My Grandparents served this country during World War 2. My Great Grand Uncle fought in World War 1. My Great Grand Parents fled oppression in Prussia. My father served as a Marine. My brother-in-law is currently serving as Marine. And my brother has served two tours in Iraq. I understand very little of what it means for me to be free, but I am thankful for the freedoms I have.
Do you believe you are free? The Bible tells us there is only one way to be free: through Jesus Christ. "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).
How does Christ set us free? He liberates us. In a similar manner to the United States of America received freedom as a gift from those who laid down their lives to break the yoke of slavery and tyranny, so Jesus Christ laid down His life upon the cross to break the yoke of sin, and sins tyrannical reign.
Perhaps you don't believe you are a slave to sin. But the Bible says you are, "Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin"" (John 8:34). The Bible also tells us in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So, according to the Bible we are all sinners, and, therefore, slaves to sin.
Not everyone in the United States of America is free. There are people who live here in fear of being discovered, deported, and separated from everything they have come to love. Some of them may never truly be free since they are here illegally and cannot apply for citizenship.
In the same manner, not everyone is free from sin. There are many who believe they are free from sin, but they are deceived. They are slaves to sin, and as a result will receive the penalty God has revealed for sinners. "For the wages of sin is death," (Romans 6:23a). Revelation 21:8 "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." You can say God would never send a person to eternal death, the second death, but God is not a liar, and His word is truth. Those who say God would never send a sinner to the Lake of Fire break the 1
st of the Ten Commandments, “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Just as those who are fearful of being discovered illegally must attempt to hide, so sinners find various places to attempt to hide from God. Some hide in false churches, some in false books of writing, some in denial, others in bitterness. Are you hiding from the truth of God's Word?
We all deserve the second death because of sin. But there is freedom, true freedom. Jesus Christ "came to seek and to save the lost." He came "not to be served, but to serve and give His life ransom for many." He sought the lost, and gave His life upon the cross. The blood of Jesus Christ was shed to save us from our sins. 1
st Peter 1:17-19 “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
So, how does one receive freedom established in the blood of Jesus Christ? Through faith. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” Ephesians 2:8, 9. John 1:12, 13 “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13 speak of the Word. This is “the Word who became flesh,” and “the Word was with God, and the Word was God, the same was in the beginning with God.” This Word can only be Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the One in whom we must believe in order to be saved and have the right to become the children of God.
If you want to be truly free, you must be saved from your sin through faith in Jesus Christ. Just as those who want to be truly free in America must receive citizenship, so you must be born of God in order to receive citizenship. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!” (Acts 16:31a).
