-- John 8:31,32,36
31 Jesus said, "If you hold to My Teaching, you are really My disciples.
32 Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you Free.
+ 36 So if the Son sets you Free, you will be Free indeed."

-- 2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is Freedom.

-- Galatians 5:1,13
+ 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
+ 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

+ Though many believed Him, Jesus says it is necessary to go beyond initial acceptance of His Word (see John 8:31-32). We must abide in His teaching. Those who thus continue to live by the truth are made free from the bondage of sin.

+ "The Truth will set you Free" (John 8:32): The one who abides in the Word of God knows the truth. The word free refers to freedom from the bondage of sin. Obedience to the Lord means fellowship with Him, protection from sin, and experiencing His love.

+ "The Truth shall make you Free." There is, of course, a sense in which it is true that only by surrender to the facts is genuine freedom possible, but it in philosophy, science, or what you will. But that is not the point here. The truth of which John writes is the truth that is bound up with the Person and the work of Jesus. It is Saving Truth. It is the truth which saves men from the darkness of sin, not that which saves them from the darkness of error (though there is a sense in which men in Christ are delivered from gross error; this Gospel has a good deal to say about knowledge). -- Leon Morris

"The Truth shall make you Free." (John 8:32).

++ "The truth shall make you free." That is, First, The truth which Christ teaches tends to make men free, (Isa. 61:1). + Justification makes us free from the guilt of sin, by which we were bound over to the judgment of God, and bound under amazing fears. + Sanctification makes us free from the bondage of corruption, by which we were restrained from that service which is perfect freedom, and constrained to that which is perfect slavery. + Gospel truth frees us from the yoke of the ceremonial law, and the more grievous burdens of the traditions of cultures and organizations. It makes us free from our spiritual enemies, free in the worship and service of God,...

++ Secondly, The knowing, entertaining, and believing, of this truth does actually make us free, free from prejudices, mistakes, and false notions, than which nothing more enslaves and entangles the soul, free from the dominion of lust and passion; and restores the soul to the government of itself, by reducing it into obedience to its Creator. The mind, by admitting the truth of Christ in the light and power, is vastly enlarged, and has scope and compass given it, is greatly elevated and raised above things of sense, and never acts with so true a liberty as when it acts under a divine command, (2 Cor 3:17). The enemies of Christianity pretend to free thinking, whereas really those are the freest reasonings that are guided by faith, and those are men of free thought whose thoughts are captivated and brought into obedience to Christ.

-- Matthew Henry

Biblical Freedom

FREEDOM: the absence of slavery; the ability to do and go as one desires. The concept of freedom, both physical and spiritual, is expressed in several different ways in the Bible.

Only God has absolute freedom. He is not controlled from the outside. Human beings, while not totally free, can experience a measure of freedom in different areas of life: social, economic, political, and spiritual.

Slavery was common in biblical times. Many persons served others in bondage. The law of Moses provided for the Year of Jubilee, when slaves were given the opportunity to gain their freedom (Leviticus 25; 27).

The Exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt is an example of God’s bringing His people into freedom.

In the spiritual realm, Jesus explained that when people know the truth, the truth will set them free (John 8:32). He Himself is the Truth (John 14:6). Jesus also declared that if He, the Son of God, set persons free, they would be truly free (John 8:36). Sin enslaves; Christ sets free.

The apostle Paul pointed out that the law, when not properly understood, also enslaves. A mechanical sense of compulsion to obey the law binds and restricts one’s freedom. Christ loosens the hold that the law has on Christians (Gal. 5:1, 13).

Set free from sin, the believer is able to choose service for God (Rom. 6:22). Using the phrase "the Lord’s freedman," Paul emphasized the spiritual freedom that belongs to believers (1 Cor. 7:22). The spiritual freedom of others becomes the concern of those who have been set free by Christ.

