17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

How do you feel about Minnesota’s election results from yesterday? Who's your leaders, whether or not you voted for them?

The Roman believers were once enslaved by sin, but that all changed when they came to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. In Christ their bondage to sin was broken.  They became obedient to Christ and to His Word. The demands of discipleship were no surprise to these saints as Paul laid it down for them and for us.

Unfortunately, the gospel is often presented in our day so churches can grow and appeal to the self-interests of individuals. It minimizes commitment to the Word of God, and repentance from sin, which requires a drastic change of lifestyle. Too many speak of God as though He wishes to serve men, rather than men submitting to God and commit to serve Him.

The constitution of the United States begins “We the people of the United in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice and promote domestic tranquility.”.

The forefathers of our country were making their liberty a matter of conscience commitment. They believed that some rights are God given and ought not to be taken away by kings, dictators, presidents and governments of any kind. These are inalienable rights. We are not talking about a society without rules - that would result in anarchy.  Nor are we referring to a government under military rule where might makes right. We need laws, as determined by our voted representatives, to make a strong society. Even how we give voice by our votes to make our opinions known and elect our representatives in an orderly manner. We must take seriously, as citizens, when outside forces seek to manipulate voting and information. We submit ourselves to that order.

As Christians we are liberated from Satan by the Creator of the universe. We are called to devote ourselves to our Lord. He lifts up rulers and democracies, nations and states, but begins our spiritual liberation in the people’s lives, one by one. A Christian can be like the prodigal son. When we want to serve ourselves more than we want to serve God, we are setting ourselves up again for slavery to the flesh. We have become blinded to a simple fact that Jesus told us. “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other.”

The prodigal discovered bondage to sin only leads deeper into slavery, so it becomes harder to do what is right. When he was at his home, he decided he wanted his freedom, so he left to find himself and enjoy pleasures as long as money lasted. His rebellion only led him deeper into slavery. He became a slave of wrong desires and then He became a slave to wrong deeds.  Finally, he became a literal slave taking care of the pigs. What he thought was freedom turned out to be the worst kind of slavery. It was only when he returned home and yielded to his father that he found true freedom.           

We thank God for our freedom in America as well. We need to add our gratefulness to the men and women, who through the years were willing to give their lives for what we enjoy and too often can take for granted. Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC is attributed to pen these words. “It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.  It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”

When someone enters the military, they vow to submit to the authority of the laws and rules of the nation to protect its citizens. Privates submit to sergeants, who submit to lieutenants, who submit to captains, who submit to majors, and colonels to generals with various stars of rank who then submit to the President of the United States, who is elected by the people of United States.

Liberty is a matter of conscience, but for it to continue, we must submit to the laws of the land. Religious freedom is not freedom if we require everyone to come to church. The only real faith is free faith. The free government allows those to follow their beliefs whether you agree with them or not.

Jesus never forced anyone to follow Him. It was always a matter of their conscience to come to Him, but in coming to Him, we submit to His authority. We experience the rights and privileges of a child of God and receive the promises and inheritance which still await us.

Our true liberation comes when Jesus returns.

Dale