Happy Fourth of July!

July 4th is the day we as Americans rejoice in our freedom as we celebrate our country's birth. Freedom is something this country has always cherished. The Bill of Rights which was added to the Constitution is proof positive of this. In recent years, there has been a lot of tension brought about by the fight against terror because at times, this effort has infringed upon our freedom.

Today, as you (I hope) think about the freedom we enjoy (a level of freedom enjoyed by few around this world), remember that the greatest freedom any one (American, Japanese, Tajik, Sudanese, Russian, Australian, Israeli, Palestinian, Iraqi, etc., etc., etc.,) can ever experience is the freedom from sin that Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone provides. Only he is "the way, the truth and the life" and "no one comes to the Father but by him." (See John 14:6). When Jesus died on the cross, he died to pay a wage - it was the wage of sin (See Romans 6:23). But since he himself was sinless (see Hebrews 4:15), it was not the wage for his own sin he was paying there. No. He was paying the wage for your sin and for my sin (See Isaiah 53:5-6). And when Jesus rose from the dead three days later, his resurrection proved that he was indeed the Son of God (See Romans 1:4). We enter this world "rebels with a cause." Our cause is to live life for "ME." But the God who made us and placed us on this earth - did so that we might live this life for Him - which is life that Jesus termed "abundant."

How about YOU? Have you ever experienced the freedom from sin that I have talked about here? All you must do is to begin by Admitting that you have sinned and rebelled against God. Once you admit to that, then you must Believe that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for your sin - a penalty that a JUST God requires. Finally, you must Confess Jesus as you Savior - turning to Him from sin and committing your self to follow JESUS CHRIST. When a person does this, then he or she will experience the reality of 2 Corinthians 5:17 which states that "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" I hope that today - this day of FREEDOM - you know what it means to be (as Jesus says) "free indeed" (See John 8:31-32, 36).


Thanks for listening,


pj