-- ... Bible Dictionary

The Salvation of Jesus Christ

In His Sacrifice, Death on the cross, and Resurrection, Jesus Christ fulfilled and replaced the Old Testament sacrificial system (priesthood; unchangeable). He offered up Himself as the supreme, once-for-all sacrifice (slay) of atonement through the shedding (sprinkling) of His blood. By His one act of righteousness, salvation (save) as a free gift is for all who believe. In being delivered up to death (interposed; taste), Jesus accomplished several things:

1, He paid the penalty of sin. In His body Jesus Christ bore (bear; nail; stripe) the sins of the world so that humanity might receive forgiveness (remission) and that their sin would be imputed to Christ’s account, in order that Christ’s righteousness might be reckoned to their account. He was the propitiation of God’s wrath against sin (mercy seat).

2, He broke (kill) the power of sin by paying the ransom price (buy, bought; deliver, deliverance, deliverer; exchange; redemption), so that believers could be free (discharged; liberty; release) from slavery to sin.

3, He removed the pollution of sin by making men clean (blot out; washing) through His blood.

4, He destroyed (abolish) the partition (hedge) of sin to reconcile human beings to God and put them back into a right relationship (justification) with Him, so that they may never again be separated (die) from God.

Other New Testament Aspects of Salvation

Many blessings accompany salvation (safe) for believers, as they are accorded the status and privileges of adoption (graft).

God calls people to belong (friendship) to Him and to serve Him (laborer) in the world. He sets believers apart (holy; holiness; sanctify; sanctification), granting them access into His presence, bestowing upon them forgiveness, freedom, grace, and favor.

Believers have obtained and partake of the inheritance (inherit) of eternal life, being at peace with God, and serving Him in the abundance of new life.

-- W.E. Vine,

Faith and Freedom Quotations

The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. -- Billy Graham

Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are Free, and you will be Saved. Now choose what you want. -- Martin Luther

If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. -- C.S. Lewis

I have to get to the point of the absolute and unquestionable relationship that takes everything exactly as it comes from Him. God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate. -- Oswald Chambers

May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right. -- Peter Marshall

It is not good to be too free. It is not good to have everything one wants. -- Blaise Pascal

There are two freedoms - the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought. -- Charles Kingsley

The family is the test of freedom; because the family is the only thing that the free man makes for himself and by himself. -- G.K. Chesterton

Do not free a camel of the burden of his hump; you may be freeing him from being a camel. -- G.K. Chesterton

Man, so long as he remains free, has no more constant and agonizing anxiety than find as quickly as possible someone to worship. -- Fyodor Dostoevsky

Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom. -- George Washington Carver

The million little things that drop into your hands - the small opportunities each day brings He leaves us free to use or abuse and goes unchanging along His silent way. -- Helen Keller

The great comprehensive truths written in letters of living light on every page of our history are these: Human happiness has no perfect security but freedom; freedom none but virtue; virtue none but knowledge; and neither freedom nor virtue has any vigor of immortal hope, except in the principles of Christian faith, and in the sanctions of the Christian religion. -- James H. Aughey

If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled." When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage. -- John Owen

Their blood is shed in confirmation of the noblest claim - the claim to feed upon immortal truth, to walk with God, and be divinely free. -- William Cowper

To serve God, to love God, to enjoy God, is the sweetest freedom in the world. -- Thomas Watson

If you want to be free, just start doing what God wants you to do, one step at a time, and you'll eventually walk out of your messes. -- Joyce Meyer

Christians are "Born Again" to be free; it's a gift from God. We're not to be free from responsibility, but free to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Freedom

Freedom is a breath of air,
Pine-scented, or salty like the sea;
Freedom is a field new-plowed...
Furrows of democracy!

Freedom is a forest,
Trees tall and straight as men.
Freedom is a printing press...
The power of the pen!

Freedom is a country church,
A cathedral's stately spire;
Freedom is a spirit
That can set the soul on fire!

Freedom is man's birthright,
A sacred, living rampart;
The pulsebeat of humanity...
The throb of a nation's heart!

-- Clara Smith Reber

The Doorway To Freedom

+ You must Receive the Truth of the Scriptures in order to be Free from the bondage of insecurity and inadequacy.

+ You have to Receive God's Truth into your inner person.
Pride in your resources can hinder that reception. God is a Gentleman; He will not force His ways upon you. You must open the door of your mind and heart to Him (Revelation 3:20).

