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Symbols of Freedom July 2, 2010 • By Ed Wrather 07.02.10
And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him…. - John 19:17-18a.
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. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. - Romans 8:1-4.
Last week we visited the Mount Rushmore monument in South Dakota for the first time. I had heard about Mount Rushmore and had seen photos of the monument countless times during my life. However, being there physically, seeing it with my own eyes, allowed me to understand that it was much different than I had thought. It was better, greater, than I had pictured it as being in my mind. Mount Rushmore is meant to be, and I believe it is a symbol of the freedom that we have in our country. A plaque at the site states that "The four American Presidents carved into the granite of Mount Rushmore were chosen by the sculptor to commemorate the founding, growth, preservation, and development of the United States. They symbolize the principles of liberty and freedom on which the nation was founded." Mount Rushmore is a symbol of the freedom that we have in the United States.
The apostle Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans that in Christ Jesus, we can have spiritual freedom. That spiritual freedom came at a great cost and that cost was the shedding of the blood of Jesus upon a cruel Roman cross. Jesus was crucified on that cross gaining the freedom for all those who will look to Him, receiving Him as their Savior. That cruel cross, the instrument used to bring death to the Son of God no longer is thought of as an instrument of execution but instead as a symbol of spiritual freedom.
Prior to my receiving Jesus as my Savior I had heard about Him often, I had read about Him often, and I had heard the testimonies of those who said they knew Jesus as their Savior. However, nothing that I had heard, read, or imagined about Jesus compared with the reality of my actually being "born again" and having the Holy Spirit live within me. In a moment of time, when I prayed to receive Christ as my Savior and Lord, the course of my life was eternally changed.
On the 4th of July we celebrate our freedom from governmental oppression in the United States, and we ought to be thankful everyday for that freedom demonstrating our thankfulness by living as good citizens. Spiritually, we should celebrate our freedom in Christ and demonstrate our thankfulness every day by living for him as the apostle Paul says in Romans 8:5-6, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
If you have not personally received Christ Jesus as your Savior and Lord; if you have only heard about Jesus, read about Jesus, then I invite you to experience Jesus for yourself. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 34:8, "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"
 Visitor Comments (1) Freedom in Christ!!! Posted By REVKJ on July 3, 2010 I'm impressed with Christ all the more I live for Him or should I say with Him?
I truely enjoyed your words!
REVKJ |
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