The Founding Fathers’ vision was not that everyone should be free to do whatever was right in their own eyes. Their vision was that everyone should be free to choose to do whatever God Almighty wanted them to do. Please give “Freedom In Jesus” a sing-along listen and come right back for a chat on real — and fake — freedom.

“Wholly inadequate …”

John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” It is fair to say Mr. Adams thought these words would help people understand — and serve to warn them — what was required of people so the Constitution could succeed in helping them go after “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These days we hear people argue that Mr. Adams’ words offer grounds to abolish the Constitution because it fails to serve the kind of freedom “non-moral and non-religious” people seek.

The Bible tells us why John Adams was correct.

The Bible also tells us why “non-moral and non-religious” people would find no relief at all by getting rid of the Constitution.

To understand this, a good place to start is to look at different meanings for “freedom”.

What is freedom?

Merriam Webster says “freedom” is, in part, “The quality or state of being free, such as: The absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. Liberation from slavery or from the power of another. A political right.”

This definition supports the view that “freedom” is about personal independence — about being able to make our own decisions about right and wrong — about choosing our own path in life — about doing whatever we want, whenever we want. That no other agent should have power over the free person. That freedom is something granted by governments.

The Bible’s view of freedom — and slavery — offers something different.

Jesus said “He has sent me to proclaim freedom …” (Luke 4…) and
“… if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
He also said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8…)

Jesus did not come to change the laws of God. Jesus was not sent to change such things as gravity, sunrise — and people’s ability to choose.

Jesus brought freedom to all who were in bondage as slaves to sin. He brought a new, better choice.

The story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) helps us picture this. The son chose to exercise his freedom — the kind described by Merriam Webster — by leaving his father’s house and living on his own. Time proved to him that it was an awful choice. This kind of freedom led to the son eating with the pigs, and things only promised to get worse. The path he took led from bad to worse.

The prodigal son’s way back to his father’s home — and the open door to enter — and the blessings — these illustrate and help us see what Jesus Christ won back for all people who will receive it.

What Jesus gave us was not more rules about being “naughty or nice”.
He made it possible for people to go from the
“eat pig food and die” plan to
“dwell in the house of the Lord forever and eat at the table…”.

It comes down to this — there are only two paths we may choose — either the path of life or the path of death.
The path of life offers genuine freedom.
The path of death offers fake freedom.
On one path we are led by a loving Savior who came to bring life which is more than abundant.
On the other path we are led by an enemy of God who does nothing but steal, kill and destroy.

The genuine freedom Jesus Christ brings is the ability to choose to obey God and live powerfully, as we were designed, in a personal loving relationship with Him, free from fear of death, living with direction and purpose — more than conquerors. Life — more than abundant.

With genuine freedom, the choices revolve around light and life.

The fake freedom was introduced to mankind early in Genesis (see Genesis 2 & 3) by an enemy. The lies the enemy used to lure Eve away from obeying God in the Garden tell us all we need to know about fake freedom. Fake freedom brings a life without God and without hope, only to be followed by death with no escape.

With fake freedom, the choices revolve around darkness and death.

The Founding Fathers gave us a plan so the country could live in the genuine freedom Jesus Christ brought. John Adams understood — and warned — that the freedom they sought to guard and protect — as far as any law of any land was able — was the genuine, not the fake.

Freedom in Jesus

Years ago I saw a clever advertisement in a magazine about airplanes. The ad opened with a humorous line “Buy the airplane that can land on water — twice.” (They were selling amphibious planes, special and unusual planes which could safely land either on dry ground or water — a neat design.) The ad’s point was that any airplane can land on water once. You might say that any airplane that could fly was “free” to land on water. But how silly to put it that way! Anyone could see that kind of “freedom” would just destroy an airplane not built to operate that way. What kind of freedom is that? Who would buy something as expensive as an airplane and then wreck it by not learning — or not caring — how things actually work?

We can understand genuine freedom and fake freedom that way.
Genuine freedom works in the real world.
Fake freedom fails in the real world.
And … it is true, and is not changing — this IS “our Father’s world” — for real.

Through all of history there have been those who try to sell fake freedom by dressing it up to make it attractive — often while painting the genuine freedom in the ugliest colors. What a tragedy it is for someone to fall for that kind of sales job.

But what joy the Lord brings by giving us light and truth so we can see and know the setup, and live in harmony with what actually works.

Airplanes that can land on water might not be for everyone. But a loving Savior who brings life and peace — and who can walk on water — IS for everyone.

What a joy to know the freedom in Jesus!

God bless you lots
-Dale R.

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Download this song sheet

LYRICS – Freedom In Jesus
Text: Emma F. Bennett, 1903
Tune: William James Kirkpatrick

1 I’m happy in Jesus, rejoicing today;
And Jesus my Savior now leads me His way;
The Comforter lives in my glad heart to stay;
O glory to Jesus! I’m free!

Chorus:
I’m free, I’m free! I’m gloriously free!
No longer by sin am I bound;
The precious blood cleanses; it liberates me,
This freedom in Jesus I’ve found.

2 This freedom in Jesus means blessed release;
My fear of death now and forever can cease;
His grace and salvation brought wonderful peace
O glory to Jesus! I’m free!

3 This freedom in Jesus brings marvelous rest,
His way is perfect, His counsel is best,
And when I just trust Him my soul is so blessed;
O glory to Jesus! I’m free!

4 His love is so tender, His power so divine,
My all to His keeping I gladly resign;
A vessel of clay for my Lord to design;
O glory to Jesus! I’m free!

5 No longer heart-broken, the Lord’s made me whole;
The clear light of Heaven shines bright my soul.
I’ll sing while the years of eternity roll;
O glory to Jesus! I’m free!

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