+ You must Believe the Truth of the Scriptures.
Believing means that you trust God enough to step our on His promises. You cannot just assent to the Word of God; you must rely on, lean on, and let Him implement His Word in your life so that Christ Jesus -- Who is the Truth (John 14:6) -- can set you Free (John 8:32,36).

+ You must Act on your Belief.
Since God tells you in His Word not to worry (Philippians 4:6-7), you must stop fretting. Since He says you are valuable in His eyes (John 3:16), you must lay aside your ideas about a lack of self-worth. when you Receive and Believe God's Authoritative, Liberating Truth, you have entered The Doorway of Freedom.

-- Charles Stanley.

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountains majesty
Above thy fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for Freedom beat
Across the wilderness!

America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Thy Liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

-- Katherine Lee Bates (1893)

Jesus Divine

(4th of July Poem)

We gather ‘round to celebrate
On Independence Day
Pay homage to our country
As the children run and play.

With barbeques and picnics
And fireworks in the air
The flag we own is proudly flown
To show how much we care.

The stars and stripes spell Freedom
She waves upon the breeze
While bursts of colors can be seen
Above the towering trees.

This is all quite wonderful
We revel in delight
But God above in divine love
Has brought this day to light.

With just a stroke of liberty
A touch of His divine great hand
He gave democracy to us
And helped this country stand.

The stripes upon our stately flag
Were touched by His sweet grace
Each star of white that shines so bright
Reflects His divine loving face.

So as you turn to face the flag
For battles that were fought
Be filled with pride for those who died
And Freedoms that were bought.

But don’t forget to thank the One
That gives the bright display
The reason why we paint the sky
On Independence Day

-- Marilyn Ferguson.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

When we were kids our teachers would lead us,
standing tall beside each desk, hands over our hearts.
In unison we pledged our allegiance,
sometimes stumbling over words,
not understanding certain parts,
never knowing just how richly we’d been blessed.

Red, white and blue, the United States of America;
One Nation Under God!
Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,
One Nation Under God!

In history, we studied gallant heroes,
valiant patriots, fearless; some nameless, some famed.
In des’prate times, when Freedom cried, "Who’ll go?"
Volunteers, courageous, brave,
boldly charged into harm’s way,
then the Stars and Stripes across their caskets draped!

Red, white and blue, the United States of America;
One Nation Under God!
Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,
One Nation Under God!

Praise God our founding fathers knew
Who to trust!
Praise God the Bill of Rights includes
Freedom to worship as we choose.

-- Ran Birkins



-- Luke 4:18
"18 The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim Freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed. 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." (Isaiah 61:1-2).

-- Ephesians 3:12
In Him and through Faith in Him we may approach God
with Freedom and confidence.

-- James 1:25
But the man who looks intently into the Perfect Law that gives Freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does.

-- James 2:12-13
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the Law that gives Freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

-- 1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your Freedom
does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

-- Romans 8:1-2
1 There is therefore now No Condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me Free from the law of sin and death.

-- Psalm 118:5
In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
And He answered by setting me Free.

-- Psalms 119:32,45
32 I run in the path of Your Commands,
For You have set my heart Free.
+ 45 I will walk about in Freedom,
For I have sought out Your precepts.

++++++++++++++++++

-- 2 Chronicles 7:14-15
14 If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

-- Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through Faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in Love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ, 19 and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

-- Psalms 36:5-7
5 Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD, You preserve man and beast. 7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

-- Psalms 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, My Rock and My Redeemer.

-- 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

-- Romans 15:33
The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

-- Philippians 4:23
The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Freedom and Biblical Truth

Freedom

Freedom of choice, Genesis 13:10–13.
“Rid of bondage,” Exodus 6:6.
Slavery preferred, Deuteronomy 15:16–17.
King imprisoned, set free, 2 Kings 24:15; 25:27–29.
Freedom of worship, 2 Chronicles 11:16.
Freed slaves, Job 3:19.
Wild donkey set free, Job 39:5–6.
Youthful freedom, Ecclesiastes 11:9.
Yoke removed, Isaiah 9:4; 10:27; 14:25.
Celebrate freedom, Isaiah 48:20.
Proclaiming freedom, Isaiah 61:1.
Slaves set free, enslaved again, Jeremiah 34:8–22.
Prophet captured, given freedom, Jeremiah 40:1–4.

