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Worship Schedule:
Sunday
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 I drove by a church with one of those sign that gives messages. Since it was Fourth of July week I think this church was trying to find a patriotic Bible passage. They quoted from Galatians 5:1. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." At first glace it sound like it could be read on the fourth of July in church. But there is a problem. That passage is not talking about the freedom we have in this country, that passage is talking about the freedom we have from having to do works to get tot heaven. That passage continues, "Stand firm then and don't let yourself be burdened again by a yolk of slavery." Paul was encouraging the Galatians not let people tell them they had to do certain good works to earn heaven. Jesus Christ had already earned that for them. That was the freedom that Christ gave to them and they were to stand firm in it. On the fourth of July we give thanks to our God for the freedom that we have in this country. Freedom that allows us to worship our God the way we please and freedom that allows churches to put religious messages on their signs, even if those messages are a little bit off. But the greatest freedom we have is freedom from sin, freedom from the fear of death, and freedom from the power of the devil. Jesus won us this freedom when he lived a perfect life without sin, when he died on the cross and rose the third day by which he crushed the power of the devil. Jesus gives us this freedom through his Word, and we want to do all we can to hang on to this precious freedom we have in Christ. We just spent a weekend giving thanks for the freedom we have in our country. Over the past few years we were reminded again of how sometimes freedom ahs to be fought for and defended. We defend our Christina freedom by standing firm on the Word of God. But we don't have to fight to gain this freedom. We have already been set free forever. Jesus gives us that freedom. Stand firm in it! Join us for worship and Bible study as we celebrate the freedom we have in Christ. God bless you all. Pastor Matt Brown Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church Clarksville, TN.
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