Sermon Central
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The Foundations Of Freedom
Contributed by Richard Lee on Jun 23, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon addresses the foundations of spiritual and national freedom and uses stories from American history to illustrate the freedom we enjoy in Christ.
Study more on this topic and other related topics in the American Patriot’s Bible (Thomas Nelson), edited by Dr. Richard Lee, at www.americanpatriotsbible.com.
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"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Psalm 11:3
The year was 1833. The place was the island of Jamaica, the Crown Colony of the British Empire. The issue was the abolition of slavery. Although the British considered Jamaica an important resource to their empire, their Parliament had voted to set the nation free. A date was set and the island slaves waited for their freedom with great anticipation.
Finally the morning came, and as the rays of the sun announced the day, across the Island could be heard the song, "Free at last, free at last, Thank God almighty, free at last."
Likewise, there is a song of freedom at the heart of the American spirit. We are a nation founded upon the idea of Freedom.
Our Constitution declares we were established:
"To secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and those who would follow." Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address declared our nation to have been, "conceived in liberty". Freedom and America are synonymous terms.
But true freedom never comes apart from God. Our Forefathers understood and acknowledged that vital truth. That is why when they establish this land they made sure that America was build on solid foundations from the Word of God.
When Francis Scott Key wrote the second verse to the Star-Spangled Banner, he knew what he was writing.
"Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand,
Between their loved homes and wars desolation;
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land,
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when because it is just;
And this be our motto: "In God is our Trust."
And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave.
O’re the land of the free and the home of the brave."
I. THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FREEDOM.
John 8:32 "And ye shall know the Truth, and the truth shall make you free."
A clear understanding of the truths of life, morality, honesty and social order are best found in the Holy Bible. The teachings of no other document more plainly describe the principles upon which nations build a civilized society.
These Biblical principles have come to be known as the Judeo-Christian Ethic. And although they are numerous and found throughout the Bible, we will look at seven of the most basic ones that have undoubtedly served as foundations for our great nation.
NOTE: (See "7 Principles of the Judeo-Christian Ethic" in the opening pages of the American Patriot’s Bible.)
The principle of:
A. THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE.
Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder"
Matthew 22:39 "...You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
The Bible teaches us respect for our own lives and lives of others. When we believe and understand that every human being has measureless worth that does away with bigotry, racism, self-centeredness all the rest that goes along with it.
Our very Government guarantees every person: "the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness..."
B. THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY.
God instituted the traditional family defined as one man and one woman. If this marriage is blessed with children, those children have the rights to a godly and secure home with a Dad and Mom.
C. THE NATIONAL WORK ETHIC.
Meaning that people should work for their own livelihood and the welfare of others. We are not to be dependant upon the government for our livelihood.
D. THE RIGHT TO A GOD-CENTERED EDUCATION.
Our forefather knew this was right so they established institutions like Harvard...Princeton....Yale as religious schools of learning. This does not mean that all school should be Christian, but it does mean the recognition of the Creator God.
E. THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT.
Psalms 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..."
Meaning that a Nation under God was a nation which was especially blessed above all the nations of the world.
F. The PRINCIPLE OF COMMON DECENCY.
Americans have been known as a people who do the decent thing. Our Statue of Liberty has upon it the Words of Emma Lazarus:
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free.
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
G. OUR PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD.
The Bible clearly teaches that people and nations will have to give an account of themselves and their actions to God.
It is said that the brilliant statesman Daniel Webster was once asked,
"Mr. Webster what greatest thought ever passed your mind?" To which he replied, "My personal accountability to God."
