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The Freedom of the Christian
The Freedom of the Christian was Martin Luther's first public defense of the doctrine of justification by grace through faith on account of Christ alone. Luther's explosive rediscovery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shattered the Church of Rome's foundation of works, which considered good works a part of salvation instead of a result of it. Here, Luther constructed a rich theology that relies on the full power of the Gospel, which not only grants saving faith but also nurtures that faith through good works done in the freest service.
This new abridged translation from Adam Francisco, featuring a brief essay from Scott Keith, leaves no doubt that the Christian, secure in Christ, is truly free-free from sin, death, and the devil, and free to serve their neighbor.
This new abridged translation from Adam Francisco, featuring a brief essay from Scott Keith, leaves no doubt that the Christian, secure in Christ, is truly free-free from sin, death, and the devil, and free to serve their neighbor.
74 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1520
About the author
Martin Luther
5,119 books838 followersMartin Luther (1483-1546) was a German monk, theologian, university professor and church reformer whose ideas inspired the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization.
Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.
Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.
His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.
Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.
Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.
Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.
His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.
Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 15, 2020
Another high quality, gospel-centric resource from 1517 publishing.
February 3, 2026
Phenomenal! This little book explains our freedom in Christ and what he accomplished on the cross, and how we relate to good works now. The simple gospel is really all we need and the power of God (or “dynamite” of God as Scott Keith describes toward the end) and we cannot depart from it. I will be re-reading this. 🙌😊
December 31, 2025
The style of this translation of Luther's work does not really match other things that I have read by Luther. I think that the translator abbreviated the book and paraphrased quite a bit of it. He also used a modern paraphrase of the Bible.
There were certainly some great truths in the book. I just wish that the translator had left it alone and used a more literal English translation.
There were certainly some great truths in the book. I just wish that the translator had left it alone and used a more literal English translation.
April 28, 2023
Nice try, nerd
December 27, 2023
finally broke my spell of being illiterate. hopefully my mental health is on the incline now💯
January 17, 2024
Freed from the requirements of the law by faith in Christ, to freely serve our neighbor with our good works to be a Christ to them.
No wonder this book blew up Germany in 1520…
No wonder this book blew up Germany in 1520…
October 31, 2025
Helpful and short book on justification by grace through faith alone
May 7, 2026
Luther brings the greatest good news in the clearest terms:
“Out of his abundant mercy, through Christ, God richly and freely gives me, an unworthy and damned person, apart from any merit on my part, the full riches of righteousness and salvation so that from now on, I need nothing more than to believe it so. For such a Father, who has showered me with countless blessings, I shall freely, cheerfully, and for nothing in return do what pleases him and become a Christ to my neighbor, the way Christ was and is for me, and do nothing else than what I see is necessary, useful, and a blessing to my neighbor, since through faith I already have enough of everything I need in Christ.”
This is the Christian life. God has set us perfectly free from the law, that despite our sins we would not be condemned for them. And in loving response to God’s love for us, we love Him as well as our neighbor.
He explains the nature of good works expertly:
“No work is necessary for salvation. Therefore, we are free to order our work in service to and for the good of others.”
We do not do good works in order to merit our salvation—for our salvation has already been merited by Christ. Now we are free to do good to others out of the pure goodwill of our hearts, not out of a twisted motivation to gain our own benefit by them! Freedom *from* death and freedom *to* do good. This is Christian freedom—true freedom.
“Out of his abundant mercy, through Christ, God richly and freely gives me, an unworthy and damned person, apart from any merit on my part, the full riches of righteousness and salvation so that from now on, I need nothing more than to believe it so. For such a Father, who has showered me with countless blessings, I shall freely, cheerfully, and for nothing in return do what pleases him and become a Christ to my neighbor, the way Christ was and is for me, and do nothing else than what I see is necessary, useful, and a blessing to my neighbor, since through faith I already have enough of everything I need in Christ.”
This is the Christian life. God has set us perfectly free from the law, that despite our sins we would not be condemned for them. And in loving response to God’s love for us, we love Him as well as our neighbor.
He explains the nature of good works expertly:
“No work is necessary for salvation. Therefore, we are free to order our work in service to and for the good of others.”
We do not do good works in order to merit our salvation—for our salvation has already been merited by Christ. Now we are free to do good to others out of the pure goodwill of our hearts, not out of a twisted motivation to gain our own benefit by them! Freedom *from* death and freedom *to* do good. This is Christian freedom—true freedom.
January 14, 2025
Sola Fide!!!
Sola Scriptura!!!
The gospel “blows stuff up”
“The gospel is dynamite. Exploding faith into the heart of the believer by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
“A good or bad house does not make a good or bad carpenter. A good or bad carpenter makes a good or bad house.
No work makes a master artisan, rather as the master is, so is the work.”
Every preacher, and I would add every sermon must preach contrition, the law, and sin, but at the same time must preach grace and faith alone!
