Pastor D's Blog
A Greater Freedom
On this date 234 years ago the forefathers of this nation—The United States of America—signed a document that declared its independence from the Tyrannical reign of King George III and his British Empire. These now famous words were penned by men whose courage and resolve were unwaveringly bent towards one goal—the goal of Freedom. No longer were they willing to be ruled without a voice. No longer would they tolerate a way of life apart from choice. They believed mankind to have been ‘created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights’. Their believe was strong enough to stand and fight. Their resolve went deep enough to risk their lives and the lives of their families. In their hearts, minds, and actions the cause of freedom was worth any price.
In a speech to fellow Virginians at St. Johns Church in Richmond, Patrick Henry implored Virginia to join the fray and to stand up against Britain in cause of freedom:
“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” -Patrick Henry (March 23, 1775)
Many men paid the ultimate price of death while straining for that vision of liberty. Yet we celebrate today the fact that their vision was not thwarted. Thomas Campbell rightly said, “The patriot’s blood is the seed of freedom’s tree.” On October 19, 1781 General Cornwallis bowed the proverbial knee of Great Britain in surrender to our American Patriots. Less than two years later, in September of 1783, the treaties of Paris and Versailles were signed and the war of Revolution was officially over. The United States of America had won its freedom. (A freedom that we celebrate and enjoy to this very day)
About 2,000 years ago another passionate soldier wrote an inspired document declaring independence. This soldier served neither king nor country but The King of Kings and His Kingdom of Heaven. The document of which I speak is indeed the Apostle Paul’s epistle to the churches of Galatia—the book of Galatians. Men like Martin Luther have called this book “the battle cry of the reformation…the Magna Carta of Christian freedom.” Another theologian has said that Galatians is “the Christian Declaration of Independence.”
This ‘Christian declaration of Independence’ served to liberate the true Gospel from the trappings that evil men had sought to pollute it with. As Kent writes, “The problem which prompted the Galatian letter was the attempt by certain agitators to force the Gentile converts in these churches to observe Old Testament ceremonies and to accept a doctrine of justification on the basis of personal merit.” Luther writes, “St. Paul wrote this epistle because, after his departure from the Galatian churches, Jewish-Christian fanatics moved in, who perverted Paul's Gospel of man's free justification by faith in Christ Jesus.”
In other words, false teachers sought to teach these Galatian churches that salvation required more than mere repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ. They were teaching that these ‘gentiles—or non-Jews’ in essence needed to become Jewish (especially as it related to circumcision). Therefore, their doctrine of salvation was not sufficient to be summed “In Christ Alone”…they were teaching that one needed “Christ-and good deeds”.
Why is this teaching so oppressive? Why does this false doctrine cause Paul to write with such intensity and passion? Because the pure Gospel is the most liberating truth known to man! It IS “the truth that set’s us free”. The Gospel is that which liberates mankind from (1) the law that condemns (2) from the curse of sin that enslaves (3) from eternal punishment in Hell—forever separated from the Father. Anything that would challenge this glorious liberty must be fought. The forefather’s of this great nation zealously fought for the freedoms we hold dear in this country. The sacrifices they made and the freedoms that they subsequently won are things that we as Americans should appreciate and continue to fight for. There is a freedom, however, that is greater still. It is the freedom that Christ won for us on the cross of Calvary!
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” From a national, governmental perspective there is much truth to this statement. Freedom is not free…it demands a price that must be ever paid. On this day of our national celebration of independence may we remind ourselves to be ever grateful for the freedom we enjoy and ever watchful for those who would take it away.
Yet, there is a freedom to which Roosevelt did not speak. There is a freedom that CANNOT be achieved or earned. There is a freedom—a greater freedom—that was purchased by the divine blood of Jesus Christ the Righteous! May we as God’s people celebrate, protect, preach, and live this pure and glorious gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Pastor Dustin
Published on July 4, 2010 at 3:53 pm | Permalink | 1 Comment
