JOHN ADAMS

“Whether we live or die, sink or swim, succeed or fail, I stand behind this Declaration of Independence. And if God wills it, I am ready to die in order that this country might experience freedom.”

“Righteousness exhalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach

to any people.”

Declaration of Independence echoes many biblical truths

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that

all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certainunalienable Rights, that among these areLife, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

I. GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF A

NATION

“righteousness”

Three implications

A. It implies sovereignty

“Thy righteousness also, O God, is very

high, who hast done great things: O God,

who is like unto thee!” Psalms 71:19

“The Lord hath made known his

salvation: his righteousness hath

he openly shewed in the sight

of the heathen.”

Psalms 98:2

Sovereignty implies control

• Our government tries to declare what righteousness is according to their standard

• Millions celebrate the “Freedom from religion” instead of “Freedom of religion.”

• Christians around the world die for the right to serve a sovereign Lord.

B. It implies a standard

“Behold, I have longed after thy precepts:

quicken me in thy righteousness.”

Psalms 119:40

“Thy righteousness is an everlasting

righteousness, and thy law is the truth.”

Psalms 119:42

United States leads the world

• Murder• Rape • Violent crime• Elementary school students near the bottom in tests of

math, and science skills• Since 1960, the average SAT scores in our high schools

have dropped 75 points

Top Problems in American Schools

1940Chewing gum

Making noise and running in the halls

1990Drugs

Alcohol

Pregnancy

Suicide

Rape

Assault

Does it matter what we do in private?

• Why don’t some children have a conscience?

• Why don’t they know right from wrong?

• Why doesn’t it bother them to kill?

We reap what we sow

Our standards have lowered

C. It implies a straightness

• It is one thing to admit that there is a standard, it is quite another to make that standard your own.

• Personal righteousness, a personal morality.

• The Judeo-Christian ethic has guided our nation from it founding up until the generation in which we live.

Tolerating all religions

If we do not tolerate even the evil, we are

considered narrow minded, and a bigot.

If we believe the Bible to be our guide, the inerrant Word of God, we are too straight and narrow minded,

and use Christianity as a crutch.

II. GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT

THE REWARD OF A NATION“…exaltath a nation…”

American has been exalted because of its citizens’ personal holiness, and because of the churches that have carried out the Great Commission, and because of past obedience and humility.

A. The exalted nation is set-apart

“exalt” – “is to be lifted up, to be made high.”

God is exalted

Scripture is exalted

Israel is exalted above all the nations

Promise of a righteous nation will be exalted

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be

exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted

in the earth.” Psalms 46:10

“Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and He

shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the

wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.”

Psalms 37:34

THE GREATNESS OF A NATION

Rests on its righteousness, and justice

America has been set apart with success, status, and security. Instead of being set apart as an

example for the world, we have used our freedom to be self-indulgent where our riches have elevated

above righteousness, and science above the Savior.

B. The exalted nation is safe

“Exalt”- “is to raise high as an inaccessible fortress, out ofthe reach of danger.”

“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me fromtrouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs ofdeliverance.” Psalms 32:7

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.”Psalms 119:114

C. The exalted nation is strong

“exalt” - is to triumph overenemies.”

The colonies defeated themost powerful nation in the18th century.

It was a miracle from Godthat America gained herfreedom from England.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

“Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war,

and my fingers to fight.”

Psalms 144:1

DON’T RETREAT

III. GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT THE REVOLT OF A

NATION“…but sin…”

God is one who is merciful and loving.

God is also the God of judgment and damnation.

A. Sin is an undisciplined aim

“sin” -“to miss the mark, as anarcher misses his target.”“Help, Lord; for the godly manceaseth; for the faithful fail fromamong the children of men.”Psalms 2:1

Missing God’s mark is the resultof an undisciplined aim, acareless shot at God’sperfection.

We do not honor what is good and right

• We honor and reward evil• The good guy is the potential hypocrite

Atlanta Brave Pitcher John Rocker

and teammate Chipper Jones

B. Sin is an unwise assurance

“sin” – “To stumble, to err from the path.”

Our stumbling and erring comes from a false assurance,

and careless attitude.

“For the sin of their mouth and

the words of their lips let them

even be taken in their pride.”

Psalms 59:12

“I have wondered at times what

the Ten Commandments would

have looked like if Moses had run

them through the U.S. Congress.”

LIVE spelled backward

“evil”

Ronald Reagan

C. Sin is ungrateful actions

“sin” – “an outright transgression, rebellion

“Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law,

even by departing, that they might not

obey thy voice; therefore the curse is

poured upon us…because we have

sinned against him.” Daniel 9:11

Exposing sin

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression

of the law.” I John 3:4

IV. GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT THE REPROACH OF A

NATION“…is a reproach…”

“And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach.” Genesis 30:23

Eve’s reproach was the

curse God placed on her

because of Adam’s sin.

A. Disgraced

“Reproach” –”to be brought low, to go from the heights to the depths.”

“The remnant that are left of the

captivity there in the province are in

great affliction and reproach: the wall

of Jerusalem also is broken down, and

the gates thereof are burned with fire.”

Nehemiah 1:3

Israel’s sin caused them to go into captivity

The remnant was brought low by their sin. So God had to judge them.

People do not have a conscience when it comes to sin.

An alcoholic on the street – “You can be set free fromalcoholism.” He will say, “I am not a slave to anything,

give me back my bottle.”

B. Dishonored

“reproach” – “to be ridiculed, to rail

on, to revile.”

“What shall be done to the man that

killeth this Philistine, and taketh

away the reproach from Israel? For

who is this uncircumcised Philistine,

that he should defy the armies of

the living God?” I Samuel 17:26

WE ARE RIDICULED BY MUCH OF THE WORLD

The Muslim Nations

Communist China

Former Soviet Union

C. Defeated

“reproach” – “to pluck or strip

away all that is good.”

“Silent Majority”

Politicians pit one group against another to keep us divided.

The Christian Achans are

hoarding up the world’s gold and

garments and allowing the

gospel witness to fall silent.

Ronald Reagan

“Freedom is a fragile thing and is

never more than one generation

away from extinction. It is not ours

by inheritance; it must be fought

for and defended constantly by

each generation, for it comes only

one to a people. Those who have

known freedom, and then lost it,

have never known it again.”

Ronald Reagan

“The United States remains the

last best hope for a mankind

plagued by tyranny and

deprivation. America is no

stronger than its people-and that

means you and me. Well, I

believe in you, and I believe that if

we work together then one day

we will say,…

Ronald Reagan

“We fought the good fight. We

finished the race. We have kept

the faith.” And to our children’s

children we can say, ‘We did all

that could be done in the brief

time that was given to us here on

earth.’

What is God’s message to America?

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but

sin is a reproach to any people.”

“If my people who are who are called

by my name humble themselves and

pray and seek my face and turn from

their wicked ways, then I will hear

from heaven, will forgive their sin and

will heal their land.”

II Chronicles 7:14

Revelation 1:4-6Revelation 1:4-6

Though our nation wants to forget God, as Christian’s we know that…

Revelation 1:4-6

God is in control v.v. 4, 5

God loves us v. 5b

Our sins have been forgiven v.5b

We are called to serve Him v. 6a

We must live for His glory v. 6b

“How much more, then will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself

unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve

the living God.” Hebrews 9:14 NIV

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in

advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:20

GOD BLESS AMERICA