There are two types of freedom.

“Freedom From.”  This is the concept of being set free from something that was holding you back. My favorite preacher called it quiet freedom. The chains are taken off, and you walk away free from your past.

“Freedom For.” This is the idea that we can do whatever we desire. There are no restraints to keep us from specific behaviors. This is a loud freedom that comes down the street with a marking band in a parade.

Scripture says that the work of Jesus gives us both of these. We have freedom from our sins. The old has gone; the new has come. We also have the freedom for us to approach the throne of grace with confidence and receive help in our time of need. We have the freedom to worship God without fear and in the confidence of his mercy.

I am happy to live in a country where we celebrate freedom. I will celebrate today. But I am even happier to live on this side of Jesus’ work, where I can experience freedom for my soul because of his death, burial, and resurrection.