As we begin this morning, lets remember the Birthday of America cant be celebrated unless we remember the COST of what countless others have had to pay to ensure our privilege of living in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!
Over the next few days, we no doubt, will take for granted those Freedoms as we enjoy a day off of work, eat food off the grill and watch fireworks. We will find it hard to honor the fact that lots of HARD WORK, SACRIFICE and even death have all been a part of securing and enjoying what we call FREEDOM
In our Spiritual lives… its really no different.
SIN had us in SLAVERY. We were CAPTIVES and were condemned to DIE and be separated from GOD and HEAVEN for ALL of Eternity.
Jesus PAID THE PRICE for our FREEDOM from Death.
Forgiveness always costs something.
When God said, "I forgive you of your sin," then it cost God something.
Because before the forgiveness there had to be the suffering & pain & agony at Gethsemane.
Before the forgiveness there had to be the death on the cross & the burial & the resurrection.
That price had to be paid. The ledger had to be clear before forgiveness could become a reality. But now that it has been paid it’s available to all.
Isn’t that also true of our freedom? The price has been paid. It is available to all in this great land.
That is why we rejoice at the Declaration of Independence. That is why we rejoice in the Statue of Liberty. Because freedom is available to all of us, regardless of where we live in this great nation.
Freedom is never free. It always costs someone something. Freedom is something that is valuable!
It is so valuable that men have been willing to give their lives in exchange for their own freedom the freedom of their families and that of their countrymen! Freedom of religion, freedom of the Press, freedom of Speech.
Today many are giving their lives for the freedom from terror! Freedom is a costly thing! It costs! There is always a price to be paid. Freedom is never free!
In the same term, Forgiveness is never free.
It always costs something. Forgiveness is valuable. It is so valuable that countless men and women have given there lives for the faith.
Stephen was stoned; James was executed under Herod Agrippa,
Matthew traveled to Ethiopia and was pinned to the ground and beheaded!
Jesus brother James was reported to have been stoned, cast down from the top of the temple, and still alive, smashed in the head with a fuller’s club.
Matthias was stoned; Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross.
Tradition tells us that Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.
Peter was crucified upside-down.
Paul lost his head,
Jude and Bartholomew were crucified.
Thomas was run thru with spears and thrown into an oven.
Luke was hung from an olive tree
John was exiled. (these martyrs were found in “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs”)
Forgiveness is valuable beyond measure! God considered it so valuable that he gave his very own life as a provision for it!
He gave it as a ransom for many! He demonstrated His love for us in that even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
There is always a price that must be paid. For forgiveness is never free
Right now we need to remember the price & to thank God for our freedom & for our forgiveness.
And we dedicate ourselves to keep on paying the price so that freedom might be enjoyed for generations to come.
So what does it PRACTICALLY look like to PAY THE PRICE for our FREEDOM?
- THANKS and WORSHIP Psalm 103: 1-5 1 Thess 5:18
- DEVOTION - let the dead bury the dead. Leave it all to follow Jesus. No turning back Matt 8: 18-22 Romans 6:4
- SERVICE - To Peter… do you love me? Feed My Sheep.
John 21:15-17 JAMES… I will show you my faith by what I do James 2:14-26
- SELF SACRIFICE - No greater love than a friend who lays down his life for a brother John 15:13
- ROMANS 12
We also should dedicate ourselves anew to accept the provision that has been made for our forgiveness. He died for it!
Today, God’s forgiveness is available to you.
He offers it to you through Jesus Christ His Son. He challenges you to look once more at the cross & realize that the price has been paid for your sins & for mine.
He invites you to come & know Him as Lord & Savior & to receive His forgiveness as His gift.
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