Good morning. This is a special weekend. Yesterday we celebrated July 4th. Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States, on July 4, 1776. It’s all about freedom. There are many today that are of the opinion that we, in America, are losing or are in danger of losing our freedoms. This is a sad thing to be said about the “land of the free and the home of the brave”. But today we draw our attention to a greater freedom. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines freedom as “A state of exemption from the power or control of another; liberty; exemption from slavery, servitude or confinement. Freedom is personal, civil, political and religious. There is a spiritual freedom that is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. John 8:32 states, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” V.36 states, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” That’s real freedom!

The Truth refers to the Bible. “Thy word is truth”. It also refers to our Savior. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” In John chapter 1, the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Later in the chapter the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” This is a tremendous promise from God to all who will believe and receive it. You can know the truth! That truth will set you free!

Free from the law—oh, happy condition!
Jesus hath bled, and there is remission;
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.

I John 5:11-13, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW (emphasis mine) that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Paul and Silas were put into prison in Acts 16 because of their preaching. They were beaten with many stripes and believed they would be put to death the next morning, but at midnight, the darkest hour in time and experience, they “sang praises unto God”. God used their message and their song to minister to many that night. They were released the next day! Their spirits were liberated before their bodies. God is able to put a song in our heart as well as in our mouth.

Many fear death. Paul said for the Christian, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”. Hebrews 2:14-15, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had thee power of death, that is , the devil,” “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to BONDAGE.” (Emphasis mine).

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid, Here in the death of Christ I live.