Freedom. A word used loosely by many who enjoy it. I say loosely because most do not understand that freedom is not free. The definition of freedom means to give us the right to act, speak, or think as we want to within the confines of the law, or it is to be released from some form of imprisonment. In the U.S.A. many celebrate July 4th, the day the states gained their independence from the rule of another country. Many only think of it as a day off from work to grill out, and shoot fireworks. They forget the great price that was paid so that they can enjoy the life they now live.
Today, I am so very thankful for those who gave their lives so that I can live in a free country. In the United States of America, we celebrate our independence as a nation, because many fought to their death for it. Freedom needs to be thought about with an attitude of gratitude. We need to contemplate the cost of the freedom we enjoy. In many parts of the world, freedom is something they dream about. They do not have the freedom to express their views verbally without threat of imprisonment or death. If they worship the one true God and believe that He gave His Son Jesus to die for their sins, they must worship in seclusion. Many have given their lives for the spread of the gospel. Exercising freedom of religion meant death to many.
While some of our freedoms are being threatened, and in time, our country too may go the way of others, and deny us the liberty we now enjoy. However, there is a freedom they cannot take away or destroy. That freedom is the freedom we experience when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. At the point of our conversion, we are set free from the rule of sin in our lives. Sin no longer rules us.
Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Does that mean that there will no longer be an invasion into our hearts that seeks to destroy our freedom? No, our enemy does not give up, but we are now armed with weapons he cannot destroy. We are armed with weapons that are not of flesh and blood. We are empowered with the Holy Spirit that lives within to guide us and direct us. God is our all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present, commander, and protector. None can stand against Him.
II Corinthians 10:4 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
We experience freedom from the guilt of sin. The truth will make us free and keep us free. Once we have been forgiven God no longer holds our past against us. We have been exposed to the truth, we have embraced and accepted the truth and we are free from the guilt of our past. We are no longer held captive by our sins.
We are also free from the penalty of our sins. The Son of God, Jesus, paid the ultimate price for our freedom. He gave His life so that we could be forgiven by the Father. We could be redeemed and bought back because the penalty for our sins was paid. We gained freedom from the penalty of our sins because Jesus took what we deserved.
We are also free from the rule of sin in our lives. It is no longer in control.
Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. “
There is a verse in John that states the truth will set us free. The truth, as opposed to a lie, always wins out, but there is another truth that sets us truly free. In John 14:6 Jesus Christ is called the Truth and He grants us true freedom for all eternity. I’m so thankful I have experienced that freedom. This freedom grants me freedom from sin, freedom from the guilt of sin, and freedom from the penalty of sin. This freedom grants me the freedom to experience eternal life in Heaven with the one who paid the ultimate price for my freedom.
John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:36 “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
If you live in the U.S.A., please take time today to reflect on the freedoms you experience, because brave men and women stand guard to protect those freedoms that were gained by the death of others. If you are a Christian, thank God that He made a way and granted you the ultimate freedom. If you are not a Christian, that freedom is yours for the asking. God loves you so much that he gave His Son so that you could be forgiven and experience eternal life with Him.
