Proverbs 14.34 “Citizens or Subjects? Worshiping the Author of Liberty”

“Citizens or Subjects? Worshiping the Author of Liberty” July 2, 2017

On July 4, 1776, the Congress of the United States of America declared its independence from the British crown and Great Britain. They were declaring they were no longer subjects to an earthly king but citizens ruled by the eternal King.

I. Righteousness Exalts a Nation –

A. Self-evident truths

1. Government is established by God to protect the unalienable rights endowed by their Creator

2. The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

B. The acknowledgment of a Creator

1. Who is the Supreme Judge of all the earth

2. Government was to protect the freedom of the conscience of its citizens

3. Quotes from the Memorial and Remonstrance of 1768 by the Colony of Virginia written by James Madison to protect those who were preaching the gospel.

“Because we hold it for a fundamental and undeniable truth, “that religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence.”

4. This call to righteousness was encoded in the Virginia Constitution of 1776.

Sec. 16 – That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.

other.

The United States of America was established to enable people to live as righteously and as godly as they desired without interference from the state.()

C. The concern of Samuel Adams and many others was that the British taxes were to extend the rule of the king of England by establishing the Anglican Church through appointing bishops in the colonies. At that time the king of England was the head of the church.

1. The Scots had resisted the tyranny of the king and the Anglican Church for nearly 200 years through the National Covenant signed in 1581 at Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh.

2. This covenant promised repentance toward God by individual citizens and acommitment to live a godly, righteous life.

3. The English together with the Scots committed themselves to repentance and faith in the gospel in the Solemn League and Covenant of 1644.

II. Sin is a Shame to Any People –

A. The one truth that unites all people is – all are sinners

B. A secular nation

1. Disconnects morality from the Creator. Secularism is focused on what it is against not what it is for. For many, freedom from religion not freedom of religion (Nones).

2. Once secularism makes statements about human nature or about the purpose of life, it becomes theological.

3. Our governors deny there is a Creator or a Supreme Judge of all the earth

4. Their role as governors is no longer to protect God-given rights

5. But rights are permissions that the government grants to its citizens as if government is the final arbiter of morality

C. Secular atheist governments

1. Have been the most cruel, tyrannical, and deadly governments in the history of the world

2. Particularly over the last 100 years – USSR (20 million), China (65 million), North Korea (2 million)

D. Our own government

1. Has redefined religion as experience and feeling

2. But not as action lived out in the public life of the community

III. Citizens or Subjects?

A. Subject

1. Willing to act against conscience in order to please a tyrannical government or their family or friends

2. Sin is always enslaving – . Sin focuses on the temporary

B. Citizen – If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed

“Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the universe.” John Adams

1. We are citizens of heaven –

2. Biblical examples.

• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego –

• Daniel’s prayers –

• Esther –

C. Therefore choose you this day whom you will serve

1. Comfort –

2. Or the One who is the Truth – ;

Truth is more powerful than any lie or error. As Martin Luther the first modern man declared at his trial. “It is neither right nor safe to go against conscience. Unless you can convince me by the Scriptures and right reason, here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God.”