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Independence
June 29, 2019

In a few days Independence Day will be celebrated in my country, the United States of America. A holiday to celebrate our freedom, I am reminded of the freedom Christians have. We have recently studied the teachings of Jesus and how Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law. It is through this knowledge that we know the truth, and this truth sets us free. Through Jesus we can be saved from sin, we are freed from sin, and we are freed from the penalty of sin, death. It is through this incredible grace we are free. When Jesus sets us free, we are slaves to no man.

John 8:31-37
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

In writing to the Corinthians, Paul explained that where God's spirit is, there is freedom. Prior to the time of Jesus man was condemned through the law of Moses because the best man could do was atone and sacrifice for sin. With the death of Jesus, we are no longer condemned and live in the shadow of the glory of Jesus, as His glory is cast on us through grace.

2 Corinthians 3:7-18
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We are to stand fast in our freedom understanding that through Jesus and His sacrifice, we are free. Paul reminds us we are NOT to voluntarily enslave ourselves again. It is faith in Jesus and the grace we are given; not anything we do that gives us the hope of eternal life. Even if with the Holy Spirit we were able to live a perfect life, that alone is insufficient for salvation, because it is the sacrifice of Jesus and the grace we are given that saves us.

Galatians 5:1-6
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

As we celebrate independence and consider the freedom we are given through Jesus, let us resolve to always remain free.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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