From Pastor Todd

Happy Independence Day — and Happy Birthday, America!

I remember the summer of 1976, America’s 200th Independence Day. I had just turned eleven, and the whole nation seemed alive with celebration. Now, fifty years later, as America marks her 250th year as a sovereign nation, we praise God for the liberty we enjoy in the U.S.A.

But let’s pause and think about that word “liberty.” As Americans, we cherish our national freedom. Yet as Christians, we possess a far greater liberty — free access to God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Paul is reminding us that we cannot gain access to God through our own efforts or fleshly attempts to keep the Law. If we try to approach God on our own terms, we place ourselves under the obligation to keep the whole Law perfectly (v. 3).

To grasp this, consider the Ten Commandments — only a portion of God’s Law. Israel could not keep them perfectly, and neither can we. Break one, and we stand guilty of breaking them all.

Take just the First Commandment: Exodus 20:3 — “You shall have no other gods before Me.” This means nothing — no person, no possession, no desire, no hobby, no work — can take God’s place. Every one of us struggles here, and God knew we would.

So what hope do we have? Our hope rests entirely in Jesus Christ.

Jesus said:

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

This is astounding. Jesus accomplished what no man could ever do — He fulfilled the Law perfectly. What we could never achieve, He did for us. Oh blessed Savior, who gives us liberty to live for Him!

So when Paul says, “Stand fast,” he is urging us to remain firm in the freedom Christ has given. Paul knows our weakness — that we cannot stand firm in our own strength. Just as our salvation is by grace, so our ability to live in this liberty comes through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Christ has made us free — therefore, do not return to the bondage of trying to earn God’s favor.

Jesus Himself said:

Matthew 11:29–30 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The Pharisees had placed heavy burdens on the people by insisting on strict law‑keeping. Jesus knew the Law could never be fulfilled apart from Himself. Without His intercession, mankind would remain helpless.

So yes — we are free. Not free to sin, but free to live for God. And if we do sin, we have an Advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). This is the grace of God found only in Christ.

True freedom — the only real freedom — comes through Jesus the Christ.

I ask you: Have you placed your faith in Jesus as your personal Savior? That is the heart of Christianity — a personal relationship with the one true and living God through His Son, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Faith in His finished work brings true liberty and eternal life.

If you need someone to speak with about salvation, you are welcome at any of our church services on Sunday or Thursday evening. You may also contact me personally using the phone number provided.

As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, let us thank God for our national liberty — but let us thank Him even more for the liberty we have through the Lord Jesus Christ.

May God bless America, and may God bless each of you and your families this July.

Pastor Todd