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The New Testament book of Galatians chapters three through five contain a dissertation by the Apostle Paul on freedom. His premise is that if you have been baptized into Christ, you have put on Christ. He says for those in Christ there is no Jew or Greek, no bond or free, no male or female, but all are one in Christ, even being of Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Paul says that in the fullness of time, God sent Jesus Christ "to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" and therefore the redeemed are no longer servant to the law, but a son; "and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
Paul illustrates the concept of freedom even further by reminding the Galatians of the story of Ishmael and Isaac. "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh: but he of the freewoman was by promise." Paul writes that this is an allegory of two covenants-one of Arabia which is of Hagar and in bondage, and the other of Sara, the freewoman, wherewith the heirs of Christ are free. Paul writes in Galatians 4:29, "But then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now." This is true as Arabs persecute Jews and Christians even today under Islam.
The following verse says, "Nevertheless what says the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." Verse 31 says, "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." And 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." From this spiritual concept of freedom in Christ arose a new nation conceived in liberty. The Founding Fathers believed that the Liberty inherited from God by Christians could be transferred to a government the likes of which never before seen. Christians were supposed to keep watch over the nation's liberties.
On February 28, 1797, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Jay, said, "Providence (meaning God Almighty) has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." It is this concept that is foundation to good government. George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and many others agreed that the essential supports of Liberty were Christianity and morality, and neither could exist exclusive of the other. We now see how our Liberty can be taken away when we voluntarily, through ballot or apathy, relinquish the inheritance given by God and established by our forefathers.
