Independence Day

TEXT:  2 Cor. 3:17

INTRODUCTION:

A.  JULY 4 WE CELEBRATE THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION.

          1.  13 Colonies under British rule.  Oppressive and high taxes without any voice.

                   "Taxation without representation."

          2.  Independence desired and fought for - a New Nation Born.

B.  INDEPENDENCE DID NOT MEAN PEOPLE WOULD BE WITHOUT LAW.

          1.  New nation, new government.

          2.  After years of failure under the Articles of Confederation, a Constitution was

                   produced, insuring a government "of the people, by the people, and for the

                   people."

C.  THERE ARE SOME PARALLELS SEEN IN OUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST.

I.  MEN ARE IN BONDAGE TO SIN (John 8:32-34).

A.  THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DIRE (Rom. 3:23;  6:23).

B.  IT IS THE TRUTH THAT SETS US FREE (John 8:32).

C.  TRUTH MUST BE OBEYED (1 Pet. 1:22;  Rom. 6:16-18).

D.  Rom. 6:1-7;  8:2;  Gal. 5:1.

II.  CHRISTIANS ARE CITIZENS OF A NEW NATION.

A.  A HOLY AND DISTINCT PEOPLE (1 Pet. 2:9-10).

          a.  A Peculiar people (1 Pet. 2:11-12).

          b.  Made up of people of faith, both Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:19).  God's family.

B.  A SPIRITUAL KINGDOM.

          1.  The preaching Jesus (Matt. 3:1-3;  Mark 1:14-15;  Luke 17:20-21).

          2.  Jesus replies to Pilate (Matt. 18:36, 38).

          3.  Taken from the Jews (Matt. 21:43).

          4.  Given to people of faith (Col. 1:13-14).

          5.  That cannot be shaken (Dan. 2:44;  Heb. 12:28).

III.  THEY ARE UNDER A NEW LAW.

A.  FREEDOM DOES NOT EXCLUDE LAW (1 Cor. 9:21).

          1.  The Law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).

          2.  A Law of Liberty (Jas. 1:25;  2:12).

          3.  What is law?  "A rule of conduct, considered as binding, a system

                    or body of such rules."  Funk & Wagnall's. (John 12:48).

B.  Rom. 7:4-6.  SET FREE FROM THE OLD.  "That we might be joined to another."

C.  SO THEN, FREEDOM IS NOT ABSOLUTE (Gal. 5:13;  1 Pet. 2:16).

D.  DOES NOT EXCUSE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE (Matt. 22:21;  1 Pet. 2:13-17).

IV.  THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY.

A.  OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES, AND OUR SACRED HONOR. 

B.      "IS LIFE SO DEAR OR PEACE SO SWEET AS TO BE PURCHASED AT THE

          PRICE OF CHAINS AND SLAVERY?  I KNOW NO WHAT COURSE OTHERS

          MAY PURSUE, BUT AS FOR ME, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME

          DEATH." - Patrick Henry

C.  THERE IS A COST FOR US AS WELL (Acts 14:21-22).

          1.  This is a serious undertaking (Luke 14:25-30;  Matt. 10:37).

          2.  What does it take to overcome? (Rev. 12:11).

          3.  A sacrifice of self (Rom. 12:1;  Luke 9:23;  Gal. 2:20).

          4.  The key to any proper service (2 Cor. 8:5).

V.  A MEMORIAL DAY ... July 4th.

A.  PENTECOST - THE DAY OUR NATION BEGAIN (Acts 2:1).

B.  WHAT MADE THAT DAY POSSIBLE? (Acts 20:28).

C.  HOW DO WE REMEMBER IT?

          1.  What do we do? (1 Cor. 11:23-29).

          2.  When do we do it? (Acts 20:7).

CONCLUSION:

A.  OUR FREEDOM WAS WORTH A LOT TO JESUS (1 Pet 1:18-19;  Gal. 5:1).

B.  HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH TO US?