Introduction
- Many of us listened and watched the fireworks display last night. For many Americans, they fire off these explosives with little or no thought of why they are doing this.
- This country was founded on the principles of religious freedom.
- The Declaration of Independence was the written words of a people that wished to be free to live as God had intended.
- But this truth has been covered up by the politics of the last several hundred years.
- It is important to understand this because the founding documents of this country are based on Godly truths.
We hold these truths to be self evident.
- Simply put is that the lives of these men reflected the principles that they were getting ready to write.
- What is truth?
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
We hold a copy of the truth.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Jesus Christ is the word of truth.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We must be sanctified through this truth
John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
It is unfortunate that so many people want to be told the truth when:
- buying a car
- buying a house
- in business dealings and with life.
- going to a doctor
BUT WHEN THEY COME TO CHURCH THEY DON’T WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH! IF YOU READ FROM SCRIPTURE THAT A MAN IS LOST AND ON HIS WAY TO A DEVILS HELL BECAUSE OF SIN THEY GET ALL KINDS OF MAD!
BLESS GOD WHEN I COME TO CHURCH I WANT A MAN OF GOD TO RIP ME UP, CONVICT ME OF MY SIN TO HELP ME GET RIGHT WITH MY GOD.
They are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The wording acknowledged that God was the one who gave these rights.
Jesus Christ is the life.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Ye must be Born Again!
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Believe on Jesus Christ!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Salvation through Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
You can have blessed assurance of the Grace of Jesus.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
There is liberty in Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
The liberty that the founders sought was from the bonds of the English rulers, many of them knew of this true liberty from knowing Christ as their personal savior.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
The pursuit of happiness.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Conclusion:
The authors of the Declaration of Independence, many of them had come to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. The text of their document was to reflect the joys that the freedom and liberty through Christ had given them. As we look at America today there are those who still do not know Jesus Christ. The scripture is clear that the only way to enjoy eternal life is through Jesus. Come to know Him today.