+ Living for Christ: In Freedom +

  Parades in the streets, hot dogs on the grill, and fireworks in the night sky! Are they what “The Fourth” is about?  No. The 4th of July is really about freedom.  It is a public holiday to celebrate the separation from the tyranny of the English empire, which was proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence and accomplished by the blood of many soldiers who were willing to die free rather than to live oppressed.  Freedom is what the Fourth is really about.  The parades, hot dogs and fireworks are an outward celebration of that freedom.

    Freedom is also what Christianity is about.  There many parallels between the freedom that we enjoy in the United States of America and the freedom that God gives in the Christian faith.

•    The Americans were seeking freedom from the tyrannical English king.  He was oppressing them with unjust laws and taxation.  Christians seeking freedom from the tyranny of Satan who oppresses through temptation and the consequences of sin – an unhappy life and eternal death in hell.
•    The freedom that Americans enjoy was declared in written form – The Declaration of Independence.  The freedom that Christians enjoy is also declared in written form – The Holy Bible.
•    The overthrow of British power cost much blood; many died to buy our freedom.  The overthrow of sin, death and Satan cost blood; not just of a man, but of God.  Jesus died on the cross to gain the freedoms that we enjoy:  freedom from the demands of the law, freedom from the consequence of sin, freedom and strength to lead a holy life, freedom from eternal death in hell.

My friends, in Christ you are free.  You sins are forgiven.  But how will you use your freedom?  The Apostle Paul answers, “You, my brothers, were called to be free but do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)

Here is the final comparison between the Fourth and Christianity.  Freedom is celebrated outwardly.  For the Fourth, it is parades, hot dogs and fireworks.  For Christianity, it is so much more.  We celebrate our freedom by gathering at church to hear God’s Word, giving of ourselves in service to the Lord, and by loving our neighbor.

The freedoms that we enjoy in the United States of America are great.  But the freedom that Jesus won is greater.  Jesus loves you.  Your sins are forgiven!  That is freedom.  That is reason to celebrate.