Freedom!

Happy 4th of July for those who live in America and enjoy the freedom we still have!

I say "still have" because freedom is not something we can take for granted although many do.

Freedom has come with a cost over the last 237 years. Many, many lives of patriots have been given to ensure we keep that freedom.

It has come at the cost of great bloodshed.

It can be said that America's freedom has been bought with a price.

So have you.

1 Cor. 6:20 - You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

Jesus Christ paid for your spiritual freedom from sin bondage upon the Cross 2,000 years ago.

Even if you do not acknowledge that this morning facts are facts. Jesus loves you so much that even when you were still a sinner, he died for you. He died for you with no guarantee you would ever accept it. (Romans 5:8)

If you have received it to yourself then you know full well what I mean. If you haven't, well...there's an unopened gift waiting for you to unwrap.

Not everyone who lives in America enjoys its freedoms. Not everyone enjoys what Jesus did for them either.

To fully enjoy America and all it offers one must be or become a citizen of the United States of America.

In order to enjoy all God has to offer one must become a citizen of heaven.

Did you know that it is easy to become a citizen of heaven? Even easier than becoming a citizen of the USA?

Although while one can be a citizen from birth if they are born in the USA, one cannot simply be born a member of heaven.

However (Good News!), God has made it very simple to rectify that.

First He decided He would send His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sin of all humanity. Not simple, but the hard part was taken upon Himself.

He did however, decide to make it simple for everyone to receive what Jesus had done.

Ready...here it is:

Romans 10:9 - If you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

That's it. Honest.

Granted, there's some depth in that verse. It encapsulates repentance from sin and acceptance of the freedom won by Jesus for you. But it can all be yours in a moment.

The simplicity is that you simply need to accept it. No long flowery prayers. No pomp and circumstance. Just simply a slave to sin being freed from the bonds by the One who took the penalty for you.

Just like our freedom in the USA has been won by others, so has the battle against sin and the devil been won by Jesus.

That my friends is the simple truth.

Jesus said, "The Truth will set you free!" (John 8:32)

All you need to do is simply acknowledge what He did and receive it!

And that is....

...Keepin' it Real!

God Bless America!

Pastor Kevin <><