For Independence Day: The Bible on freedom …

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Every July 4, Americans observe Independence Day, but we really celebrate something bigger than a historical event, we celebrate freedom and being a nation that stands for freedom around the world.

Pastor J. Michael Shannon told a story about the holiday as follows:

    The Fourth of July was just around the corner, so a nursery school teacher decided to talk to her students about patriotism. She said, “We live in a great country. One thing we should be grateful for is that we are all free.”

    One little boy piped up, “I’m not free. I’m 4.”

Well, we’re not all four, but we’re all free, and that is something to celebrate!

And if you’re a Christian, you’re likely thanking God for the freedom you’re richly blessed with living in America. But it isn’t living in this nation that makes us free, our freedom comes from our Creator, a truth captured in the the preamble of America’s Declaration of Independence as follows:

“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.”

So let’s take a moment to look at just a few verses the Bible offers on the topic of freedom:

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,” 1 Corinthians 3:17.

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law,” Galatians 5:1.

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love,” Galatians 5:13.

“For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil,” 1 Peter 2:16.

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,'” John 8:31-32.

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free,” John 8:36.

Celebrate your freedom, friends. Happy Independence Day!

Scotty