America’s July 4th

excerpt from “Be Still and Know” by Millie Stamm

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36).

Freedom is a great heritage of our land. One of the great freedoms upon which our country was founded is the freedom of worshiping God according to our own desires. The famous Gettysburg Address includes, “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

However, it may be possible to accept our freedom-we may appreciate our freedom to worship and serve God-yet miss the reality of a personal freedom within.

What is true freedom? Some may answer, “Freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom from want, freedom from fear.” Yet many people enjoy these blessings who have not experienced true freedom. True freedom is found in Jesus Christ. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free …. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36).

True freedom is to be set free from the guilt of sin through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved…. he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:17-18).

Not only are we freed from the guilt of sin but from its very power in our lives. “In the same way look upon yourselves as dead to the appeal and power of sin but alive to God through Christ Jesus our Lord …. For sin can never be your master-you are no longer living under the Law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:13-14, Phillips).

We have the promise that if we let the Son make us free, we will be free indeed. Paul wrote, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17). As we let the Spirit of God control our lives, we will have real liberty. We will be free-free indeed.