Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

From wikipedia:
This phrase from the Declaration of Independence is – "one of the best-known sentences in the English language" and "the most potent and consequential words in American history".

Understand, this was a bold declaration, in it, the Americans were challenging the most powerful empire of the world at the time.

Freedom always comes at a cost.  Christianity celebrates our freedom from Satan’s rule and our total dependence on Jesus Christ. This freedom came at a cost. Jesus was killed on a cross to set us free from our own sin.
We get that freedom by completely giving our lives to Jesus Christ - what Paul describes as moving from a slave to sin into a slave to Jesus.
John 8:31-36
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
  33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Our communities and country does not recognize it’s slavery to sin.
You and I did not recognize it until Jesus’ truth freed us.

Truth sets Free.
Sin Brings Slavery.
Slave to sin and its addictive behaviors:
Anger
Speech
Substances
Shoplifting
Eating disorders
Envy
Gossip

How many years have you been captive?
You can choose your release date!
Accept the freedom Jesus Christ offers to you.

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