FREEDOM & FORGIVENESS ARE NEVER FREE
(A sermon by Reverend Melvin Newland … reworked by Brian C. Byers
Freedom and forgiveness are never free, Reverend Melvin Newland in points out that there is always a price that has to be paid for both.
I trust that most of you realize that Tuesday was Veteran’s Day, & that throughout this nation & around the world, wherever our nation’s flag flies, people paused to remember the price that has been paid for the freedoms that we enjoy.
We set a national holiday for our veterans, but who is a veteran?
(illustration found on sermon central website)
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose bad behavior is outweighed sc by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She--or he--is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another--or didn’t come back at all.
He is the Quantico drill instructor that has never seen combat--but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other’s backs.
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory
of all the anonymous heroes whose valor die unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket--palsied now and aggravatingly slow—
who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of his life’s most vital years in the service of his country,
and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing less than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
For just a moment I’d like to have all of our Veterans who are present with us today stand up.
Would you please?
folks as our countrymen are standing, remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say, "Thank you."
That’s all most people need, and in most cases, it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
Two little words that mean a lot: "THANK YOU." We are grateful
ILL. On Nov. 19, 1863, Pres. Abraham Lincoln stood on the battlefield at Gettysburg to dedicate a portion of that land as a national cemetery.
Lincoln spoke simply & clearly, & startled the people by the briefness of his remarks.
Now folks, I realize that most of you are already familiar with what he said, but would you listen again to a portion of it? After his opening sentences, he said:
"We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.
It is altogether fitting & proper that we should do this.
"But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.
The brave men, living & dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here; but it can never forget what they did here.
"It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us –
that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion –
that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom,
& that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Gettysburg does not stand alone in our memory.
Time would fail if I tried to mention to mention such places as Valley Forge, Flanders Field, Omaha Beach, Iwo Jima, Pork Chop Hill, Hamburger hill, Normandy Beach, Panama, Granada, the Mekong, & Desert Storm, Viet Nam, Korea, Afganistan, Bagdad …
folks, we must realize that if freedom is to be carried on from generation to generation - if our children & our grandchildren are to enjoy freedom - then we must be willing to pay the price, because "freedom is never free."
Just ask WEBSTER ANDERSON… he received the medal of honor for his efforts in Viet Nam.
While protecting his crew and directing their fire against the enemy from his exposed position, 2 enemy grenades exploded at his feet knocking him down and severely wounding him in the legs.
Despite the excruciating pain and though not able to stand, Sfc. Anderson valorously propped himself on the parapet and continued to direct howitzer fire upon the closing enemy and to encourage his men to fight on.
Seeing an enemy grenade land within the gun pit near a wounded member of his gun crew, Sfc. Anderson heedless of his own safety, seized the grenade and attempted to throw it over the parapet to save his men.
As the grenade was thrown from the position it exploded and Sfc. Anderson was again grievously wounded.
Although only partially conscious and severely wounded, Sfc. Anderson refused medical evacuation and continued to encourage his men in the defense of the position.
Sfc. Anderson by his inspirational leadership, professionalism, devotion to duty and complete disregard for his welfare was able to maintain the defense of his section position and to defeat a determined attack.
Sfc. Anderson’s gallantry and extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
"Freedom is never free." It sounds like a paradox when you say it, but it is true. "Freedom is never free."
In the same way, forgiveness is never free. That, too, sounds untrue at first. But before forgiveness takes place there is always a price to be paid for sin is a costly thing.
Kenneth Beckman said once that “Sin is a problem fit for God…. Such a big problem that only God can take care of it.”
There are 3 things that I want to say in light of this message.
EVERY ONE IS SPIRITUALLY IN DEBT - EVERY ONE OF US IS A DEBTOR
A. Every person in this room is in debt to society, to our nation, to those who have given their lives & to God. We all are debtors.
Now, if I were to talk about atonement or regeneration some of you might go out scratching your heads. But when I talk about being in debt, you know exactly what I am talking about. All of us are debtors.
Now, an important asset when you’re in debt is a good memory.
Because if you don’t remember to whom you owe money you’re going to have all kinds of trouble.
Many people have a poor memory.
I imagine that there are some who think to them selves, "God, you’re lucky to have me on your team.
I’m pretty special. I have memorized the commandments & I pray beautiful prayers & I do many significant things for You.
God, I’m a pretty special guy."
What they forget is that they are sinners too. Those were sins were sins of the heart, and they don’t recognize them as sins.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that we all stand in need of forgiveness.
It’s also easy for us to forget how indebted we are to those who paid a price to achieve freedom for us?
its easy for us to get in our cars & drive from one place to another without even thinking about the blessings of the freedoms we enjoy?
it’s easy to come into God’s house & open our Bibles & never even give it a second thought?
it is easy for us to forget those pilgrim forefathers who crossed the ocean to this new land? It’s easy for us to forget the blood that was shed at Valley Forge, & at Gettysburg?
We put hamburgers on the grill & sit around enjoying all the material blessings that God has given us
, & forget the blood that was shed so that the stars & stripes could fly in the breeze
& that we could still enjoy the freedom that is ours as citizens of the United States of America.
We owe a great debt to our country, & to those who have gone before.
We also owe a great debt to our God who has redeemed & forgiven us. We are all debtors. We all owe a debt.
