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Freedom can be found in Christ
pastor corner

The fourth of July is a great holiday, for it reminds one of what it took for freedom to happen. It took the lives of thousands of soldiers, willing to give their all to make it happen.

The sacrifice need never to be forgotten.

Freedom from sin for mankind came at a price also. The sacrifice was provided by God, sending his Son to die for the sins of mankind (John 3:16).

Man must see that it is in Christ that freedom can be found. God has provided “… all things that pertain to life and godliness…” (II Peter 1:3).

Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Paul was able to say, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (II Tim. 4:6-8).

Paul understood the freedom offered by God. His life serves as an example of how a child of God should live, ever seeking to please God. As one looks at the word of God, they find that it is through baptism that one “gets into Christ.”

Notice the words written by Paul, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27).

To those at Rome he wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3, 4).

When one is baptized into Christ, he is a new creature (II Cor. 5:17), he has forgiveness of sin (Col. 1:14) and in Christ salvation and eternal life (II Tim. 2:10, I Jno. 5:11).

If one would only study the life of Christ, it would easily be seen that if they suffered the things Christ suffered, but he saw his mission through. He was tempted, yet he did not sin (Heb. 4:15).

Matthew wrote about how Satan tempted Christ with things of this life, yet he refused to sin. In each temptation the Lord quoted scripture to overcome Satan’s advances.

While going about his work he was continually challenged but he remained steadfast to the will of the Father.

The courage of Christ was seen when those men whom he had chosen to walk with him forsook him. He knew that death awaited him at the cross, yet he continued.

When Christ was taken prisoner in the garden, one of his disciples tried to defend him with a sword, but the Lord told him to put it away. After this his disciples fled.

At his trial there was no one to plead his case. Mocked and beaten, and all the while he stood with “a face like flint.” He stood steadfast in following the Father’s word.

Surely it can be seen that man today must also steadfastly follow God’s word. It is only in Christ the man can have freedom.

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