Real Freedom

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

(II Corinthians 3:17)



This Monday was Flag Day, where we honor our country and our way of life by flying the flag of the United States of America. Coming soon, we will celebrate Independence Day (July 4th) with hot dogs, motherhood, apple pie, and Chevrolet, and by blowing up stuff in honor of our freedom as Americans. Both Shawnee and Merriam will recognize the 4th by a prominent display of flags. There will be literally thousands of United States flags lining the major streets of both suburban cities. Our church has been invited to help with this project with other civic members of our community. It is always a moving display of pride and patriotism.



We live in the greatest nation on earth, the “land of the free and the home of the brave”, and the beacon of liberty for the oppressed of the world. Much has been “cussed and discussed” lately about our immigration issues, but at its heart is the desire of the human heart for liberty. That is why everyone floods our borders to come here. But as much as we trumpet the cause of liberty in our land, are we really free? (No need to answer that from your personal political beliefs).



Jesus addressed this issue with the Pharisees, the religious and political leaders of his day. He said, “…ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) They responded in the next verse just like the typical American would, “We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” What do you mean, Jesus? We are Jews, God’s chosen people. We are the beacon of liberty! We have never been subject to anyone! At the time they said that, they were a lowly possession of the Roman Empire. They had just spent over 600 years being passed from one Gentile power to another, from Babylon, to Assyria, to Persia, to Greece, and then to Rome. The Nation of Israel – the mighty seed of Abraham – was held in captivity for 400 years in Egypt before their exodus under Moses. Yet they claimed they were free just like average American does. Someone needs to smell the coffee.



Jesus was ready with an answer. He said in verse 34, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” The type of freedom Jesus gives has nothing to do with governments or empires. When we place our trust in him as our personal Saviour, he frees us from the penalty of sin. We are still human, of course, and sin is still a part of our lives, but God no longer holds it to our account. Jesus paid for my sins on the cross – all of them – past, present, and future. I am truly free!



That does not give us the license to “whoop it up” in sin. Paul tells us, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” (Romans 6:12) Once we are saved, God calls us to forsake sin. In the same chapter, the Bible tells us that if we serve sin, we will be held in its grip of bondage. Proverbs 5:22 says, “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” The more we give in to sin, the stronger it holds us. Even though Jesus has paid the penalty, sin can still grab us, and when it does, it does not like to let go. Real freedom comes when we trust Jesus as our Saviour to deliver us from the bondage of hell, then live in accordance to his word to deliver us from sin’s power and grip in our daily lives.



Jesus completed his dialogue with the Pharisees with this famous statement: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36) I am “proud to be an American”, but it matters not where we live. It matters whose we are. Those who think they are “free”, but without Christ need him. Those of us who have him need to tell them.