Freedom (July 4, 2021)
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
Freedom, Liberty, and the values we celebrate today were God’s ideas originally!
As we celebrate our nation’s freedom today - freedom from oppression, tyranny, terrible powers and etc… we must remember that freedom, liberty, and independence from oppression were God’s ideas for humanity and, therefore, government, from the very beginning.
God sets the precedent for freedom early in history. In fact, according to the Biblical narrative, shortly after humanity is created God declares us to be free.
But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
“You are free,” God said. You have a choice. Your have the liberty and free will and ability to choose. That is the way we were created.
But, sin enslaves! When we made a choice to sin we were enslaved to its oppressive power and its tyrannical rule. Sin ruled us through our own choices, but it also plagued us through the choices of others. We bore the consequences of other people’s wrong doing (as well as our own - it’s not as though we are completely innocent…). We dealt with governments of oppression and tyranny.
But, remember, Freedom was God’s plan.
The founders of our nation over 200 years ago recognized that humans were created to experience freedom and express liberty. They recognized that this was GOD’S DESIRE for humans and for their government. So, they set up an experiment to establish a government that RECOGNIZED this GOD GIVEN, GOD ESTABLISHED, GOD CREATED freedom/liberty.
How do I know this? They WROTE IT DOWN. It is in our founding documents...
The Declaration of Independence...
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
This Declaration made it clear that the Colonies were independent from England - But it also made it clear that they were dependent upon God for the freedom that GOD granted.
Samuel Adams said, “We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and… from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come.”
Did you know that every state in the United States has in its state constitution somewhere, either in the preamble or in the first paragraph or first sentences a statement of thankfulness or reliance upon God for our freedoms? The Declaration of Independence set the precedent that we thank God and rely upon God for our freedom; for freedom can only come from the One who originally created it.
Hawaii — “We, the people of Hawaii, grateful for Divine Guidance… do hereby ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Hawaii.”
Florida — “We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty,… do ordain and establish this constitution.”
Washington — “We, the people of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe of our Liberties, do ordain this constitution.”
Montana — “We the people of Montana grateful to God for the quiet beauty of our state, the grandeur of our mountains, the vastness of our rolling plains, and desiring to improve the quality of life, equality of opportunity and to secure the blessings of liberty for this and future generations do ordain and establish this constitution.”
California — “We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution.”
Not only did our founders recognize our God given freedom, they wanted us to model this freedom and be an example of it to the world.
William Penn had the idea in his heart to set up a form of government that would be a light to all the world that they could see the God granted freedom. When he came to claim his property given to him by the king, which later became Pennsylvania, he wanted his land and “country” to be an example to the world of what God could do. So he wrote,
“For my country, I eyed the Lord in the obtaining of it, and more was I drawn inward to look to him and to owe it to his hand and power, than to any other way. I have so obtained it, and desire that I may not be unworthy of his love, but do that which may answer his kind providence, and serve his truth and people; that an example may be set up to the nations; there may be room there, though not here, for such an holy experiment.”
And the same was true of the Pilgrims who landed in Massachusetts. Before they got off of the boat they made a covenant to be an example to the rest of the world. William Bradford declared to the Pilgrims,
He [God] wants us to do a new thing – He wants all men to see what He can do with a people who totally rely on Him for everything – including their government.”
So, we celebrate today our God given freedom and liberty that our Nation has recognized and fought, and struggled to preserve. Freedom is a gift from God that our Nation has struggled to show our world.
But, remember, I said earlier that sin strips us of our freedom. The very God who provided us freedom in the beginning is the very God who provides a remedy for the sin that enslaves us. We have sung about this freedom. The answer to bondage and enslavement is not a constitution (although it recognizes God’s providence in granting freedom) - the answer to bondage and enslavement is Jesus Christ who truly sets us free. He sets us free from sin, from death, and he sets us free to experience the liberty God intended for us to experience us from day 1 of creation.
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
Jesus Christ is who truly sets us free. But, freedom is a 2 sided coin. Yes, we are set free from sin and death, but we are also set free to serve God.
Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
True liberty in Christ is not that we are allowed to do anything and everything. True liberty in Christ is that we are given the ABILITY to live righteous lives. We are set free from sin and bonded to God - this is TRUE LIBERTY!!
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.
True liberty and freedom is found in Jesus Christ. He is the one who gave his life (setting the example of what it means to sacrifice for other people’s freedom). He gave his life so that we can be set free from bondage to sin and death. Paul encourages us not to take this liberty and freedom for granted - but to use our liberty and freedom to give us the ability to not be tied up again in things and ideas that do not keep us free.
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
As we are set free we are reminded that true freedom has also true responsibility. We are set free to flee sin and death. And, we are also set free to serve one another. We are set free to be able to fully love and to be a light that shows our freedom to our community, our neighborhood and our world.
We are set free to give hope for others living in bondage to sin that by the power of Christ they too can be set free!
May we use our freedom in Christ to draw others to experience this true liberty that Christ offers them as well.
May it not only be for our own personal freedom, but for the freedom of others that Christ has set us free!
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
May God receive the glory for our freedom and may we live and express our freedom in a way that shows others God’s glory!