The Christian faith brings freedom

I’m thankful we live in Alaska and not Michigan or California or New York. I’m thankful we are blessed with freedom in Alaska. I’m thankful our governor is wise and the restrictions are being lifted. Alaska is a great place to live!

America is based on freedom. Patrick Henry said, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Thomas Jefferson said, “All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” John Hancock said, “There, I guess King George will be able to read that.” His signature was the largest of any on the Declaration of Independence. \

The Christian life is also based upon freedom. When a person comes to saving faith everything changes. Jesus died for our sins as predicted in the Scriptures. He was buried and rose again from the dead. His sacrifice for our sins was perfect. By faith we grab hold of salvation. Romans 6:15-23 focuses upon three great changes in a person’s life after salvation.

First, we have a new master (verses 15-18). Verse 17 says, “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin…” It is shocking but every person is born a slave of sin. In fact, John 6:44 says that Satan is our father. Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil.” The Pharisees did not like hearing this!

My mother didn’t have to teach me to steal a cookie. Sin comes naturally to each one of us! At salvation God becomes our Father. Jesus becomes our older Brother. In Matthew 6:9 Jesus taught us to pray this way, “Our Father, Who art in heaven….” Jesus Christ is kind and loving and a friend.

Romans 6:16 says, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either or sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Sin is no longer our master. We become slaves of righteousness.

Second, we have a new purpose (verses 19-20). Slavery to sin produced shame. The apostle Paul asks, “But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death (verse 21).” Paul says that we have become the slaves of God and “the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (verse 22).

Sin produces shame. We all have things in our past for which we now feel shame. But our new purpose is to become like Jesus. Sanctification is the process God uses to change our character.

John Newton was once a slave trader. He even became a slave himself. He escaped from his cruel master’s wife. He lit a signal fire on the coast of Africa. A passing ship saw the fire and rescued him. The ship’s captain hired him as a navigator. Newton got drunk and lost his position. Later God saved him in a great storm. He wrote a very famous hymn, “Amazing Grace.” He said, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

Third, we have a new destiny (verse 23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God is just and holy. Every sin- without exception- will be punished. Either you and I pay for our own sin in hell or our sin is paid for by the Lord Jesus at the cross.

Knowing Jesus brings a new destiny. Our destiny is eternal life. Our destiny is best seen in the final two chapters of the Bible. Revelation 21 and 22 point out that our destiny is the new heaven, the new earth and the New Jerusalem for all eternity. It is a great future! This life is simply the front porch of eternity. This life for a Christian leads to a much better place.

Freedom is a gift. In Alaska we have freedom. We have freedom to live our lives and pursue our dreams. It is a beautiful summer to enjoy. May our freedom today remind us of the even greater freedom God provides for us in His Son.

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake