We Celebrate Dependence

Believers don't celebrate personal independence today, we celebrate mainly a new kind of allegiance--one that is radically freeing:

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son"(Col 1:13).

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood" (Rev 1:5 ESV)

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Gal 5:1 ESV)

"For one who has died has been set free from sin. And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Rom 6:7,18, 20-23 ESV)

"'And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
(Joh 8:32-36 ESV)

July 4, 1776 gave us a little freedom from unfair taxation. It did not free us from the awful price and penalty of sin. Jesus Christ offers eternal freedom of the best kind. What a blessing to be part of his kingdom, to be his sons, and to have peace with our king through the cross of Christ.