By Steve A. Hamilton

Rom. 6:16-23 

Introduction:  In 1775, King George III of Great Brittan declared the American  colonists “rebels.” Parliament sent thousands of German troops to the colonies to revoke any rightful claims previously granted to them.  It became all too apparent to Patrick Henry that freedom would not be a human right honored by the British government for the people of this land.  On March 13, 1775, Patrick Henry declared before the Virginia Convention of Delegates, “Give me liberty or give me death.”  Strong words that still ring true today.

          It wasn’t until July 4^th, 1776, that the Declaration of Independence was signed with the concluding affirmation, “For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”  Again, strong words in which men declared a willingness to exchange their lives for the freedom of future generations.

          Americans have fought and died in many wars over the last 200 years in order to obtain and keep our freedoms.  We are going to scripturally examine the need for liberty that men past and present were so willing to give their own lives to achieve. 

I.  The oppression of sin.

          A.  In order to obtain freedom, we must first recognize that we are oppressed (Rom. 6:16; 2 Pet. 2:19).

B.  Sin has enslaved all of mankind (Rom. 3:23).

C.  In fact, Jesus said while quoting Isaiah 61:2-3 that his mission was to grant liberty to the oppressed (Luke 4:18). 

D.  How do we gain freedom over sin?  We must understand that…

II. Freedom is not free.

          A. Freedom has never been gained without bloodshed.  Just like the history of this nation, our freedom was not gained without someone’s death (Heb. 9:22).

          B.  Jesus our Christ gave His life for our freedom from sin.  “He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:26b-28a; Rom. 5:8).

III. Our freedom is not assured unless it is appreciated.

          A.  We must covet that freedom that was given to us (Gal. 5:1).

                   1. That freedom is made available to us through His word.  Jesus made that point to the Jews of His day (John 8:31-36).  The truth will make us free.

                   2. We must stand fast to that which makes us free (Rom. 8:2).  As long as we abide in His word, we will be free (Jas. 1:25). 

          B.  How many people don’t appreciate the freedom they enjoy in this country that was obtained at a great price?

“Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?  Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.  Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.  Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.  Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.  They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.  What kind of men were they?  Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated.  But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.  Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy.  He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.  Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.  He served in the congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding.  His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.  Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.  At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.  He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire.  The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.  Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.  The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.  John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying.  Their 13 children fled for their lives.  His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.  For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.  A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.  Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.  Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution.” (Author Unknown)

          C.  Likewise, how many people don’t appreciate the freedom from sin that was bought by the blood of Christ?  Jesus was betrayed, forsaken, bound, denied, tried four times, struck, testified against falsely, accused of blasphemy, condemned, spat upon, buffeted, mocked, teased, sentenced to death, scourged, stripped, crowned with thorns, smitten with a reed, forced to carry His cross, crucified, reviled, railed upon, and then dies.  He went through all that for your freedom. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends” (John 15:13).

          D.  If we can’t appreciate the lost lives in over 200 years of history for our freedom, we don’t deserve that freedom.  If we can’t appreciate Christ’s death on that cross for our freedom from sin then we don’t deserve that freedom and we will die in our sins.

Conclusion: Liberty from sin can only be obtained through Christ (2 Cor. 3:17).  As Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty, or give me death.”  That is our only two options.  Which will you choose?

Last modified: 05/02/08