Thank God For Freedom!

*James Merritt points out:

-His best friends could not convict Jesus of sin. John said about the Lord Jesus: "You know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin." (1 John 3:5) And critical, negative Peter said that Jesus was "a Lamb without blemish, and without spot, who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth." (1 Peter 1:19; 2:22)

*Jesus’ best friends could not convict him of sin, and His bitter foes could not convict him of sin.

-Pilate’s wife said, "Have nothing to do with that just Man." (Mt. 27:19)

-Pilate himself said, "I find no fault in Him at all." (Jn. 18:38)

-Judas said, "I have betrayed innocent blood." (Mt. 27:4)

*The thief on the cross, who had previously blasphemed and cursed Jesus, said, "This man has done nothing wrong." (Lk. 23:41) The centurion who oversaw his crucifixion, said, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" (Lk. 23:47)

*But much better than these witnesses, the Heavenly Father did not convict Jesus of sin. -- At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and at the end, God the Father said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (3)

*Christians, our real freedom is protected by a perfect leader. Thank God for the security of Christian freedom.

4. And thank God for the sacrifice of Christian freedom.

*God’s freedom came at the highest cost. The Lord reminds us in vs. 28: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.’”

*“When you lift up the Son of Man.” -- Of course, the Lord was talking about dying on the cross for our sins, sacrificing His life for us.

*Patrick Henry was one of the sparks of the American Revolution. He is still remembered for the passionate words, “Give me liberty or give me death.”

*Patrick Henry spoke those words to the Virginia House on March 23, 1775.

-Here is a little more of what Patrick said on that day:

-“If we wish to be free . . . we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

-Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us (2 Chron. 32:8). The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone (Eccl. 9:11); it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.

-Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace (Jer. 6:14). The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? (Matt. 20:6) What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (4)

*This is the spirit that gave birth to our free nation. Now 235 years later, over 1,250,000 men and women have died to preserve this freedom. We should never forget their sacrifice. We must appreciate the price that was paid to make us free.