Freedom

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress of the United States. It stated that the thirteen colonies of North America were now “Free and independent States” and “all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.” After demanding freedom from the King’s “absolute Tyranny over these States,” the Declaration goes on to give over twenty-five indictments against the King, exposing his use of power to wickedly oppress and control the Americans for his own personal gain. In light of our history, it is right for us to take this 4^th of July to give honor to our forefathers, who boldly took a stand, so that we might have freedom to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in this life.

Similar to our nation’s history, we have each been held under the wicked oppression of an evil dictator; his name is Satan. He uses his power to extend his own kingdom at our expense. But the good news is that Jesus has given freedom to those who belong to Him, and allowed our connection with the evil one to be “totally dissolved.” In John 8:36, Jesus Himself says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” The scriptures elaborate on this point by explaining that we have freedom from the penalty of sin, which is eternal separation from God, and we have freedom from the control of sin, which is slavery. Secondly, we have freedom to an eternal form of “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.” We have the freedom of a spiritual “life” instead of death, we have the freedom of “liberty” to pursue righteousness instead of sin, and we have freedom for “the pursuit of happiness” which is one in the same as the pursuit of God.

Interestingly enough, on July 4^th, 1776, the Declaration was only signed by one man, the other 55 delegates didn’t start adding their signatures till almost a month later. This extremely brave man was John Hancock, who boldly declared with his famous signature, “No more tyranny! I demand Freedom!” At the cross, the one man, Jesus Christ, makes the same declaration for you and for me so that we might live a life of total freedom before a Holy God.

If you trust in Christ, did you know that you are free? Or have you mistaken Christianity for a burdensome treadmill of performance. You have been freed to worship, freed to serve, freed to obey and freed to fall more in love with the awesome and Holy God. If you do not know Christ, let today be your Independence Day: trust in the cross of Christ as your Declaration of Independence from Satan, and experience the freedom of knowing Christ.

Gal 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.