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38. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.39. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.30. But God raised him from the dead. Acts 13:28-30. America celebrated freedom from Great Britain on July 4th. Every day the followers of Christ celebrate our freedom from Satan's destruction. Salvation in Christ is to Jews first who brought knowledge of the true God to a world of pagans. Luke the evangelist writes that Christ was the salvation of Israel, but they rejected Him, even after hearing God's word read to them on every sabbath day. Seeking Pilate to aid in murdering Christ, they killed Him, the Son of God, on a cross, and laid His body in a tomb cut out of a rock. So many thought this was the end of Christ. Yet does not God have the last word? But God raised Him from the dead! This is Hope's battle cry. Death and sin, have slain many. But our hope is in Christ, who will fulfill His promise to us, and raise us up to eternal life. Oh, how great are the mercies of God towards us. Amen.