Freedom!

Braveheart

Phillip Zimmerman Romans 8:2 (NASB)

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Wallace has been hanged and racked, and is now suffering one of the most horrendous tortures imaginable. He is given the opportunity to speak one final word. But instead of pleading for mercy, he chooses to summarize the purpose for his struggle and to encourage his followers. “Freedom!” he cries.

As Christ hung on the cross, having already been beaten and humiliated, He cried, “It is finished!” (Luke 19:30 (NASB)). And in that statement He said, in part, “Freedom!” For at that moment, “though you were slaves of sin,” Paul said we were “freed from sin” (Romans 6:17-18 (NASB)). The tyranny is over for those who are in Christ. Sin no longer reigns.

But what are we to do with this newfound freedom? Is it enough to be content that I am free and now return to the same life I lived before? That is what many Christians do. Oh, yes, they go to church and all. But their hope is in this world’s system – in the stock market or the “American Dream”. Their eyes are set on “things that are on earth” (Col 3:2 (NASB)).
William Wallace’s word of encouragement galvanized his followers. “They charged the fields, fought like warrior poets, fought like Scotsmen and won their freedom.” To what does Jesus’ death and His freedom call us? Paul says we are to, “conduct [ourselves] in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ… striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27 (NASB)). How will you strive for the faith of the gospel today?

Here is the video from YouTube of that powerful, unforgettable scene (Warning:You don’t see any blood, but you’ll see Mel Gibson’s response).