The wonderful reality of forgiveness is that it frees. Forgiven people are truly free people.

The fire of freedom burns in the human heart. People who live in free countries give thanks for their freedom; others long for a land that is free.

True freedom is not found in a nation or in a specific location, though. Through God's forgiveness, it's freedom from the tyranny of Satan and sin. True freedom connects us with the heavenly Father. We humans were created to be in fellowship with God. When that relationship is established, we have true freedom.

This relationship with God is expressed beautifully in Romans 8. Another expression of this truth is found in the Heidelberg Catechism, which asks what Christians mean when they say, "I believe in . . . the forgiveness of sins." Many Christians have cherished this answer for centuries: "I believe that God, because of Christ's atonement, will never hold against me any of my sins nor my sinful nature which I need to struggle against all my life. Rather, in his grace God grants me the righteousness of Christ to free me forever from judgment."

That freedom forged from forgiveness allows us to live for God. That freedom is yours and mine by faith in Jesus Christ. It's the most wonderful freedom any human can have!