The Cost of Freedom

Happy 241st Birthday

God established America.

Daniel 2: 21 It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.

Acts 17: 27 He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

I. We celebrate being the freest nation in the history of the world.

Our freedoms are innumerable : No ruling class Freedom of choice Freedom of speech Bear arms Freedom of movement Choose religion

II. Our freedoms were won and are maintained at a terrible cost.

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence all suffered greatly. Last line: “Mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor”

Freedom is never Free !

You pay for America to maintain the most powerful military in world history, but our freedom is not maintained by our military might.

Freedom isn’t free; we pay a high price, but it ultimately comes from God. Acts 17: 27 He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,

III. It is only in Christ that one can be truly free.

“Nothing is certain except There is no true freedom and no true peace on this earth. “Nothing is certain except death and more taxes.”

I Peter 5: 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Proverbs 21: 2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.

James 1: 14-15 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Romans 3: 10, 24 As it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one.” … 24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

II Thes. 1: 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, John 8: 34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

II Timothy 2: 25-26 With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

John 8: 31-32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

John 8: 34-36 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I John 4: 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

IV. The freedom we have in Christ also comes at a high price.

Our freedom cost the death of the Only Begotten Son of God I Timothy 2: 5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all

I John 4: 9-10 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Luke 9: 24-26 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

True independence from sin come only through surrender. Galatians 2: 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

John 8: 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.