only a theology for the Christian Life or another book on how to effectively live by faith. It goes much deeper than that. It explores the tension of the Christian life. Being both sinner and saved, being broken and yet restored, and being sinful but just in the eyes of the Lord.

Genres: Theology

384 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2026

Reviews

[Andrew Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Marsh skillfully addresses my need and the need of Evangelicalism as a whole: how faith alone shapes the entirety of the Christian life (not just justification). Dr. Marsh demonstrates how sola fide confronts our legalistic hearts and moves us towards being hearers and receivers of God's Word, confessors of our sin, and believers (and preachers) of God's promise to us. Truly, "we can never talk about the Christian life without always talking about faith" (26).

[Ched Spellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful study of how faith shapes the Christian life. It’s also a great entryway into Luther’s work, Freedom of a Christian. Recommended!