Secondly, we can never repay that debt.
If all my creditors should decide to collect everything I owe all at once, I would be in deep trouble because I owe more than I can pay all at once.
I can whittle away at it, but I couldn’t pay it all back if everybody wanted their money at the same time.
when I think of the debt of freedom that I owe to our forefathers, I realize that is also a debt that I can’t pay.
And when I think of the debt that I owe God in heaven for the price that He has paid for my sins, I realize that I can’t pay that either.
One of my college professors once me that “When Jesus Christ died on the Cross, He paid the price more adequately than if each man had of died for his own sins!”
some would say that I do lots of good things, I sing songs of praise in church and do lots of good stuff
You say, "Well, that’s the way to pay God back."
But that isn’t paying Him back. All that is doing is saying, “Praise the Lord, and "Thank you, Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins."
That’s all we can do, too. We can never pay God back. But we can roll up our sleeves & go to work.
We can worship & we can serve & we can cry a little bit & we can pray a bunch.
And we can get out & reach people for Jesus. We can do all that,
but we will never - even if we work 20 hours a day the rest of our lives - never be able to pay the debt that we owe our God.
Then finally this - Forgiveness is available to everyone.
First of all, we stated that all of us are spiritually in debt. Secondly, we said we can never repay the debt.
"Since we can’t pay it, therefore we stand in need of forgiveness."
And the good news is that forgiveness is available to everyone, but forgiveness is not free.
Forgiveness always costs something.
When God said, "I forgive you of your sin," then it cost God something.
Because before the forgiveness there had to be the suffering & pain & agony at Gethsemane.
Before the forgiveness there had to be the death on the cross & the burial & the resurrection.
That price had to be paid. The ledger had to be clear before forgiveness could become a reality. But now that it has been paid it’s available to all.
Isn’t that also true of our freedom? The price has been paid. It is available to all in this great land.
That is why we rejoice at the Declaration of Independence. That is why we rejoice in the Statue of Liberty. Because freedom is available to all of us, regardless of where we live in this great nation.
Freedom is never free. It always costs someone something. Freedom is something that is valuable!
It is so valuable that men have been willing to give their lives in exchange for their own freedom,
the freedom of their families and that of their countrymen! Freedom of religion, freedom of the Press, freedom of Speech.
Today many are giving their lives for the freedom from terror! Freedom is a costly thing! It costs! There is always a price to be paid. Freedom is never free!
In the same term, Forgiveness is never free.
It always costs something. Forgiveness is valuable. It is so valuable that countless men and women have given there lives for the faith.
Stephen was stoned; James was executed under Herod Agrippa,
Matthew traveled to Ethiopia and was pinned to the ground and beheaded!
Jesus brother James was reported to have been stoned, cast down from the top of the temple, and still alive, smashed in the head with a fuller’s club.
Matthias was stoned; Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross.
Tradition tells us that Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.
Peter was crucified upside-down. Paul lost his head, Jude and Bartholomew were crucified.
Thomas was run thru with spears and thrown into an oven. Luke was hung from an olive tree, and John was exiled. (these martyrs were found in “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs”)
Forgiveness is valuable beyond measure! God considered it so valuable that he gave his very own life as a provision for it!
He gave it as a ransom for many! He demonstrated His love for us in that even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
There is always a price that must be paid. For forgiveness is never free
Right now we need to remember the price & to thank God for our freedom & for our forgiveness.
And we dedicate ourselves to keep on paying the price so that freedom might be enjoyed for generations to come.
We also should dedicate ourselves anew to accept the provision that has been made for our forgiveness. He died for it!
Today, God’s forgiveness is available to you.
He offers it to you through Jesus Christ His Son. He challenges you to look once more at the cross & realize that the price has been paid for your sins & for mine.
He invites you to come & know Him as Lord & Savior & to receive His forgiveness as His gift.
Pray (extemporaneous) … then follow with the Special Forces Prayer
The Special Forces Prayer
Almighty God, Who art the author of liberty and the champion of the oppressed, hear our prayer.
We the men of Special Forces, acknowledge our dependence upon thee in the preservation of human freedom.
Go with us as we seek to defend the defenseless and to free the enslaved.
May we ever remember that our nation, who’s motto is “In God We Trust,” expects that we shall acquit ourselves with honor,
That we may never bring shame upon our faith, our families, or our fellow men.
Grant us wisdom from thy mind, courage from Thine heart, strength from Thine arm, and protection by Thine hand.
It is for thee that we do battle, and it is to thee belongs the victor’s crown.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the Glory, Forever Amen
the following is the order of service that we used, all Hymn numbers are out of the Nazaren Hymnal. i hope that this is helpful ...
November 16, 2003
Veteran’s Day Service!
10:55 AM Prelude “Salute” Medley
Welcome and Announcements
Invocation
Hymn #756 Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory
The Presentation of The Colors
(By The Veterans of Foreign Wars)
The Pledge of Allegiance
Hymn # 760 The Star-Spangled Banner
Worshipping through tithes and offerings
Hymn # 757 My Country, ‘Tis of Thee
Hymn # 759 America, The Beautiful
Today’s Message
“Freedom and Forgiveness are Never Free!”
God Bless America
The Retiring of the Colors
closing prayer.
