Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Freedom Is Found In Christ

July 4 marks the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted (July 4, 1776) and the United States officially became its own nation. Tensions between the Colonies and Great Britain had been strained for more than ten years after legislation such as the Stamp Act in 1765 and the Tea Act of 1773 forced British subjects in America to pay higher taxes. This led to an outcry of “taxation without representation.” The Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773 escalated the rift between Britain and the American colonists. In 1775, war broke out, and the American Revolutionary War began. A “Declaration of Independence” was drafted and adopted in 1776, and the battle for independence would continue for seven more years.

Freedom is at the core of the American soul. There is a national pride in the spirit of independence and rule through a democratic process. These principles have made America one of the greatest nations in history. Sadly, after nearly 250 years, many of those foundational teachings of the early fathers have been rejected by a carnal and immoral world. Primary to the freedoms of today is the rejection of the Bible, the word of God. A spirit of freedom has led the world to walk after its own desires and wisdom, and in the name of freedom, declare independence from the authority of God’s word. History repeats itself with every generation of those who believe that freedom can be found apart from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Jesus addressed the Jews who believed Him to be the promised Messiah. The faith of these new believers would be tested by a world militant against the teachings of Christ. Freedom for the believers would only come from the word of God – truth! The knowledge of the truth as found in the word of God is where the heart can find true happiness, fulfillment, and hope. Jesus said only the truth of the Father can set a man free. To be a disciple of Christ, a man must abide in His word. Belief alone cannot save. Even the demons believe, and they tremble. Faith alone cannot save. Freedom comes from the knowledge of the world of God.

Those who believe in Jesus will find freedom in His word. For those who do not believe in Jesus, freedom cannot be found apart from the divine truth of God. Since the beginning of time, God has revealed truth to mankind to show the path to eternal life. There is only one way, one truth, and one life. Jesus Christ is the only Savior. There is only one Lord. Paul demonstrated in his letter to the Ephesians that there is only one faith, one church, and one baptism. Truth resides in the word of God, where the only freedom man can hope for is found. The word of God is not a document for a democratic process. Freedom in Christ comes from those who submit themselves to the autocratic rule of one King and one Lord. Ironically, freedom in Christ is not democratic – it is authoritarian. There is only one book that shows eternal life – the Bible.

Freedom is a wonderful feeling of liberty and independence. Living in America has afforded the gospel of Christ the freedom to spread the message of hope throughout the world. Enjoying the freedom to serve the Lord according to the truth has been a bastion of faith for the people of God. Those freedoms are slowly being eroded, and most likely, due to the nature of history, they will be taken away one day. There will come a day when the church of Christ will no longer be allowed to preach the teachings of King Jesus. Freedom will be lost in the world, but freedom in Christ will never be lost. The early saints who were martyred on the altars of their faith did not have the freedom to worship the truth. They died to be free in Christ. As we celebrate the spirit of freedom in our country, may our hearts resolve to celebrate the freedom in Christ no matter what the world does. We shall know the truth, and the truth will set us free.