Sermon, May, 1985

THE FOURTH GOD STATEMENT IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: DIVINE PROVIDENCE

Preached at Union Baptist
August 04, 1996

Text Psalm 57:2

INTRODUCTION: We could look at many verse that teach Divine Providence. Rom. 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." or Eph. 1:11 "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:" or many others. One thing those verses have in common is they are meant to comfort the believer. Whether a believer under the O.T. under in the N.T.

John Flavel, the 17th puritan, gave a list of providential situations that God used in the salvation of sinners. He told of an unsaved minister that tore off a page from a catechism to wrap up something that he had bought. He read few lines as he was wrapping up his prize. God used those few lines to strike his heart and save him.

My computer's spell check said that divine means to foretell the future. That is very new age. However, it defined providence by one word - God.

Flavel also said, "Heathens generally denied Providence, and no wonder, since they denied a God; for the same arguments that prove one will prove the other." Were the founding fathers heathen? No! some were infidels, but not heathen. We should learn to distinguish between unbelievers and heathen. We have no right to falsely assign beliefs or lack of beliefs to someone. It is true that an infidel fares no better in hell than a heathen. We have no doubt that Jefferson, Franklin and some others were infidels. However, it is a big mistake to conclude they were heathen.

No doubt that Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. No doubt that his God statements were not consistent with deism. It is very hard to describe a belief in the present activities of God to a deist. It is true that those men could be called deist because believed in God on purely rational grounds and did not think revelation was needed for faith in God. They were the rationalists. However, they did believe in the present providential activity of God. That was also part of deism. But again, the vast majority of the founding fathers held to an orthodox view of revelation, of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is very interesting that people today try to assign heathenism to our founding fathers when the very document that our nation is built on uses 4 God statements. From the very inception of our being as an independent nation, our nation was built on God and His authority.

THE FOURTH GOD STATEMENT IN ITS CONTEXT: In the very last sentence of the Declaration of Independence the founding fathers mentioned divine providence. Just before the last sentence the Declaration reiterates the declaration that the United Colonies are Free and Independent States. They emphasis they are declaring their independence from Great Britain. They make sure it is understood that they, as an independent nation, have all the rights and powers of any nation. Then they pronounce this last sentence.

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." Then those patriots sign that historic document. They were not just using flowery language or being melodramatic for the sake of show. They knew there was a real risk to their lives, to their fortunes and to their honor. If the struggle for independence did not succeed they would be hung as traitors. Their property would be seized and they would be branded in history as dishonorable.

If you read the history of those men, you will find that this last sentence was not an empty statement. If you could enter the room as those men signed that document, you would feel the electricity, the tension in the air.

This God statement meant something - they were dependent on the activity of the God who was the God of nature, the Creator, and the Supreme Judge to support their action for Independence.

THE MEANING THE FOURTH GOD STATEMENT OF THE DECLARATION: Eph. 1:11 says, "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:" Note God works all things after the council of his own will. What does Divine Providence extend to? All things! We sometimes tend to think it extends to those things that involve believers. Listen to Acts 15:18 "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." and Psalm 57:2 "I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me." By Divine Providence we mean God's present activity in His creation. The title of Psalm 57 tells us that David was hiding from Saul at this time. David recognizes God's providence is for his good.

Carole and Listened to Pacific Garden Mission on way home from mission Thursday Evening. (July 25, '96) It was the story of Joni Erickson - a 17 year old athletic girl, popular, very competitive - then paralyzed from neck down. A Boy from youth group visited her and read Rom. 8:28 & 29. He reminded her that verse 29 is in the context - God works all things to conform us to the image of Christ. As she mediated on that she thought of the fruits of the Spirit. She thought, she could be conformed to the image of Christ in a paralyzed body. She didn't need a healthy body to be holy, to be conformed to the image of Christ. She concluded the purpose of God's providence was to conform her to the image of Christ.

David took comfort in the knowledge of God's providence in terrible times. We are living in terrible times - we haven't escaped God's providence. No doubt God's providence is blessing to those who love Him. But no doubt His providence is a curse to those who ignore Him. What a blessing to know that nothing happens by accident - God is on the throne.

God is not the author of sin, but God is sovereign over sin. Psalm 76:10 "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." God so works in providence that even the worst of the free actions of men bring glory to Him. Not only that they work for the believers good. Every thing that happens we should reflect that God is doing something - we may not understand what, but it is of the Lord.

Now it would appear that our American forefathers believed that if they would obey God, depend on God's will for declaring Independence that God would honor that by working in providence so to secure them Independence. Divine providence is simply God working every detail of life for His glory and for our good.

A PROPER USE OF THE FOURTH GOD STATEMENT: Is there any practical use in pointing out the God statements in the Declaration? There are some Christians who believe that what those men said could have no practical or spiritual value. There are some who believe that for the government to honor God is against God - I don't know why they think that, but they do. But the biggest attack against the Government honoring God comes from a culture that is against God and what He reveals. They are the ones who are passionate against the implications of the God statements in the Declaration.

God has given us this freedom - we should be grateful and try to protect it. We should pray - as those men stated, we are dependent on Divine Providence. Certainly we are within our Christian rights to defend historical accuracy. America was not founded as a godless nation. Without question the world view of America was Christian. I think the use of these four God statements clearly show that.

We may use the God statements of the Declaration to show that America did have a godly heritage. Whether all or any of the founding fathers were born again or not. We can show from our history that America was born on Christian principals. Not only that - that truth is part of our historic public life.

Don't you think a student should be allowed to sing Silent Night at a public school winter program? It may very well be that some teachers have abused their position by trying to change the religion of their students. Does that mean that education should be godless? Was the founding of America godless? NO!

Why shouldn't the Declaration of Independence be taught in public schools? The God statement should be explained if you teach the Declaration just like the condemnation of King George should be explained. Shouldn't the First Amendment be interpreted in light of original intent, in light of history instead of in light of some radical agenda? Yes, we should use the common documents of America to defend and promote America's godly heritage.

If we expect Divine Providence to be favorable to us we should be favorable to Divine Providence. Should prayer be allowed in Public School? Not a state prayer, but a time of prayer should be allowed. A couple of reputed lesbians and other left wing radicals, in my school district, got a radical group to stop a moment of silence in observance of the '95 National day of Prayer. Now that is absurd. Use the common documents to defend the place of God in our government and in our history.

But there is an evangelistic use of these four God statements. In Joshua 2:7-12 we read the story of Rahab and her conversion. Rahab heard of the history of Israel and turned to God. It was the history of Israel that attracted Rahab's attention.

Nineveh repented when Jonah preached Judgment - why? Did they think Jonah was simply preaching another pagan God? No, they had heard of the God of Israel - they knew of the goodness and the severity of God. This God of Israel's history had a case against them - they repented.

Our own history clearly shows the goodness of Divine Providence and the severity of Divine Providence. Sinner - turn or burn

In Acts 17:24-28 we see Paul using providence as an evangelistic tool. Clearly verse 28 is a verse of providence. Now our Declaration of Independence does not tell a person how to be saved. But neither did Acts 17 until verse 31. Paul used providence to start them to thinking.

In Hebrews 1:3 the phrase, "... upholdeth all things by the word of his power," is a statement of providence. But the next phrase is the gospel. We certainly don't think the government should evangelize or promote a particular denomination. But the Government should make people God conscious. The Government should honor God. Our history does.

Like Paul preached on Mars hill - you need to know God. You can know Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Repent and be saved. Turn to Jesus.

God used providence to convince the Phil. Jailer of the true God. But it was the message of Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." that was his promise of salvation. He received the gospel by faith and was saved.

SINNER, FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME!