The Devil's Martyrs

Galatians 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Martin Luther:

Therefore, those who observe the law and those who rely entirely upon its righteousness and works are rightly called the devil’s martyrs. As the proverb says, they take more pains and punish themselves more in purchasing hell than the martyrs of Christ do in obtaining heaven. They are tormented in two ways: they are tormented while they live here by doing many difficult things, all in vain; and afterwards, when they die, they reap the reward of eternal damnation. Thus they are most miserable martyrs, both in this life and in the life to come, and their bondage is everlasting.

Godly people, on the other hand, have troubles in this world, but in Christ they have peace, because they believe that he has “overcome the world” (John 16:33). Therefore, we must stand firm in the freedom that Christ has purchased for us by his death, and we must take good care that we are not burdened again by a yoke of slavery.