Let Freedom Ring

Introduction

This weekend, our nation has paused to celebrate Independence Day. Many of us over this long weekend have gathered with family and friends, enjoyed parades and fireworks, have waved the American flag, and have likely remembered the sacrifices of those who secured the freedoms we enjoy today.

As Christians, we should be thankful for those freedoms as well. We are blessed to live in a nation where we can gather openly to worship, preach the gospel, and serve our neighbors. But there is a freedom even greater than political liberty. Many people live in this free nation while remaining imprisoned by guilt, addiction, fear, bitterness, shame, and sin.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:1: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

Notice that Christ did not simply save us from hell. He saved us for freedom. Freedom is not just our destination—it is God's intention for our daily lives.

Today I want us to hear one simple message: Let freedom ring. Not only across our nation, but in our hearts, our homes, our church, and through our voices. Christian freedom always begins with confession—and it always leads to proclamation. Those are the things that we are going to discuss this morning. Let’s begin with a look at Galatians 5.

Historical Context

[SLIDE 2] If you look to the screens, you will see Papyrus 46, the earliest known codex containing several of Paul’s letters including the one to the Galatians. This compilation of scripts dates to about 200 CE, and is believed to have originated from a monastery in ancient Aphroditopolis. I say “believed” because it surfaced in 1920 Chairo, Egypt and was sold in sections, so some of the original story of its findings have been skewed.

Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written during his first missionary journey. Acts 13 records the period of his time in Antioch. This city occupied a section of the Roman Province that is located in central Asia Minor, a region known today as Turkey, but known then as Galatia. [SLIDE 3] If you look to the screens, you will see a map of that area. Many of the people occupying this region were Gentiles mostly from Celtic and Gallic descent. They were widely known for their passionate, and sometimes, fickle nature. Paul stayed with these people planting home churches, teaching and training them for somewhere between one and two years.

After Paul’s departure, false teachers infiltrated the region and began arguing with these new converts that Jesus was not enough, that they had to adopt the strict Jewish customs, such as observing Sabbath, keeping the dietary laws, and undergoing circumcision. Paul responded by defending his apostleship which highlighted his authority, and then launched into his “Faith plus Works” model of Holy Living, arguing that righteousness comes through Christ’s "Grace” alone, and that our works are a proper response to that “Grace”, dispelling the idea that salvation is found in deeds and observances.

Free from the Penalty of Sin

Romans 10:9 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

[SLIDE 4] Freedom begins with confession. Every one of us stood guilty before a holy God. Sin separated us from Him. Its penalty was death. There was nothing we could do to erase our guilt. Then Jesus stepped in. At Calvary He bore our punishment. He accepted our sentence. He paid our debt.

But that freedom becomes ours when we respond in repentance and faith. Confession is not simply admitting we made mistakes. It is agreeing with God about our sin. It is surrendering our lives to Christ. Every Christian has had a moment when they said, "Lord, I cannot save myself." "I need Your grace." "I confess my sin."

And in that very moment, the penalty was removed. The chains fell off. The debt was cancelled. That is why we sing about Amazing Grace. Not because we earned it. Because Christ paid for it. So, Freedom begins with confession.

Free from the Power of Sin

John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

[SLIDE 5] Many Christians believe Jesus forgives sin. Far fewer believe He actually changes lives. Yet that is exactly what Scripture promises. The same grace that pardons also transforms. Sin no longer has to be our master. The Holy Spirit now lives within every believer. We still face temptation. We still fight spiritual battles, but we no longer fight as slaves. We fight as sons and daughters of God.

As Salvationists, we have long proclaimed that Christ not only justifies but sanctifies. He not only forgives our past, He empowers our present. That means anger does not have to control us. Fear does not have to define us. Addiction does not have to own us. Bitterness does not have to consume us. Because Christ has broken sin's authority.

Every day we continue confessing our dependence upon Him. Every day we say, "Lord, I cannot do this without You." And every day His grace proves sufficient. Freedom begins with confession, and it continues through daily surrender.

Free from the Secrets of Sin

Psalm 32:3–5 “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away...”

[SLIDE 6] Secrets are prisons. The enemy loves darkness. Satan reminds us of the shame which continues to erode at our freedom. Even in this place, in the midst of our spiritual family, many have felt compelled to come forward to the altar but have been paralyzed by some idea that their shame might be exposed. But Jesus calls us into the light. Healing begins where honesty begins. James tells us to “Confess [our] sins to each other and pray for each other so that [we] may be healed."

Notice the pattern. Confession brings freedom while hidden sin brings bondage. Many Christians have received forgiveness but still carry unnecessary burdens because they refuse to bring hidden struggles into God's light. Freedom comes when we stop pretending, when we confess! The progressive response of confession is that God forgives, God heals, and God restores.

Friends, Freedom grows wherever confession lives!

But confession does not end there. The very mouth that confessed sin before God should now profess Christ before the world. Paul says in Romans 10 that we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord. Why? Because freedom was never intended to remain private.

Think about what happens every Fourth of July. Americans don't quietly appreciate freedom. They celebrate it.

We wave flags and tell the stories of Lexington and Concord, of Valley Forge, of Gettysburg, of Normandy. We proudly speak about the freedom others fought to secure. Why? Because people naturally proclaim what they treasure. How much more should Christians proclaim the freedom purchased by Jesus Christ?

Our freedom did not come through a battlefield. It came through an empty cross and an empty tomb. Our Declaration of Independence is our confession of faith: Jesus Christ is Lord.

If Christ has truly set us free, then "Let Freedom Ring" is not simply a patriotic slogan, it becomes the mission of every believer. We should let freedom ring from this pulpit. From our Sunday school classrooms. From our homes. In our workplaces. Throughout Sacramento. Wherever someone is still living under the weight of sin, we should shout freedom. Why? For a two-fold purpose:

We should be so proud and grateful that we cannot contain the excitement

And just as we needed to hear it, others cannot believe in the Christ they’ve never heard about.

We have been entrusted with the greatest news the world has ever known. The guilty can be forgiven. The captive can be liberated. The broken can be restored. The hopeless can find hope. The sinner can become a child of God.

As Salvationists, this is who we are. We preach salvation. We meet human needs. We point people to Jesus. We are heralds of freedom.

Closing Remarks

Galatians 5:1 “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

[SLIDE 7] Notice what Paul does not say here. He does not say Christ set us free so we could simply enjoy freedom. He says we are to stand firm. Therefore, we protect it, we live it, and we proclaim it.

Today, perhaps someone needs to confess sin for the very first time. Christ is ready to forgive. Perhaps someone has allowed sin to regain its grip. Christ is ready to restore. Perhaps someone has been carrying hidden burdens for years. Christ is ready to heal. And perhaps many of us simply need to recover our voice. The same lips that once confessed our need for a Savior should now boldly confess our Savior to the world.

This Independence Day weekend, let’s continue the celebration of our national freedoms with gratitude, but let’s also celebrate the freedom of Christ with joyful proclamation. May the freedom Christ purchased ring through our lives. May it ring through our testimony. May it ring through Sacramento Citadel and all that we have access to. And may it ring until every man, woman, and child has heard that Jesus Christ still sets people free.