Today is the 4th of July, and the Day that the United States celebrates its freedom. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain. We as a nation became independent of the rule of other countries. We experienced freedom as the colonists never had before. This freedom was not free. No freedom is ever free. Someone must pay the price for our freedom.
As a Christian, my freedom was bought with the blood of Jesus. He paid the debt of sin I owed, but couldn’t pay. He freed me from the bondage of sin. In John 8:31-36, Jesus is speaking to a congregation of Jews that had placed their faith in Him. Jesus cautions them to keep their faith in Him, not to allow the confidence and pride they had in themselves, or their present feelings to guide them. He knew they were babies in their new faith, and it would be tested. They must express their joy and love, but not be confident in what they could do. They were free from the bondage of the old Jewish laws that were not based on faith in Christ. The Jews had become keepers of the law but were not abiding in faith. Most had become prideful in their religion and become confident in themselves.
Jesus teaches them to remain obedient to what He had told them. This would be proof they were His disciples. In John 14:15, Jesus again instructs them that if they love Him, they will keep His commandments. Love produces obedience. In John 8:32, He tells them that the truth will make them free, to this, some responded in pride. Those who were there, but not believers proclaimed they were of the seed of Abraham, and they had been in bondage to no one. They felt they inherited Abraham’s freedom and spirit. However, they were not being honest. Their fathers had been slaves in Egypt, they had been enslaved in Babylon, and many other nations throughout history. They, and many today, do not understand the bondage that sin has over a life that is not surrendered to Christ. When we are not surrendered to Christ the temptation to sin is great and we have no inward resource to combat it. However, with the Holy Spirit dwelling within, we have everything we need to overcome our sin. We have someone to fight for us and someone we can run to for safety.
John 8:31-36 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committed sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abides not in the house forever: but the Son abides ever. If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
If the Son makes us free, we are free! Our freedom wasn’t cheap. It cost Jesus His life, separation from His own Father, and the pleasures and joy He had in Heaven before He came to earth. Yet He was willing to pay the price for our freedom.
Freedom is not to be taken for granted. We need to be thankful today for those who paid the price with their lives for the freedom we have in America. We need to be thankful for those who still pay the price by serving in our armed forces. However, we should also let this day remind us of the ultimate freedom and the ultimate price paid for it. We have the freedom from sin, no longer a slave to it. We have the freedom from the penalty of sin, which is an eternity in Hell. This life is short compared to eternity and we should be eternally grateful for Jesus giving His life so we could be free.
Yes, we are free, we are free indeed!