Truth sets free, John 8:31–32, 36.
Freedom from legalism, Acts 10:24–28; Romans 7:1–6.
Clean, unclean, Acts 11:4–10.
No license to sin, Romans 6:1.
Freedom from sin’s mastery, Romans 6:14.
Deliverance through Christ alone, Romans 7:24–25.
No longer slaves, Romans 8:15 (lb).
Unmuzzled ox, 1 Corinthians 9:9–14.
Freedom in the Spirit, 2 Corinthians 3:17.
Childhood a time of Dependency (“slavery”), Galatians 4:1.
“Christ has set us free,” Galatians 5:1.
Called to be free, Galatians 5:13.
Filled with knowledge of God’s will, Colossians 1:9–12.
Rescued from darkness, Colossians 1:13–14.
Freedom under authority, 1 Peter 2:13–17.
Christian liberty, 1 Peter 2:16.

Freedom (unrestricted action)

A. Of the unregenerate, limited by:

Sin. John 8:34
Inability, John 8:43
Satan, John 8:41, 44
Bondage, Rom. 6:20
Deadness Eph. 2:1

B. Of the regenerate:

Made free by Christ, John 8:36
Freed from bondage, Rom. 6:18, 22
Not of license, 1 Pet. 2:16
Not of bondage again, Gal. 5:1
Not of the flesh, Gal. 5:13

LIBERTY

Greatest freedom, Psalm 119:45.
Proclaim freedom, Isaiah 61:1.
Conditional freedom, Jeremiah 34:8–11.
Feasting not fasting, Luke 5:33.
Truth sets us free, John 8:31, 32, 36.
Peter’s vision of clean and unclean, Acts 10:9–16; 11:4–10.
Deeper meaning of deliverance from legalism, Acts 10:24–28.
Visitation privilege for prisoner, Acts 27:3.
Liberty no excuse for sin, Romans 6:1, 2.
Freedom from mastery of sin, Romans 6:14.
Once slaves to sin, now slaves to righteousness, Romans 6:18.
Atonement assures freedom free from legality, Romans 7:1–6.
Restricted liberty, 1 Corinthians 6:12.
Liberty without license, 1 Corinthians 6:12.
Exercise of liberty eating, drinking, 1 Corinthians 8:7–13.
Restricted freedom, 1 Corinthians 8:9.
Unmuzzled ox, 1 Corinthians 9:9–14.
Freedom in believer’s conduct, 1 Corinthians 10:23–33.
Freedom in the Spirit, 2 Corinthians 3:17.
Human standards, 2 Corinthians 10:2.
From law to grace, Galatians 4:1–7 (Also previous chapter).
Called to be free, Galatians 5:13.
Filled with knowledge of God’s will, Colossians 1:9–12.
Rescued from dominion of darkness, Colossians 1:13–14.
Word of God not chained, 2 Timothy 2:8–9.
Legalism of old, liberty of new, Hebrews 12:18–24.
Timothy released from prison, Hebrews 13:23.
The law that gives freedom, James 2:12–13.
Liberty misused, 1 Peter 2:16; Jude 4.

Independence Day Prayer

Dear Lord,

There is no greater feeling of liberation than to experience this freedom from sin and death that You have provided for us through Jesus Christ. Today our hearts and our souls are free to praise You. For this we are very thankful.

On this Independence Day we are reminded of all those who have sacrificed for our freedom, following the example of your Son, Jesus Christ. Let us not take our freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May we always remember that our freedom was purchases with a very high price. Our freedom cost others their very lives.

Lord, today, bless those who have served and continue to give their lives for our freedom. With favor and bounty meet their needs and watch over their families.

Help us to live my life in a way that glorifies You, Lord. Give us the strength to be a blessing in someone else's life today, and grant us the opportunity to lead others into the freedom that can be found in knowing Christ.

Amen

Blessed & Happy Independence Day!