The Declaration of Dependence
The distinctive about Christianity is that there is no discrimination according to God’s righteous standard. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. For the will of God is that all would be saved and come unto the knowledge of the Truth. Although there is discrimination and exclusion in the world, God is no respecter of persons. He is, however a respecter of his Word. The condition is that we approach the throne of grace on his terms, not ours. His terms are according to his word. We are Christ centered, faith-based and grace driven. The word of God is our sole source of truth and practice for Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh unto the father but by me.
America was founded as a Christian nation. Our nation is unique in that it was formed not by a specific ethnic heritage or geographic territory, but upon an ideal enshrined in our nation’s founding document The Declaration of Independence… that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness resulting from virtue. These are ideals based upon the Word of God. Freedom to worship God according to the dictates of the heart of Christ in us, is the foundation of our great nation. The Declaration of Independence was, actually our nation’s “Declaration of Dependence” on Almighty God. As the Founding Fathers signed with unwavering hand: “unto these ends, in firm reliance upon divine Providence, we pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” The Founders understood the “Puritan” doctrine of divine Providence. It means that our Lord God Jehovah will provide… That all I have needed thy hand hath provided. They understood that “blessed is the nation whose strength the Lord is.”
Nations rise and fall. The vicious cycle of the rise and fall of worldly empires continues according to the Word. When the spirit of unbelief pervades a nation and the nation rebels against God’s righteous standard, the fall is inevitable. When a nation turns its heart against God’s prophets that speak on behalf of God, He will respect the standards of his Word, for God is no respecter of persons. Today we are engaged in a cultural war that has caused great division in our nation. America has been decoupled from her Christian heritage. The root cause is the spiritual warfare, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the powers of spiritual darkness, against spiritual wickedness from on high. Our prayer is not that God is on our side, but rather that we are on God’s side. The prayer of a righteous man is not God, take sides, but rather, God take over.
As Christians, Our times are in thy hands. We may be citizens of the United States. However, as sons of God we hold dual citizenship. According to Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” As citizens of heaven Peter said, we are an holy nation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people for his own possession. As American citizens, we lament not because of the results of man’s election, rather we rejoice because we are the results of God’s election.
The tares have been sowed among the wheat. Though we may think that we are the wheat and not the tares, Christians may have a hard time praising God because of the nagging voice that reminds us that in our flesh dwelleth no good thing. To be in the presence of the Holy Spirit is to rest in his righteousness alone… not within our own righteousness, but within the righteousness of God in Christ in us. For Jesus Christ who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. For it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Joshua’s farewell address was, “choose ye this day whom ye shall serve…as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord.” As Paul said, That we may know him and the power of his resurrection being conformed to his death. We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified. God will take what we offer him and turn it around so that we ourselves will be blessed. The greatest blessing is to seek the Blessor and not the blessing. Our reward is not in what we receive, but rather in what we give.
Our confidence is not in ourselves…our confidence is only in him. For when we confess our sin, our broken fellowship, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The adversary and his minions will “tolerate” anything except the righteous standard of the Word of God. The freedoms that we have enjoyed as a Godly nation are conditional upon obedience to the righteous standard of the Word of God. Freedom isn’t free. Our freedom was bought with the priceless innocent blood of the righteous Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Our liberty is only in the liberation from the bondage of sin according to God’s righteous standard. Stand fast therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage of sin and iniquity.
As men of God, we are Christ centered, faith based, and grace driven. Our Declaration of Independence from the powers of darkness is our Declaration of Dependence upon Almighty God. Our declaration of dependence says that even while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. Not because we are worthy, but because Christ is worthy. Not because we are good, but because God is good.
Lord thank you for keeping us mindful of who you are and whose we are. As the psalmist said, “Be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations.”
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael