Celebrating Freedom

The 4th of July is a big day in the US. We celebrate independence as a nation and the freedom to be autonomous. It is the one day per year when Democrats and Republicans are supposed to put aside their political hatchets and instead drink a beer, eat some barbecue and enjoy the fireworks, because, after all this is America, the greatest country in the world.

At the heart of the celebration is independence or freedom. Most of the modern day Americans have little experience with oppression from governments; we are very fortunate. However, in past generations the heavy hand of a king / queen was heavy upon their backs.

But in a spiritual sense we know this oppression well.

All of humanity is born into sin. It is both our instinct and our delight. We long to do and delight in that which pleases us (Eph. 2.1-3). We learn from the Scriptures that this oppression is due to a demonic despot, Satan himself (Eph. 2.3). We are blind in our sin and held captive by him (2 Cor. 4.4).

The case for freedom is hopeless.

However, amid the fog of hopelessness one comes who is the incarnation of hope. Jesus Christ the Son of God. He comes from heaven as God in the flesh (John 1.14). He lives a perfect life (John 4.34, 8.29) and dies the sinner’s death (2 Pet. 3.18). He lived the life I could not live and died the death I deserved to die for my imperfection.

In this glorious work of his, life-death-resurrection, he set a sinner like me free from sin!

(Rom 6.17-18) 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Instead of being a hopeless and helpless slave to Satan and sin, Christ has saved sinners to be slaves to him. And here in this relationship there is freedom. Freedom to live, delight, hope, give, receive, and be. Christ has set sinners free.

But unlike the US where we celebrate the freedom of autonomy, in Christ beleivers celebrate the freedom of dependence. We have a declartion of dependence. We trust and treasure Jesus. We depend completely upon his perfect life, death, and resurrection for us. We are hopeless and helpless without him.

Amid the fireworks, food, and time with friends and family I smile and think of what a helpful shadow this is and what a glorious substance Christ is! The gospel is a message of emancipation! And, what a liberating gospel we have in Christ Jesus!

Possibly Related posts:

1. Exclusive Savior Exclusive Praise
2. God is an Exclusivist! conclusion
3. Devotions for Passion Week
4. More of Him and Less of Me
5. Why does the Father find delight in the Son?

2 Responses to “Celebrating Freedom”

1. Tweets that mention Celebrating Freedom- Irish Calvinist -- Topsy.com says:

   July 4, 2010 at 6:59 am

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by The Reformed Hub, Erik Raymond. Erik Raymond said: Celebrating Freedom http://is.gd/deXXT [...]
2. Kris Shaffer says:

   July 4, 2010 at 1:47 pm

   Thanks for the thoughts. I also introduced our first song in church today as a ‘declaration of dependence’:

   Did we in our own strength confide,
   Our striving would be losing,
   Were not the right man on our side,
   The man of God’s own choosing.
   Dost ask who that may be?
   Christ Jesus, it is he,
   Lord Sabaoth his name,
   From age to age the same,
   And he must win the battle.
   …
   His kingdom is forever.