On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, stating the legal separation of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. As with most aspects of history, the nuances have long been removed. What we refer to as “July 4” is our celebration of “freedom” in general—that original casting off of the British monarch King George III, and the Revolutionary War that ensued, long since forgotten. Even the date is wrong. The Declaration was actually signed and approved on July 2, and didn’t become public until July 4. The copy you’ll find in the National Archives was penned on July 19 and signed on August 2.
John Adams had written to his wife Abigail, “The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” He ended up being off by two days.[1]
The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, later to become known as Independence Hall. The 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress represented the 13 colonies, 12 of which voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
When we celebrate on July 4 now, 245 years and as many political reinterpretations later, it begs the question, “What freedom are we celebrating?” Some today believe that freedom means “free to do what I want” or “free to love how I want” or “free to make choices with my body”. But there are limits to this thinking, because any freedom has certain duties that extend beyond “I”. Those who penned the Declaration clearly meant “freedom to self-govern”, and within that freedom was an understood responsibility of the citizen and moral underpinnings of everyday life. This is perhaps the greatest disconnect in our current culture when it comes to freedom—the fact that it has a shared cost and common limits.
Jesus Christ brings us a clear and meaningful definition of freedom that transcends our July 4 celebration. Spiritual freedom is perhaps the greatest freedom of all, and unlike the patriots of the 1700s, we don’t have to fight a Revolutionary War to get it. Paul explains in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Set free from what, and to what kind of freedom?
When describing freedom here, Paul flips the script. He is talking to a religious audience that was immersed in following an extensive list of traditional laws and rules in order to please God. Paul declares that in Christ they—and we—are now free from “the law”. In Christ, there is no longer a “to do list” to please God. In fact, the religious law as they knew it never pleased God because nobody could entirely keep it. It was an impossible standard. Every leader under the law was destined to fail, and so they were not free at all. The rules enslaved them. They needed a Savior.
And in Christ we have One! Because of His sacrifice on the cross, paying the penalty for breaking the law, we are free from it. “Christ has set us free.” We have the power, through the Holy Spirit, to live victoriously over sin (1 Corinthians 15:56-67; Romans 8:37). Just like we once followed sinful desires, those who are “in Christ Jesus” now follow the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:24).[2] Paul explains this succinctly in Romans 6:14, “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” This is spiritual freedom, the freedom to live in the grace of God and not as a slave to the power of sin in our lives.
So, now we are free to sin without consequence? Paul cuts off this thinking at the knees in Romans 6:15, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!” And then, “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).
“Freedom” in the United States in recent years has often taken on the guise of “free to do whatever I want”, with any particular action or cause defining themselves by their “given right to” do it.
In Christ we enjoy the ultimate freedom. This is not the freedom to do whatever we want or be whatever we want. Rather it is freedom from the ultimate penalty of sin and the freedom to live and lead for a divine purpose. As a nation we may view “freedom” as personal freedom, or political freedom, or even a list of freedoms—like those innumerated in the Bill of Rights. These are great freedoms to enjoy, but pale in comparison to the freedom to live in Christ and for Christ and because of Christ. And like our national freedoms, this freedom in Christ may have faded somewhat in our minds so that we are not as conscious of it or thankful for it until reminded again of its significance.
As John Adams predicted, we still do light up fireworks and eat big meals and have parades to celebrate Independence Day. Consider also how you might celebrate your spiritual freedom in Christ. Jesus told us that He had come to Earth to “proclaim freedom” (Luke 4:18). And on another occasion, He said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Jesus did not set us free to do whatever we wanted. He freed us to do what we ought to do. He liberated us to have a personal relationship with God, and to be the leaders He created us to be. This spiritual freedom in Christ is the ability to obey God and choose His will for our lives.[3] As we submit to Christ, sin loses its power and Christ takes over. As we trust and follow His leadership, our sinful habits, thoughts and attitudes lose control. Guilt disappears, and peace of mind dominates. Right leadership becomes the norm. This is true freedom—freedom in Christ!
Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was an English-born Founding Father of the United States. An inventor and philosopher, he authored Common Sense, a pamphlet that was influential at the start of the American Revolution.