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The Origins and Value Of Freedom
By Court Wood
You may not remember Maryam and Marziah. They are two beautiful Iranian girls who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord of Lords. They had been arrested, imprisoned, and were expecting to be executed. In answer to the prayers of God’s people, instead, they were set free and expelled from Iran. They are now somewhere in the world—free from Muslim tyranny. By what means did God intervene and set them free? He used pressure from the free world. He used Christian Civilization. He used the influence and power of America in answer to the prayers of His people. Thank God for Freedom! Thank God for America!
The Cost of Freedom
"Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.”
The Lord Jesus Christ
Freedom is an extraordinary blessing. It began with the perfect sacrifice offered
by our Lord Jesus Christ, providing forgiveness, justification, eternal life, and
freedom, to all who believe in Him. Apart from the redemption provided by the Lord
Jesus Christ, God with us, freedom would not even be possible. Because of this great
and certain victory over Satan's power to condemn mankind, millions of men and women
throughout history, have gained courage, if necessary, to give their own lives, not
only for the protection of their own property and families, but also to resist evil,
and to protect their fellowman. As a recipient of this mercy, costing the lives of
so many, and originating in Christ, I shall remain eternally grateful.
Freedom
It is important to understand what freedom represents and its value, especially since we are seeing visible freedom greatly threatened in our time. I say "visible" freedom because, once personally realized through Jesus Christ, freedom can never be taken away. It is one with eternal life.
Some Thoughts for Reflection
Freedom was established at the creation of the world. It was and is, a part of man,
created in God's image. God is love, and love, by its very nature, must extend freedom
to those loved. Although Satan and his followers always promise "freedom," Satan
is the enemy of all freedom, The Apostle Peter warned: "They promise them freedom,
while they themselves are slaves of depravity-
And indeed
God will allow Satan to take complete control for a brief time before his final doom.
Satan has been the mastermind and inspiration of every Antichrist dictator such as
Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Ahmadinejad, Castro, and thousands more. Satan is the inspiration
of every false religious system such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and "religion"
(the leaven of the Pharisees) disguising itself as Christianity, blinding the minds
of men to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is an enemy to all truth, and to all freedom.
Freedom was lost when man listened to Satan's lies, and disobeyed God. The Apostle
Paul wrote: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all men sinned.”
Mankind thus became a slave to sin. "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.”
Freedom can only be regained after we are delivered from the bondage of sin, and
freedom is a cornerstone in the redemption promised by God to our fallen world. It
was received by faith by the "children of promise" who looked forward to the promised
redeemer, the "lamb of God." These multitudes of saints, known to God, and now with
God, were exemplified in the Scriptures by men like Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Moses, Daniel, Isaiah, David, just to name a few of the Old Testament saints. They
awaited, with hope, the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ -
At the coming of Jesus Christ (God's Son, the Beginning and End, the Creator of all
things, God with us), freedom was fully experienced by those who believed in and
obeyed "the truth that is in Jesus""If you hold to my teaching, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." "So if
the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." At the return of Jesus Christ the
creation will join us in this "glorious" freedom. "....the creation itself will be
liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the
children of God."
The Importance of Freedom
Freedom from the curse of the Law, and freedom from our bondage to sin is needed
by every living human soul, for all have sinned. Jesus Christ met every requirement
of the law, led a sinless life, was God with us, and offered Himself as a perfect
sacrifice as full payment for the penalty of our sin. He died in our place. He died
for the sins of the world. All that the Father required was that we love and believe
in His Beloved Son. Satan tried his best to prevent this atonement for our sins,
and he failed.
Chapter 12 of Revelation provides a condensed view of Satan's determined by failed
attempt to prevent Jesus Christ from coming into the world. In this picture of Christ's
coming the woman is Israel, the child is Jesus, and the dragon is Satan. "A great
and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon
under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried
out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven:
an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.
His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The
dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might
devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who
will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to
God and to his throne." The many attempts by Satan to kill Jesus before His perfect
sacrifice on the cross for our sins are listed in numerous accounts in the gospels,
from His birth to His death and resurrection.
Freedom is necessary for mankind to seek the Lord, and for the gospel to be preached. In the first century, God used the stability of the Roman government to provide temporary protection during the incarnation of His Son, and for His church, the Bride of Christ. Just as Satan opposed the life and work of Jesus Christ, Satan continues to blind the world, distort the gospel, compromise and distort the truth, and so mislead the world into condemnation along with himself.
