The Declaration Of Eternal Independence

THE DECLARATION OF ETERNAL INDEPENDENCE

John 8:31-36

INTRODUCTION:

A. The Pledge of Allegiance

B. Many came to the Americas to find freedom but after many years of injustice and indignities brought about by King George the III the colonists had had enough.

1. The citizens of the colonies had tried on many occasions to present their grievances to the king only to have them left unheard, ignored or to penalized for bring them up.

2. So on July 2nd 1776 the Second Continental Congress adopted a resolution that prompted the writing of document that would declare a split from England.

3. And on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 56 men from 15 separate states signed the document we know as The Declaration of Independence.

C. The United States Declaration of Independence opens with these memorable words: When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

1. So begins quite possibly one of the greatest documents ever written by man.

a. It’s ideals were high

b. It’s purpose was noble.

c. It’s appeal was to a high sovereign power – Nature’s God!

2. It proclaimed freedom from a human tyrant and stated 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.

3. The declaration ends with these words – And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor!

4. Folks, the men who signed it immediately became traitors to the crown of England and our war of independence ensued!

5. They, along with all those who stood against the tyrant, laid down their lives, their fortunes, their homes, their honor and the welfare of their own families for the noble cause of freedom – a freedom ultimately bought with their blood.

6. The freedom we celebrated this 4th of July

7. A nation was born that day - The United States of America. One nation under God! PRAISE GOD! AMEN?

D. Yet freedom from King George III and England did not bring true freedom.

1. There is a bondage that is unfathomably greater, and more cruel

2. No document drafted or shed blood of men can set us free from this tyrant.

3. The tyrant I speak of is found deep in the heart of men – sin!

4. It causes untold heart ache in this life and eternal damnation in the life to come.

E. But thanks be to God there is a remedy, Jesus Christ!

1. And we can find The Declaration of Eternal Independence, which is of greater significance in our scripture passage for today.

2. Look at John 8:31-36 Jesus declared, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. [33] They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? [34] Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. [35] And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. [36] If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

3. Did you catch it? If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

F. This morning I want to look at this passage and see if we can’t come to terms with true freedom! Here we will look at

1. The Means Of Freedom

2. The Pretense Of Freedom

3. The Promise Of Freedom

G. May God be gracious unto us and may the captives be set free through the power of His Word and Shed blood of Christ!

PRAY

Lets begin by looking at

I. THE MEANS OF FREEDOM, John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

A. This passage comes about because of what has taken place in the temple where Jesus is preaching.

1. As He speaks of coming judgment we are told in verse 30, many believed on him.

2. And so Jesus begins to speak to those who had believed in Him