It is for Freedom that Christ set us Free!

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

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 to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

Today, July 4th is the day the US celebrates it's beginning as an independent nation. It wasn't however until over 7 years later that what was written and declared became a reality. The Treaty of Paris, signed in Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War.

In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve sinned, God declared His plan for our freedom. Through the sin of Adam and Eve man became bound by the curse of the fall. God declared His plan for our freedom. Genesis 3:14-15    

The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; 15And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."   

Galatians 5:1 says: It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.   The bondage, the yoke of slavery that Paul is speaking of here though is not just the bondage to sin. Like the original colonies were bound and oppressed by a governmental authority, without Christ we are bound to the authority of the law or to sin.  Paul goes on to say:

Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³ And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. ⁴ You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.....

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

On this day, that America celebrates her freedom and independence, may we as believers take the time to thank God for our true freedom. May we acknowledge that   Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness are only possible in and through Christ. Jesus says: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.(John 10:10)

It was for freedom that Christ set us free... I say, walk by the Spirit... if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law... If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, precious Holy Spirit, today when as a nation we celebrate our nation's Declaration of Independence, I declare my total dependence on You. Thank You Father, that You knew me from the foundations of the world and You sent Jesus, Your Son to redeem and restore me and all of creation. Thank You Jesus, my Lord and Savior. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords, but what You did, You did for me. Thank You Holy Spirit, You came according to the promise of Jesus and the Father and You not only abide here on earth with us, but You dwell in us. I am eternally grateful and forever dependent on You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.    Amen