Isaiah 42:5-7, Galatians 5:1, 13-15 

Happy Independence Day! Take a moment to thank those who paid for the Freedom we have in this country. And take the time to think of the lives that were given to get that message to you.

Christ died for me. He made His righteousness mine and my sin His own. And if He made my sin His own, then I do not have it, and I am free. 

Martin Luther

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, (those that belong to Him) because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death,” we are set free from the power of sin that leads to eternal destruction (Romans 8:1-2).

“I have freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”

Unknown

How many of those of us who attend a church service are enslaved to sin, especially the sin of unbelief, and don’t even know it? Look around you, because there are many who are sitting in the building or the room you are in, that you will never see again. Some will walk the streets of gold and others will be cast into eternal hellfire and darkness. The question you need to ask is; where you are headed, to whom are you enslaved? Jesus died to free you from enslavement to sin.

How many of our friends, family, and co-workers – our neighbors – are blind to their enslavement to the world? How will they get saved, who will disciple them, who will lead them to Christ? Is it not the Church’s job to make disciples? Is it not the Church that is to reach out into the communities? 

The bible says to make disciples, to lead others to Christ and I know, that’s the Church’s job, that is what they are supposed to be doing… that is what a lot of people seem to think. Why isn’t the church making disciples? Why isn’t the church growing? 

This building will not and cannot “Go,” it cannot reach up nor can it reach out. It will never turn communities upside down in and of itself. 

But, this building should be a beacon of Hope… 

IF you are a Christian, are you not then a part of the Church? What of the people who don’t meet regularly, who are not reaching out, not making disciples, not growing, that just attend a service, sing a few songs, hear a message, and go home; are they a part of the Church? Are they gathering to celebrate the Gospel, worshiping, getting discipled and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ or are they just checking off a box on their list? 

As a believer, blood bought, and Christ following, You are the Church and are now going to be held responsible for spreading the Gospel. But hey, that is not your problem it’s the church’s responsibility worse that could happen when the church ceases to fulfill its purpose, what is the worse that could happen…

What is the collateral damage of not sharing the good news of Freedom? Well, for them, it is eternal damnation and Hell fire—for your neighbor, that family member, friend or co-worker—they will die in their sin and “will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). 

Listen, as a believer, a Christian, you are set free from the penalty of sin, set free from the bondage of sin, and set free from the burden of the Law. You have been given new life and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live that New life as a Christian, not a church goer, but as the Church.

And as the Church we have the message of freedom!

Digging Deeper

• Have you been set free from the law of sin and death?
• What are you doing with and in that freedom?
• How many others have you set on the path to the freedom that is ours in Christ?

Further Reading: Isaiah 61:1, John 8:31-36, Luke 13:10-17, Romans 8:1-4, 1 Peter 2:16, Hebrews 2:14-15, James 1:25