In just one word, what is the reason that thousands of our young men and women are being deployed half-way around the world to Iraq? Well, if you had to boil it down to just one word, that reason would be: freedom. Freedom for the Iraqi people from the dictator that’s been ruling over them for years. Freedom for the Middle East from one less volatile person to worry about. Freedom for our country from one less terrorist to be concerned about. We Americans are all about freedom.
And freedom is exactly what our text is about this morning. Jesus died to make us free. But what does that word mean: freedom? I didn’t look this up in Webster’s, but my definition of freedom would be: not having to answer to anyone. Being perfectly independent in all of your decisions. Not having anyone tell you what to think or do. Now, if that’s our definition of freedom, aren’t we somewhat limiting freedom by attaching the word “Christian” to it? I mean, total freedom would mean that you have no rules to govern you. But add the word “Christian” in front of freedom, aren’t we restricting freedom somewhat? Doesn’t “Christian Freedom” mean that we are no longer totally free, but we are ruled by the principles of Christ? And is that really freedom anymore?