Alba 7-4-2021
FREEDOM
Romans 1:26-32
Today is the 4th of July, otherwise known as Independence Day. 245 years ago, our forefathers pledged their honor and their lives to the formation of a new nation free from outside interference and control.
On the 2d of July 1776, a resolution declaring the colonies free and independent States, was adopted. A declaration to that effect was, on the same and the following days, taken into further consideration. Finally, on the 4th of July, the Declaration of Independence was agreed to.
John Adams in a letter to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776 (referring to the day before, when the resolution for independence was passed) stated: “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.”
He was right, except that we celebrate the day that the Declaration was signed, not the day, two days earlier, when the resolution was passed. Celebrations began immediately.
In that first year they featured readings of the Declaration of Independence in public places, accompanied by the firing of muskets and cannon.
The statue of King George in New York was torn down and its lead turned into bullets. Everywhere were military parades, bells ringing, toasts, fireworks, music and "loud huzzas."
One year later, on July 4, 1777, Philadelphia marked the Independence Day by adjourning Congress and celebrating with bonfires, bells and fireworks. And that custom spread to other towns both large and small.
On July 18, 1777 the Virginia Gazette newspaper reported: “Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious and ever memorable day, be celebrated through America, by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more. Amen, and amen.”
In 1781, the legislature of Massachusetts became the first to officially designate the Fourth of July as a holiday commemorating the birth of independence; in 1783 — the year the Revolutionary War formally ended — the governor of North Carolina followed suit.
Theses days, celebrations include such activities as picnics and barbecues, baseball games, races and contests, parades with marching bands and Revolutionary War-era costumes, reenactments of historical events, concerts featuring patriotic songs, fireworks at dusk, and more.
All of this began 245 years ago with the words, “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands, which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
“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.”
That's the reason we stand when we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. That's the reason we stand with those who believe we have a heritage of freedom that needs to be protected.
And, as Christians, we stand on the principle that God is over all nations. And we must remain under His guidance and blessing to survive as a free county.
President Ronald Reagan said, “I believe with all my heart that standing up for America means standing up for the God who has so blessed our land. We need God’s help to guide our nation through stormy seas. We can’t expect Him to protect America in a crisis if we just leave Him over on the shelf in our day-to-day living.”
Those men who signed the Declaration of Independence sought to throw off the yoke of tyranny from a distant ruler.
There are tyrants today. They all look different but have the same agenda, and they all desire to enslave and subjugate the population of their countries to bring themselves more power, status, and comfort without effort on their part.
Even in our own country, we face issues where people seemingly want to change America from its founding principles. Many seem unaware that there were godly people who desired freedom, not only of thought and action, but also to have the ability to worship freely.
Instead people want freedom from any restraints. “Let me do my thing,” is the attitude of many. This is not new. It is not progress. It is regression to animal like behavior.
The apostle Paul writes in Roman 1:26-27 explaining that since people have turned their backs on acknowledging God in any form, he says:
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
Today, in our American culture, we have crossed the line from disrespect to outright blasphemy! God’s holiness is mocked. It is open season on the character of God. For example, movies and plays depicting Jesus as a homosexual.
Today we have what has been referred to as the Alphabet people. LGBTQ+. All demanding special rights instead of the equal rights guaranteed by our constitution.
If you were paying attention, the month of June was designated as "Pride Month” in a proclamation by President Biden prohibiting “discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation”.
In an article for the Family Research Council entitled “Thinking Biblically About Pride Month” by Joseph Backholm, June 2, 2021, he states the following:
“It’s ironic that those who started 'Pride' events used the term 'pride' to describe them. They named their entire movement after one of the seven deadly sins; a sin that Proverbs assures us is the prelude to our destruction: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18).
“It is almost as if God was looking to make it obvious what was actually happening here. Just as we would be wise to avoid celebrating 'Wrath Month' or a 'Lust Parade,' Christians should be wary of celebrating pride. After all, we know what happens next.”
But the problems in America do not end there. People have resurrected the same behaviors that Paul speaks of here in Romans chapter one. He continues in verses 28-32.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Many tyrants have exercised power over people and nations. May we not allow that in our United States of America. But there is a tyrant that does exercise power in too many lives today.
As this list of behaviors here in Romans chapter one shows, that tyrant is the devil himself. He desires to pull as many people away from our loving God and Heavenly Father as he can. And as we look around our great nation, we see that he has been far too successful.
That's why Paul in his letter to the Galatians, chapter five verse 13 warns: For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.
Freedom, true freedom, comes in knowing and doing the will of the Lord. What is His will in your life and mine? Love the Lord and love one another as we would like to be loved. Our freedom and happiness comes from worship and service to one another.
That's why Paul says in Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free. Our forefathers gave us the freedom we have in America. But Jesus gave us the ultimate in freedom.
He said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed... And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free... Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
(John 8:31,32,36).
It is by our genuine obedient faith in Jesus and His atoning work on the cross that makes us free. When we surrender our life to Jesus and His death on the cross which paid for our sins, we can be really free. This freedom supersedes anything any nation or people can provide for us.
The question may be asked: What are we free from?
Well, there’s a lot we’re free from in Christ, but let me focus on the three main issues. (1) We are free from the penalty of sin. When Jesus hung on the cross, His last words were: “It is finished” (John 19:30) The Greek word used there means “paid in full”.
Romans 8:1 says, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
(2) Also the freedom Jesus secured for us with His blood is intended to keep us from being a slave to any sin in our lives. I’m not talking about sinless perfection; no one is perfect but Jesus. But we no longer have to be in bondage to our fleshly desires. He has set us free!
And, (3) Jesus has set us free to accomplish the purpose God has for our lives. None of this sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, strife, deceit, or evil-mindedness which only leads to trouble.
God has better purposes for us. Ephesians 2:10 says: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
We’re saved for good works. If we are genuinely saved, then the Holy Spirit is in us and transforming us, and giving us the appetite and desire to do good works. Not out of obligation, but out of what? Thankfulness. Thankfulness for the freedom from sin and its consequences.
The founders of this great nation overcame overwhelming odds to fight for this nation and to stand for freedom.
There has been a great deal of blood shed in these last 245 years to secure our freedom to live as we do. Many have died and shed their blood for us who are here today.
The blood red stripes of the flag represent those who have paid the ultimate price of freedom. Freedom always seems to cost in blood.
That is true not only of our country, but in our freedom from sin and death. Scripture says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22).
That is why Jesus Christ died on the cross for us. He shed His blood so we might be free.
Jesus gives us freedom to follow His word that we might spend eternity in His kingdom. He gives us the freedom to become all that God the Father wants us to be.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).
CONCLUSION:
There is a report about a prisoner in Sydney, Australia who tried to escape from jail by climbing underneath the hood of a van delivering bread to the institution.
When the van made its next stop, the prisoner sneaked out from under the hood—hot and dirty. He found himself in the yard of another prison just 4 miles from the first.
Like that prisoner our own attempts at lasting freedom often leave us in another prison 4 miles down the road of life.
Often our attempts at freedom from our sins and with God leave us dejected, dirty, and in another prison. This shouldn’t surprise us. We cannot save ourselves.
When it comes to our relationship with God, salvation and freedom comes from what Jesus has done for us. He fought the battle and won!
And just like the patriots of old throwing off the tyranny of a foreign ruler, because of Jesus we too can throw off the tyranny of sin.
We don’t have to live lives absent of freedom or happiness. We can live truly free in Christ. The condition is we must repent of our sins and turn to Him in faith.
