AMERICAN DECLARATIONS

Psalm 146                          

Pastor Rick Jackson

We recognized the 250th birthday of the United States of America yesterday. Let us take the time to consider some American Declarations in the light of Scripture.

 

I. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

1. Declares We believe in Creation [Ex. 20:11, Mt. 19:4]

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator..."

- For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

- And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

2. Declares We believe in Individual Rights [Mosaic Law, John 1:10-12]

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men..."

- He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

3. Declares We believe in Individual Responsibility [Mt. 12:36, Rm. 14:12, 1 Pt. 4:3-6]

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

- But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

- So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

-For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

 

II. DECLARATIONS OF IGNORANCE

1. "We don't have to believe the Bible" [2 Tm. 3:16, Jn. 12:48]

-All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

- He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

2. "We don't have to believe in God" [Ps. 14:1, Rm. 1:21-22]

- The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

- Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

3. "We don't have to believe in Jesus" [Jn. 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.

 

III. A DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE  - "NO KING BUT JESUS"

In the days of the early church many Christians died because they would not recognize Caesar as a god. They replied in effect, "We have no King but Jesus". In the 1700s when faced with the tyranny of an English crown many of the colonists took up the cry "NO KING BUT JESUS" before, during, and after the Revolutionary War! What did it mean to them and what should it mean to us?

1. We do believe in God [Mk. 11:22, Gn. 1:1, Heb. 11:6]

- And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

- In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

- But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. We believe in the Divine King not the divine right of kings [Ps. 47:7, 74:12, 1 Tm. 1:17]

-For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

-For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

-Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

3. We do believe the Bible that Jesus is the coming King [2 Tm. 4:1, Rev. 19:15-16]

- I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom

-And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.