Freedom’s Price
Galatians 5:13-18
Introduction
Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious and ever memorable day, be celebrated through America, by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more. Amen, and amen. Virginia Gazette, July 18, 1777
I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.
It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.
It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.
(John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776 (referring to the day before, when the resolution for independence was passed)
Adams’ words were prescient, even though he was off by two days. As the news spread, celebrations began immediately. In that first year they featured readings of the Declaration of Independence in public places, accompanied by the firing of muskets and cannon. The statue of King George in New York was torn down and its lead turned into bullets. Everywhere were military parades, bells ringing, toasts, fireworks, music and "loud huzzas." In 1781, the legislature of Massachusetts became the first to officially designate the Fourth of July as a holiday commemorating the birth of independence; in 1783 — the year the Revolutionary War formally ended — the governor of North Carolina followed suit.
Nowadays, celebrations include such all-American activities as picnics and barbecues (featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, potato salad and apple pie), baseball games, races and contests, parades with marching bands and Revolutionary War-era costumes, reenactments of historical events, concerts featuring patriotic songs, fireworks at dusk, and more.
1. Freedom
All of this began 232 years ago with the words,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands, which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
With those words resounding through out the centuries we find ourselves in a church celebrating the Fourth of July free from persecution, free from those that would take away our right to worship. These men sought to throw off the yoke of tyranny from a distant ruler.
There are tyrants today. They all look different but have the same agenda. The name could be Kim Jung Il, Akmdenejhad, or Hugo Chavez but they all desire to enslave and subjugate the population of their countries to bring themselves more power, status, and comfort without effort on their part.
Even our own country people are enslaved to something. I don’t see that many happy people even though we have the right to pursue happiness. Why is that? We are free in this country to work to become whatever our natural abilities allow but for some reason, not many are happy.
I believe as scripture says, we are slaves to sin. Our tyrant is sin in our lives. I know that is not popular but it explains everything. "The wages of sin is death" and even the Law leads to death. But, we don’t have to live slaves to sin.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 5:1
We too have been called to be free through Christ Jesus. Galatians 5:13 says,
You, my brothers, were called to be free.
And just like the patriots of old throwing off the tyranny of a foreign ruler so we too can throw off the tyranny of sin. We don’t have to live lives devoid of freedom or happiness. We can live truly free in Christ. The condition is we must repent of our sins and turn to Him in faith.
2. How Freedom Is Used
Why do we have laws when we live in a free country? We have the Statue of Liberty on the east coast but on the west there should be a Statue of Responsibility. Freedom doesn’t mean you can do what you want, that would be anarchy but it does mean that in the guidelines of the law you can live your life and become anything you want to become if you have the skills and ability.
Why is it so many Christians aren’t happy? We use freedom in Christ for the wrong purpose. Some believers think that freedom in Christ means they can do anything and they will be forgiven.
The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
That is true to a point but scripture is riff with passages that state "if you are in Christ, you won’t live that way". If you are a believer and follower of Christ, your life will resemble His life. The scriptures remind us often to "examine ourselves". Why, to see who we say we are and what we are living.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Freedom, true freedom comes in knowing and doing the will of the Lord. What is His will in your life and mine? Love the Lord and love one another as we would like to be loved. Our freedom and happiness comes from worship and service to one another.
3. Freedom’s Cost
There has been a great deal of blood shed in these last 232 years to secure our freedom to live as we do. Millions have died and shed their blood for us who are here today.
The blood red stripes of the flag we salute on special occasions represent those who have paid the ultimate prince of freedom. Freedom always seems to cost in blood.
It is true not only of our country but in our freedom from sin and death. Scripture says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins". That is why Jesus Christ died on the cross for us. He shed His blood so we might be free.
