As Americans, we look forward to the Fourth of July each year. Fireworks, parades, family gatherings, and flag waving—all reminders that we are blessed to live in a nation where freedom is part of our identity. But for believers in Jesus, the holiday also gives us the opportunity to reflect on a far greater kind of freedom. A freedom not won by revolution, but by redemption. A freedom that cannot be legislated, only received. A freedom that lasts forever.
Last Sunday at Rockwell Church, we explored that theme in the message When God’s Grace Brings True Freedom from Galatians 5. After it was preached, I gave the audio episode a new title: Faith, Freedom, and the Fight to Stand Firm. The message challenged us to stand strong in the freedom Christ has secured for us. It’s a message that resonates especially well during this season. Some years earlier, I had preached a message on the 4th of July titled Christ, Country and the Cross from Romans 3. Together, these two sermons offer a biblical lens for thinking about both national and spiritual freedom—and they speak to the moment we are living in today.
In a world that increasingly confuses freedom with self-rule, God’s Word reminds us that true liberty is found not in doing whatever we want, but in becoming who God created us to be. That kind of freedom is only possible through Christ.
The Danger of Sliding Back into Bondage
In Galatians 5:1, Paul writes, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” The Galatians had received the gospel. They had heard the good news of salvation by grace through faith. But now, they were being pulled back into legalism—back into trying to earn God’s favor through performance.
That temptation still exists today. We may not be trying to follow Old Testament rituals, but we often fall into the same trap. We measure our value by our success, our righteousness by our reputation, or our acceptance by our activity. We forget the simple, powerful truth: Jesus paid it all. Righteousness doesn’t come through rules; it comes through relationship.
Paul urges us to stay grounded in the gospel. To stand firm in grace. To resist the pull to go back to earning and striving. He reminds us that freedom in Christ is both a gift and a calling. It’s not freedom to sin, but freedom from sin. Not freedom to live for self, but freedom to love and serve others.
Independence Day Is Also Dependence Day
In Christ, Country and the Cross, I shared how Independence Day is a great time to also celebrate our dependence—our dependence on God’s mercy, grace, and truth. Our founding fathers understood that liberty apart from morality would lead to chaos. John Adams is quoted as saying, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” They recognized that true liberty requires accountability—not to kings or empires—but to the Creator who endowed us with our rights.
Romans 3 paints a sobering picture: “There is no one righteous, not even one… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That’s every one of us. Left to ourselves, we’re not free—we’re enslaved to sin, pride, and brokenness. But verse 24 gives us the good news: “All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
That word “justified” means to be declared righteous. Not because we earned it. Not because we lived a perfect life. But because Jesus took our place. He satisfied the justice of God so that we could receive the mercy of God. He bore our sin so we could receive His righteousness. That’s the foundation of our spiritual freedom. Not patriotism. Not religion. Not effort. Grace.
The Freedom to Love and Serve
Galatians 5:13 says, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” We’re not set free to sit still. We’re set free to make a difference. To love well. To live faithfully.
Paul is saying that freedom in Christ isn’t a license to do whatever you want. It’s an invitation to become who you were meant to be. True freedom doesn’t come from being your own master. It comes from following the Master who gave His life for you.
That’s a truth we need to hold onto, especially in a culture where “freedom” often means casting off all restraint. But casting off God’s wisdom doesn’t make us more free. It makes us more lost. Real liberty is found when we walk by the Spirit, live by faith, and serve in love.
Faith Expressing Itself Through Love
Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh—things like discord, jealousy, fits of rage, and selfish ambition—tear people and communities apart. They’re signs of bondage, not freedom.
But the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—is the evidence that Christ is alive in us. Those things can’t be manufactured by willpower. They grow as we stay connected to Jesus and allow His Spirit to shape us. Galatians 5:6 says, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” That’s the Christian life. That’s what spiritual freedom looks like.
Standing Firm in a Shifting Culture
Both of these messages—one from Galatians 5, the other from Romans 3—remind us that the gospel is what gives us the foundation we need to stand firm in shifting times. We live in a nation blessed with incredible freedoms, and we should be thankful. But our ultimate allegiance isn’t to a nation. It’s to a Savior.
That doesn’t mean we don’t love our country. It means we love our country best when we live as citizens of heaven—showing compassion, speaking truth, and shining light in a dark world. As I said in the earlier sermon, “Our freedom is not just a national identity; it’s a spiritual reality.” We are free in Christ. Let’s live like it.
A Freedom That Endures
Jesus said in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” That’s the freedom we need most. Not just freedom of speech or assembly or worship—though those are precious gifts. But the freedom of the soul. Freedom from condemnation. Freedom from shame. Freedom from the fear of death. Freedom to walk with God and know Him personally.
That’s the kind of freedom that no government, no court, no culture can ever take away. That’s the freedom that lasts. So as we enjoy this holiday week, let’s thank God for our nation’s freedom—and let’s declare our dependence on the One who gave us eternal freedom at the cross. Let’s stand firm in the faith. Let’s serve others in love. Let’s live lives that reflect the amazing grace we’ve received. And let’s remember that the cross is what truly makes us free.
If you’d like to go deeper into these themes, you can listen to both full sermons online:
Christ, Country and the Cross (Romans 3)
a past July 4th message
Faith, Freedom, and the Fight to Stand Firm
(Originally Titled When God’s Grace Brings True Freedom (Galatians 5) – preached this past Sunday at Rockwell Church
Both are available at well.faith and on the Buzzsprout Well Faith Sermon Audio podcast host. May the Lord help us to live in the freedom He’s given us—and use it for His glory.