Freedom Isn't Free

The independence we celebrate today we all hear, see and know comes at a cost.  Those who have and do serve in our nation's military sacrifice  much, so that what we know as America and her freedoms are protected. They sacrifice comforts, family, security, safety, health, and sometimes their lives....much more than some of us will ever know.
and for that I am grateful!

There is another freedom, greater than the freedoms we have in this country...a freedom that is yours no matter what country you live in or what circumstance you find yourself in.
And that is the freedom we have in Jesus Christ.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

That came at a cost too.... an only Son was given  to do battle for us, fighting the biggest enemy this world has known. 
 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

He was wounded, tortured, beaten and  even gave His life, BUT HE WON THE BATTLE and He won our freedom!
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11
He did not stay dead!  He rose again....that is how HE won and why we can have victory too!
...just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

With that victory comes the freedom from the penalty that comes with sin.  The ultimate penalty for our sin is eternal death, separation from our God.
For the wages of sin is death,
BUT because Jesus, our Warrior, took that penalty for us, we can claim freedom!
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
IF we claim Him as our Lord and Savior!!
because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Romans 6:7-11
Freedom in Christ gives us:
the ability to approach God with confidence
 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:10-12
Freedom to read and understand God's word....and the freedom to put God's word into action

 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

Freedom to show mercy, God's mercy

 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13

Freedom to serve God and to respect and love those God puts in our the path of our lives

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:16-17

Freedom to love, worship and walk with the Lord God

 May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,    your salvation, according to your promise;
then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.
Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
    for I have put my hope in your laws.

 I will always obey your law,
    for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom,
    for I have sought out your precepts.
 I will speak of your statutes before kings
    and will not be put to shame,
for I delight in your commands
    because I love them.
 I reach out for your commands, which I love,
    that I may meditate on your decrees. Psalm 119:41-48

Freedom from a sinful life.  Freedom to live a holy life...

 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.  What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ...

...a life that will lead to eternity

...But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.   Romans 6:19-22

I pray for you find freedom in Christ today!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free... Galatians 5:1