This morning, we’re

beginning a new, short series through Independence Day entitled: 3F; faith,

family, and freedom.  Today, we’re taking

a look at faith.

We’ll soon be

celebrating Independence Day, July 4th, 1776 when the 13 United States of

America declared its independence from the tyranny of Great Britain.  That declaration began the great nation that

we have been so richly blessed to be citizens of.  The second paragraph of this declaration

states:

“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.–That to secure these rights,

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the

consent of the governed”

Just 13 years later,

the constitution of the United States was written in an attempt to establish a

more perfect union to secure blessings and freedom.  A few years later, 12 amendments were

proposed to further prevent abuse of the powers granted to those who govern our

nation.  Those that were ratified became

known as the Bill of Rights.

The first amendment

included granted us the very first amendment to the constitution of the United

States still in effect today proclaims: “Congress shall make no law

respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise

thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of

the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress

of grievances.”

We can literally

meet here this morning because of the sacrifice of countless people over the

years who fought to gain and defend this very freedom.  We can assemble peaceably together and

exercise our faith; freedoms that most governments on the earth right now deny

to their people.  Right now as we meet

without fear, our brothers and sisters in Christ meet in secrecy for fear of

losing their very lives so that they may learn and worship together. 

As we celebrate the

independence that we have to freely embrace faith, family, and freedom, may we

never forget to pray for those who do not have it.  May we choose to have the same boldness and

courage to live out our faith as those do whose very lives are on the line for

doing so and not take our freedom for granted.

Faith.  George Michael sang that you’ve gotta have

it.  Many girls are named it.  Abraham is called the father of many of them.  Lots of people have done some terrible things

in the name of it.  It’s found tattooed

on many bodies and it’s hung on many living room walls.  We love it when people are faithful to us and

it tears our lives apart when they choose to be unfaithful.

However, what is

faith?  Merriam-Webster defines it in

three ways:

A. Allegiance to

duty or a person

B. Belief and trust

in and loyalty to God

C. Something that is

believed especially with strong conviction

These are all true

in reference to the faith that we are specifically learning about, but how does

the Bible define faith?

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being

sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

Now faith is the

substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is not blind,

though it is unseen.  Faith is based on

evidence, though it is not yet received. 

Faith is a confidence and trust. 

The faith that we’re specifically looking at this morning is the faith

that us as mankind places in God.  After

all, faith is the very beginning of our salvation!

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For it is by grace

you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the

gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

God’s free gift of

grace and our choice of faith result in our salvation.  We are saved when we place our allegiance,

belief, trust, and conviction in the work already accomplished by Jesus on the

cross and through His resurrection.

Peter