“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
On July 4th, 1776, America’s Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress which officially severed America’s political dependence on Great Britain. Every year since, Americans have celebrated this momentous event in American history which secured our independence and freedoms as a nation. But as much as we love to celebrate the freedom we enjoy in America, it would do us well to remember that America’s freedoms are only temporary and earthly. One-hundred years from now, the thing that will matter the most for every individual American is whether or not they have experienced the greatest freedom of all- the spiritual freedom offered to them through the Gospel of Jesus of Christ!
Whenever Jesus Christ came into the world, He came to purchase mankind’s freedom! This freedom, however, is not a political freedom (that only has earthly implications) but rather a spiritual freedom (that has eternal implications). It is a freedom from sin, death, and hell! It is a freedom that is not relegated to one nation but is available to all people everywhere. It is a freedom that cost Christ His very life, yet it costs us nothing to receive it. It is a freedom that cannot be taken away by any government, army, or earthly power. It is the greatest freedom of all!
Jesus made it clear that mankind’s greatest need is spiritual freedom. He said- “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34). Because of our sin against God, we are in spiritual bondage. We are truly ‘servant[s] of sin’. The Bible makes it clear that “…sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). As we look into the mirror of God’s law, we find that God’s standard is holy, righteous, and perfect and that we all fall short of God’s standard. Romans 3:23 declares- “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Because God is holy and just, God must punish sin- “For the wages [payment] of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). This ‘death’ speaks of physical, spiritual, and ultimately eternal death in the ‘lake of fire’ for all who have died without their sins forgiven. 1 Corinthians 6:9 makes it clear that “…the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God”. Revelation 21:8 says- “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake of which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
But there is good news for sinners! Although we deserve death because of our sin, Jesus Christ came in order to “…taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus “…hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus Christ took the punishment that we (sinners) deserved as He suffered upon the Cross and satisfied the justice of God against sin. And because of His death and resurrection, God offers spiritual freedom from wages of sin, the fear of death, and the flames of hell to all who will repent and receive the message of the Gospel!
You deserve death but Christ offers you life! You deserve hell but Christ offers you heaven! You deserve wrath but Christ offers you peace and acceptance! You deserve condemnation but Christ offers you forgiveness and a new life! Will you repent (forsake your sin) and trust in Christ alone to save you from your sins? The moment you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God will grant you a spiritual freedom from sin, death, and hell that can never be taken away! Have you received the Gospel message that alone can bring true freedom in your life?
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
~Pastor Aaron Francis
