I guess everyone and everything has the desire to be free.

Paul Harvey once shared the following true story. Many of us have read that for decades, scientists have been trying to teach monkeys/chimpanzees to communicate with sign language. For 15 years, one group of scientists labored with one particular monkey. Finally the day arrived where they wanted to show their success to the rest of the world.

Other scientists arrived and crowded around the cage that held the monkey. The lead scientist (in sign language) asked the monkey if there was anything he wanted to say to the people gathered in the room. And in perfect sign language, that monkey said, "Let me out of this cage."

True story. No one wants to live in a cage. We want to be free.

And I believe that most of us understand the words of Patriot Patrick Henry, when he said, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."

Today we applaud his passion, we celebrate the veterans who fought so that we can be free.

St. Paul speaks about freedom in our epistle reading today, but he speaks of a different kind of freedom. He focuses upon freedom as a gift from God. He speaks of freedom from the curse of sin through the merits of Jesus Christ. He speaks of freedom to worship and serve our God.

Something interesting was happening on His first missionary journey. Paul had converted a large number of Gentiles to belief in Jesus Christ. They were believers, they were baptized, and Paul established a church in Galatia. What a reason to celebrate!

But some Jewish Christians weren't so happy about this. We call this group the "Judaizers." These Judaizers claimed that these new Christians were required to follow Jewish rituals in order to be saved. These Judaizers wanted to preserve ceremonial laws and rituals, including the demand that the new Christians be circumcised. And these Judaizers wanted to force their views on all new Christians.

Paul believed that life in Christ gives us a clean break from our past. Paul wanted people to know that Christianity is about the inner spirit, not the outer body. Paul knew that elevating ritual over Christian love was not the plan of our God.

This issue angered St. Paul. He carried this issue to Jerusalem for the church leaders to debate, and won a victory of freedom. Galatians is one of Paul's first letters and it is all about Christian freedom.

And so Paul writes, "For freedom Christ has set you free; stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery…For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another."

The cross of Jesus Christ is all-sufficient. When Christ was obedient unto death, even death on the cross, all sin for all time was paid for. There is nothing that we can do that adds to what Christ has already accomplished for us!

The cross of Jesus Christ sets every believer free from the bondage of sin, free from the power of the devil, free from the grip of death and the grave.

The cross of Jesus Christ pays in the full the price for our sin. Our past is forgiven, our present is filled with peace, our future is assured. That's freedom.

An army chaplain tells the story of reaching a young man just before he died on a battlefield in Vietnam. The chaplain held the boy's hand. He prayed with him, he talked with him, he listened to him.

"Son," the chaplain said, "is there anything I can do for you?

Today, we are tempted to take this Gospel message for granted. But we may forget that in the first century, St. Paul was fighting for the central truth of Scripture. But how precious it is to know our sins are forgiven, eternal life is assured. Whether we are on the battlefield, in the hospital bed, at the nursing home, in our own living room: the forgiveness through the cross of Jesus Christ is the heart of what we Christians believe, teach, and confess.

Certainly, when Scripture proclaims freedom in Christ, there are some who will mistake this for license. If I am forgiven, then I can do as I please, sin boldly, repent later. We call that "cheap grace." Some mistake our freedom in Christ for license to sin and sin boldly. And in Paul's day, some began to do this.

And you noticed in the Epistle reading the long laundry list of the desires of the flesh. Paul continues to proclaim both law and gospel. In fact, what did Luther say are the 3 uses of the law? A curb, a mirror, and a guide. The law shows us our sin and our need for a Savior.

God's word of law is so important to heed.

Some of you might remember the names John Wayne Gacey? He was a serial killer who was arrested several years ago. During the day, he held a job as a clown, bringing joy and laughter to the lives of hundreds of children. By night, we lived a despicable life.

As the police narrowed down the search for the one committing all of these murders, they finally realized that John Wayne Gacey was their man. They went to his house. When Gacey opened the door and saw the police, his first words were, "Thank God you've come."

He couldn't live with the dark secrets of his life. It was a relief to be confronted with the law.

And so Paul tells us that true freedom is expressed in a life lived in the Spirit of Christ. And the such a life bears fruit, the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Paul writes, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passion and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."

Paul is inviting each of us to a new life of freedom that only Christ can offer. It begins on your baptismal day, and it is strengthened through Word and Sacrament throughout our lives.

During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day, Theodore Roosevelt came to her, wanting to buy food for the sick and wounded among his Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was confused. His men needed help and he was willing to pay any price.

When he asked someone why Clara Barton wouldn't sell the supplies, he was told, "She doesn't sell. She gives." Then he understood. They weren't for sale. All he had to do was ask and he would receive.

Freedom in Christ is not something we earn, deserve, or purchase. It is God's free gift to you.

As we celebrate Independence Day this Wednesday, also celebrate the freedom that is yours in Christ Jesus.