Remembering Our Freedom

Freedom is Not Free

At the Korean War National Monument in Washington, DC, there is a slogan that says “Freedom is not Free.” It is a somber reminder as we celebrate this weekend Memorial Day. It was introduced in 1868 first as Decoration Day by General John Logan and became a National holiday by an act of Congress in 1971.

John Logan, the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.

In the movie Hacksaw Ridge, we learn the story of Desmond Doss, who would not enter combat with a gun because his beliefs and how he single handedly saved over 75 lives in one of the bloodiest battles in World War II. Historians tell us most likely he saved more lives than that, but he was said to have stated, “Lord, just let me get one more” each time he went back.

Jesus said in

John 15:13 NIV84

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:

Our country is blessed to have had thousands and thousands of lives die for the sake of our nation being free. In fact, according to the PBS.org website, over 1.1 million American men and women gave their lives in battles for our country.

You and I are able to worship today because of the price paid in order that we live in a free country. And ultimately, the price of freedom is not free, yet Christ should us freedom in setting us free!

http://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/newshour/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/02-total-deaths.jp

Galatians 5:1 NIV84

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

As we celebrate the lives of those who gave their all this weekend, let’s thank Jesus for giving us life and giving it so abundantly! This great verse from Galatians has some phenomenal reminders for us as we celebrate this Memorial Day.

First, look at the beginning statement: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

Freedom is a Gift

You see, we did not have to do anything to purchase our freedom in Christ. It is a gift that keeps on giving!

We are given the gift of freedom through Christ in order that we that we may have a free life.

You see, if we lived in the days of the Old Testament, you and I would have had to offer the priests monetary offerings and count on the priests in turn to offer blood sacrifices for the atonement of our sins. We we have to do this multiple times a year. In fact, in , we see the Pharisees asking the disciples why Jesus doesn’t pay the temple tax.

Can you imagine what that would be like if you and I had to do that all the time? That in itself would give us great bondage! We would become at the mercy of the priest. What if that priest had a bad day and only presented the sacrifice with half an effort? Would only half of our sins be cleansed?

Through Christ, we are free!

The Message has it this way: “Christ has set us free to live a free life.”

Freedom is a Choice

2 Peter 2:19 NIV84

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

John 8:31–36 NIV84

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

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Going back to

Galatians 5:1 NIV84

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

You see, the way this is worded, we have the opportunity to make a choice to be free our not. Paul tells us to stand firm. You and I have a choice to take a stand or to give in. You say, you don’t understand, I just can’t deal with it, I can’t go on. Really? You have the power within you to resist if you have Christ!

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV84

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

2 Corinthians 10:17

1 Corinthians 10:17 NIV84

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

2 Corinthians 10:17 NIV84

But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

You and I are free!

You can do not have to be burdened again, ever by a yoke of slavery.

Now let’s talk about this a bit. We have no idea what it means to be in slavery. Most likely, no one here has been enslaved where we were forced to work for another. But, many of us are indeed enslaved to habits that are preventing us from being all that God desires us to be!

We are enslaved to addictions, poor relationships, bad habits and a host of other things that are pulling us down. It is time to stop it. It is time to understand that in and through Christ, we are free. We are no longer bound by the those things that pull us down.

There’s a song floating around on KLOVE and Southern Gospel stations that express this in a great way:

If you’ve been walking the same old road for miles and miles If you’ve been hearing the same old voice tell the same old lies If you’re trying to feel the same old holes inside There’s a better life There’s a better lifeIf you’ve got pain He’s a pain taker If you feel lost He’s a way maker If you need freedom or saving He’s a prison-shaking Savior If you’ve got chains He’s a chain breaker

Psalm 107:14 NIV84

He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.

Psalm 107:

Freedom is Yours for the Asking

Romans 8:20-21

Romans 8:20–21 NIV84

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Others have gone before us and paved the way for us. We are capable of moving on. We are capable of being released from that which we have been snared by:

Hebrews 12:1 NIV84

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.