After the decline of the Roman Empire, and parallel to the spread of the gospel throughout
the world in the first few centuries, Satan formed a counterfeit church, the Roman
Catholic Church (the Pharisees reborn) and allied the Catholic Church with the Kings
and rulers of its time. This led the world into a period of several hundred years
which historians rightly call "the dark ages." During this time the truth was crushed
and every attempt was made by the popes and clergy to destroy any remnant of New
Testament biblical Christianity. Despite the fierce persecution, the truth prevailed.
The record of this difficult period for the Body of Christ can be found in books
such as "The Trail of Blood," "Foxes Book of Martyrs," and other lesser known books
which carefully detail the faithfulness of thousands of saints and martyrs to the
testimony of Jesus and to the Word of God. Most lost their families and homes, and
often their lives. "....they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
Revelation 12:11
Although corrupt and heretical in many of its beliefs, the Catholic Church did serve
God's purposes during the Crusades, and rallied brave men and women to defended Europe
from Islamic Jihad. The Muslims had literally reached the gates of Paris, occupied
Spain, and were sending raiding parties ashore on the British Isles. Were it not
for the Crusades, we would all be Muslims today, and the reformation would have never
taken place 200 years later.
By the 14th century, Biblical Christianity began to resurface and God raised up men such as Wycliffe, Luther, Tyndale, Hus, Calvin, Arminius, and hundreds of others known only to God. Although most were martyred, some survived. The Lord used some powerful princes and kings who, taught by the reformers, and exposed to the Word of God finally available by print in the language of the people, began to realize that Christ was not represented by a pope or institution, but rather by godly men in whom Christ lived and spoke. Physical protection was provided to the reformers by these princes and kings, by the power of their swords, and THE TRUTH OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH HAD BEEN SUPPRESSED BY SATAN FOR CENTURIES WAS AGAIN SET FREE.
I am deeply grateful for these courageous men and women, both the princes and the
preachers, and their families. Many were put to death for their stand for truth,
for the Word of God, and for Jesus Christ. They stand at the foundation of Christian
Civilization.
Quite rightly did the Reformers consider the Pope to be the Antichrist.
Indeed, although he was not THE Antichrist, he surely was an antichrist, and an epitome
of the "leaven of the Pharisees." The Catholic Church, and all "religion" which obscures
Christ, is well defined as “the Pharisees reborn.”
The Reformation brought attention to God's Word and the great cry of the Reformation
was: "Christ alone, Scripture alone, faith and grace alone, and to the glory of God
alone." With the invention of the printing press, thousands began to obtain a copy
of the Bible to read for themselves, and much of Europe was delivered from the tyranny
of religion. The godly exercise of freedom, both religious and political, began to
spread across Europe. FREEDOM HAD COME ALIVE, FOUNDED UPON JESUS CHRIST AND THE WORD
OF GOD. CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION WAS BORN. THE "TIMES OF THE GENTILES" HAD BEGUN."
ONCE MORE THE GOSPEL TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
And, convinced he was being led by the Holy Spirit of God, Christopher Columbus directed
his three small ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria to weigh anchor and
head west towards what would become, really quite obviously, THE PROMISED LAND OF
THE GENTILES.
God uses the church as His vessel for the proclamation of the Gospel. He uses men
and nations to resist evil, to resist the spirit of antichrist, and to provide some
measure of freedom in our world SO THAT MEN MIGHT SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND.
So that Christians can FREELY go and make disciples of all men. For "Everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." And "how can they believe in the one
of whom they have not heard.”
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.""When the righteous thrive, the people
rejoice..." If we have a righteous government based on the rule of God's law then
the government "....is God's servant to do you good....he does not bear the sword
for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer."
But, "when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
Some error greatly in seeing a different God for the Old and the New Testament.
This "Lamb of God, and good Shepherd" as our sin bearer, is one and the same Lord
Jehovah who led the armies of Israel against their foes, and directed His angels
to scatter and slay their enemies. During the historic period of Israel's manifestation
as a nation, the Lord revealed Himself as a Mighty Warrior, and a leader of mighty
warriors.
"Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and
majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and
righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. Let your sharp arrows pierce
the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. Your throne,
O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your
kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has
set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." Psalms 45:3-
This
majestic Lord of the Old Testament who led the armies of Israel forth in victory
(when they walked in obedience before him) is the same Lord who came as "the Lamb
of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
When He comes again to the earth, suddenly, and visible to every eye, this same "man
of sorrows, acquainted with grief" who "laid down His life for us," will appear gloriously,
not as a gentle lamb, but as the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah." The apostle John saw
the vision of His second coming in the Lord's revelation to Him:
"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is
called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like
blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that
no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name
is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses
and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword
with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.'
He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and
on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation
19:11-
The entire Word of God describes the Second coming of Christ as a time of
great judgment and wrath upon those outside of Jesus Christ
This is the same Jesus of the Old Testament, of the New Testament, and of the New Heaven and Earth. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
The past two hundred plus years have been an extraordinary time in human history. Never before, to our knowledge, has the gospel penetrated so far to every tribe, tongue, and nation. Never before has the entire world been confronted with such great value for human life. Never before have we seen such levels of prosperity.
Most of the world lives far below the standards and opportunities found in America, but the blessings of God upon Christian civilization, since the Reformation, has brought unparalleled progress to the entire world, including our enemies.
Sadly, many American Christians are ignorant of America's obvious role in the Kingdom
of God throughout the entire world. This role is the result of America's Christian
foundation, and is an outgrowth of what is most accurately stated as Christian Civilization,
not Western Civilization, beginning with the Reformation. We are living in the closing
days of the "times of the Gentiles" spoken of by Jesus. We in America are living
in what I believe can be clearly described as "the promised land of the Gentiles."
And just as judgment came to the nation of Israel for her disobedience, so judgment
will eventually come to the gentile "promised land." But God used Israel to His glory
and for His purposes, and does to this day even in her unbelief. Indeed the natural
Jew, and the Nation of Israel remains one of the world's greatest spiritual and natural
blessings. And even more, God is still working mightily through His church scattered
throughout the world, UNDER THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION. SINCE THE
REFORMATION, WITH A BIBLE IN ONE HAND, AND WHEN NECESSARY, A SWORD OR RIFLE IN THE
OTHER, MILLIONS OF SAINTS HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR FREEDOM. FREEDOM FROM TYRANNY.
FREEDOM TO THINK. FREEDOM TO PRAY. FREEDOM TO READ THE WORD OF GOD. FREEDOM TO PROCLAIM
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. FREEDOM TO GLORIFY GOD. GOD FORBID THAT WE SHOULD PARTAKE
LIGHTLY OF THIS FREEDOM SO DEARLY PAID FOR BY OUR GOD, AND BY HIS SAINTS. May we
"work while it is day, for night is coming when no man can work.”
And this Freedom aligned with Christian (not Western) Civilization was purchased
at a great price. It costs our Lord His life, and He gave it freely. It has cost
the lives of countless martyrs throughout the centuries. And it has cost the lives
of millions of soldiers who have fought bravely against tyranny in it's many forms.
Never before the reformation did a soldier fight for freedom. He fought for his pay,
or because he was forced to. From the reformation onward, men realized that our struggles
were not in vain. Freedom is a precious gift from God to be cherished, protected,
fought for, and if need be, die for. On Memorial Day, Independence Day, and every
day, I am deeply grateful for the great price so many have paid for this freedom,
built upon the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ.
It is certain that "here, we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for
the city that is to come,” but it is equally true that we live as temporal citizens
in a nation, along with a few other nations built on Christian foundations, not seen
since God led the Jewish people into their promised land. Clearly, God's hand has
guided the establishment, purpose, and preservation of America, and a few other free
nations. And our purpose is not for our self gratification. America's purpose in
the world has been to restrain the forces of Anti-
May God grant us courage in the days ahead. It is our duty to persevere without retreat
until the day of Christ's return. We are to be witnesses of Jesus Christ and the
Word of God.
I am very grateful for those who have gone before me. The days ahead may hold revival
and awakening, or they may hold apostasy and continued decline of Christian civilization.
Either way our calling is unchanged. We are to “endure to the end.”
Thank God for freedom, for America, for our brave men and women who have fought and
died that we might remain free, for all that our flag represents, for our founding
fathers, for the Reformation, for every true preacher of the Gospel, and for every
godly Christian man and woman.
May we take to heart the words of the Puritan, John Winthrop. In 1630 John was still
aboard the ship Arbella on his way to America. In a sermon to his fellow Puritans
on the ship he said: "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill.
The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God
in this work we have undertaken... we shall be made a story and a by-