4th of july
Life, Liberty and the persuit of Jesus. • Sermon • Submitted
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The Year Was 1776, a war against England had already been raging for about a year. And though a the war would continue for another 7 years it was the start of a revolution. July 4th is the day we commemorate the Congenital Congress's declaration of independence from Great Britain. The Document used to do this? The Declaration of Independence. I want to read from an article I came across.
During the Continental Congress of 1776 the committee selected a tall, rangy, auburn-haired Virginian named Thomas Jefferson to draft a proposition paper. He secluded himself and, with minimum help, within about seventeen days produced one of the most profound and beautiful political documents ever penned. British Prime Minister William Gladstone later said it was an “inspired instrument.” Congress debated the document, made a few changes, and then signed it with great fanfare, ringing of the Liberty Bell, the making of clever speeches, and costly commitments.
Caesar Rodney, ill with a malignant disease that covered part of his face, rode all day and all night from Dover, Delaware, in time to stride, booted and spurred, into the Assembly Hall in Philadelphia to bark: “I vote for independence.”
John Hancock led off the formal signing with his bold signature, saying he wanted George III to be able to read it without his specs.
Benjamin Franklin quipped: “We shall have to hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
Among many magnificent statements in this eloquent and comprehensive document, that which most succinctly characterizes the American stance and spirit is this impeccable sentence:
"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."
Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 36). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Think about the immensity of what is going on. 13 small colonies are deciding to forcibly declare independence from the most powerful nation at its time. There were many reasons for the declaration, "taxation without representation, leading to the events of the Boston tea party", religious persecutions, or just a flat-out hatred for King George III. Whatever the reason these people were extremely passionate about their freedom from whatever oppression they felt from Great Britain.
That is what lead to those words at the start of the Declaration of Independence: 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." What Was Life Liberty and the pursuit of happiness to the founding fathers?
Life: The ability to live, or posses life. protection by the nation in which they are residing. There was some sort of belief in God or at least the acknowledgment of a creator.
Liberty: To them I think it meant to have a voice. The ability to own land, if they were to be taxed it would be taxation with representation. The right to due process, the term we get is innocent until proven guilty, their right to a trial. And the right to worship how they see fit, without persecution from the state.
Pursuit of happiness: I think that the pursuit of happiness is built upon the first two. With life and liberty, people have the ability to pursue what they desire, prosperity financially, land, business, or religious.
I think this is where we get the Idea of the "ALL AMERICAN DREAM". House, family, dog, all on the nice plot of land with the white picket fence.
Life: "then the Lord God Formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature" (Gen. 2:7)
Liberty: "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" ( 2 Corinthians 3:16-17) Pursuit of Jesus:
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained (Philippians 3:14–16).
As Great of a document the Declaration of Independence is and was to its time it does not hold a candle to the words that Christ has given us is his word.
Life: The Physical Life we are given through Jesus Christ. Creation of the world. Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. We believe like many of the founding fathers in a creation, that God created the earth. In 6 days everything in our entire universe was established. In a few simple words, "Let there be light". God Spoke everything into existence. On the 6th day God created Man, perfect in the image of God. He took from man a rib and created woman, a helper for him, for man was alone. They were given dominion or rule over everything on the earth. They were tasked with naming every creature They were given one rule, "And the Lord God Commanded the man, saying, " you may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in that day you shall surly die" (Gen 2:16-17). The serpent came and they disobeyed God, they wronged God, sinned against him. They had the knowledge of good and evil. Man saw they were naked and sowed together garnets of fig leaves God stepped up there garments, and gave then garments of skins This is our first image of covering of sin by sacrifice. Next is Cane and Able Abraham and Isaac Up to the mosaic law. Hebrews 9:22: Without the sheading of blood there is no remission of sins. Life the Spiritual 200 years ago came a perfect sacrifice without spot or blemish. The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. John the Baptist preached it in the wilderness, the Profit Isaiah prophesied about it, and it is forehanded throughout the entire old testament. The Messiah. The Lamb of God who would take a way the sins of the world. When He died he satisfied the wrath of God. Any one who accepts his sacrifice would be saved. The simple message of John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who ever believes in him shall not die but have everlasting life. Romans 6:1-4
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
V5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his
We were baptized into his death, so we can rise in a newness of life. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in ME.
You see, The wage of sin is death.
. Sin Requires death, whether it is by sacrifice or your own life.
.The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Made possible by his Death and resurrection.
The founding fathers believed that life is a God Given right, I believe that to not to pursue a life in Christ is a rejection of life not to the founding fathers, but to the Father who gives life.
Liberty
Liberty, Freedom, perhaps some of the most promenade reasons for the desire to separate from Great Britain. The freedom from oppression from another nation are what caused the flame to start to burn within the colonies. But we have a freedom from the real oppression of Sin. The solution and freedom is found through Christ Jesus.
Repercussions are not proportionate to intentions. When Adam and Eve were deceived I don’t think they realized the immensity of there actions. They were deceived They thought they were going to be like God I believe they were convinced by the serpent that they would not "surly die" And I don’t think they realized the consequences that would come to follow. The requirement from animal sacrifices to the death of Jesus on the cross. When I was 13… Lived in Idaho Springs Dad was gone Wanted to pick up my friend Jimmy Called Dad to take Jeep Gave me instructions to go straight there and back. So what do I do… well there were two ways "Straight there" Take back roads up there sliding around corners all the way up there On the way back I'm really pumped. And I want to show off. After all I'm 13 I decided to drift around this really big sweeping corner and the front end of the jeep broke loose and started to go straight rather than go around a corner Started to drive back and noticed a head light out End result, hit a snow bank, thought to my self well at least it was just snow. Came to pass that the whole front right of the jeep had been smashed. There was a giant rock behind that snow bank. My intentions were seemingly innocent, I wanted to have fun even though my Father had given me instructions. That I "listened too".
Pursuit of Jesus You see God Has always wanted something simple… open to Micah 6:6-8
6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
From the very beginning God wanted this simple thing. Fellowship with us. As he walked in the cool of the day with Adam, he still desires that fellowship with us. The Profit Samuel said "Obedience is better than Sacrifice or the fat of rams". The same is being said here My Dad wanted something simple, he allowed me to go get my friend, he gave me instruction that I twisted to fit my own desire.