If you’re works should play any role in your salvation, then you do them selfishly. You work for your own sake! But brothers, that is not the case with you. You have been saved by faith. Your faith has brought upon you a righteousness that is not your own. You are free then in every way. If free, then you are no longer bound to your selfish desires and impulses. No, your mind, has been made new, and you have been granted grace to see the world, in some sense, as God sees it. In such a case, if you have aligned your heart with God, then your works will reflect the heart of the sacrificial servant which is our God in the man of Jesus Christ.
Your works are then done for the sake of others that they too may know God, not for your own sake.
Sola Scriptura!!!
The gospel “blows stuff up”
“The gospel is dynamite. Exploding faith into the heart of the believer by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
“A good or bad house does not make a good or bad carpenter. A good or bad carpenter makes a good or bad house.
No work makes a master artisan, rather as the master is, so is the work.”
Every preacher, and I would add every sermon must preach contrition, the law, and sin, but at the same time must preach grace and faith alone!
If you’re works should play any role in your salvation, then you do them selfishly. You work for your own sake! But brothers, that is not the case with you. You have been saved by faith. Your faith has brought upon you a righteousness that is not your own. You are free then in every way. If free, then you are no longer bound to your selfish desires and impulses. No, your mind, has been made new, and you have been granted grace to see the world, in some sense, as God sees it. In such a case, if you have aligned your heart with God, then your works will reflect the heart of the sacrificial servant which is our God in the man of Jesus Christ.
Your works are then done for the sake of others that they too may know God, not for your own sake.
September 16, 2024
A beautiful exhortation to the Christian that he is subject both to all and to none. Luther eloquently outlines justification by faith and excoriates the folly of works-righteousness, showing that the Christian man is not saved by any outward work, but by the saving grace of Christ, given freely through faith. His metaphor of faith as a marital union between us and Christ in which he takes on our fault in exchange for his righteousness is one to save in the heart. An extremely spiritually edifying work, worth reading and re-reading.
January 13, 2026
Excellent and Helpful!
Adam Francisco has pro iced a fresh, accurate, and readable translation of one of Luther's capstone writings in defense of his 95 theses and the teachings of the Reformation!
With the introduction, an added modern essay of application, and a conclusion making nearly half of this small book, I am reminded how brief this great writing of Luther was! And with those added items is certainly accessible and helpful to lay people as well as clergy! I highly recommend you read it!!
Adam Francisco has pro iced a fresh, accurate, and readable translation of one of Luther's capstone writings in defense of his 95 theses and the teachings of the Reformation!
With the introduction, an added modern essay of application, and a conclusion making nearly half of this small book, I am reminded how brief this great writing of Luther was! And with those added items is certainly accessible and helpful to lay people as well as clergy! I highly recommend you read it!!
December 24, 2022
Timeless Truth of how faith and works are intertwined
The fact that Luther’s teaching from 500 years ago is as practical now as it was revolutionary then, is a testimony to the relevance of God’s Word throughout all generations. If you struggle with never having done enough, read this and be reminded of what faith is.
The fact that Luther’s teaching from 500 years ago is as practical now as it was revolutionary then, is a testimony to the relevance of God’s Word throughout all generations. If you struggle with never having done enough, read this and be reminded of what faith is.
January 9, 2025
Great translation and a great essay afterwards analyzing the implications of Luther’s work for us today. So refreshing to hear a succinct and convicted explanation of the Gospel like this one! It is crazy to think how foundational his message is to so many today when it was so revolutionary to many of its first hearers.
April 27, 2026
Wow - helped me understand the Gospel - wow. Our salvation cannot be earned by doing good deeds, reading the Bible, praying more, helping others. When we are married to Christ, He takes on our debt as if it was his. All we must do is receive Him and believe Him. Good works are a fruit of the life transformation that comes from having faith in Jesus.
Life changing.
Life changing.
December 28, 2025
Dynamite, a lot more to think about here and getting clear the place of works in faith. They are a result, not a requirement. I feel like I don’t understand my former confusion 🤣
I would like to find it in Czech and also maybe read the unabridged, academic version
I would like to find it in Czech and also maybe read the unabridged, academic version
June 6, 2023
Little but mighty
October 23, 2024
An abridgment of Luther’s treatise with helpful introductory/explanatory essays by two Lutheran pastors.
February 27, 2026
One of the best things I’ve ever read. And it only took me a little over an hour in the car.
June 14, 2025
Read for school…it’s a historic piece of theological literature. Not what I’m interested in, but could be interesting to some.
May 2, 2023
Martin Luther challenged my thoughts on my own righteousness. I was reminded of the Doctrine of Substitution, by which Christ made me perfect by taking on all of my sin and the entire world. What does it mean to be righteous? My righteous works do not make me righteous, but by being made righteous through Christ those works flow out from me. Because Christ has made me righteous first, I now freely serve Him because it is glorifying to him. This is genuine faith. Just because I do good works does not mean that I have genuine faith. Since, no works are required for salvation I can now posture myself to serve others how Christ did. I am humbled by the law of Christ because I can not follow it perfectly. I can freely obey Him, not because it is required for my salvation, but out of love for my Savior!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews