The flags are already flying

You can look down the street and see the beautiful United States flags flying. We are getting ready to celebrate on July 4th, Independence Day, and our 247th birthday. This country has been blessed with so many freedoms.

We have and are enjoying the freedoms that others fought and died for. We have the freedom to celebrate the holiday in the way we choose. There may be parades, picnics, ball games, fireworks, family and friends getting together.

This great country was founded on the idea that men and women should be free and should have some basic rights and freedoms - like freedom from other governments, freedom from the tyranny of our own government and freedom of religion. Men and women fought and died so we could have those freedoms.

In addition, our troops are in various parts of the world today trying to preserve and protect the freedoms of others and let us not forget them.

I am also reminded of an even greater freedom that was made available to us many years ago when Christ gave His life for us.

John 3:16, 8:36 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. / So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He gave his life so we could have forgiveness from our sins, ( Acts 10:43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. / Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,) and the hope of a new life and a new future.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 10:16-23 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds,“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.)

Let us remember these two great events this holiday and the people that made these freedoms available to us. See you in Church next Sunday.