We are about to celebrate the Fourth of July, a day to remember our country's freedom.  Recently I spoke with a child who was amazed that people are free in other countries as we are in the USA.  This child associated freedom exclusively with our nation.
The truth is that freedom should first and foremost be associated with faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus said about Himself, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)  Paul says in Gal. 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."  John said in Rev. 1:5 that Jesus "loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood."  James calls the Bible "the perfect law that gives freedom." (James 1:25)  And Jesus  claimed to be "the Truth" (John

14:6) and said "the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
By contrast, sin works against freedom.  We become slaves to our greed, lust, anger, and pleasures.  Just as the alcoholic thinks he is free when he drinks, while others recognize his bondage, many in our culture think they are on a road to freedom, when they are really becoming entrapped in their life apart from God.  As we enjoy our national freedom, may we never forget that God is the true author of freedom, and those most free are those trusting Jesus for their salvation!