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BIBLICAL
RIGHTS
REVELATION 22:14-17
On July 4th, 1776 representatives from the 13
colonies signed a document, known as the
Declaration of Independence.
The most quoted part of this declaration is this:
“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…”
Today, on this 4th of July, let’s look at this quote and
draw some spiritual applications from it.
The Bible has a lot to say about freedom, and certain
rights that are promised only to the Christian.
All Men Are Created Equal
The New Testament is clear on this subject:
There is no partiality with God, Romans 2:11
God wants all people to be saved.
I Timothy 2:3-4
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth.
II Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some
count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing
for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
God sent His Son into the world that all might be saved.
John 3:16-17
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send
the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the
world might be saved through Him.”
God shows His no partiality by making the terms of
salvation the same for everyone. All must
Hear the word of God
Believe that Jesus is the Christ
Repent of their sins
Confess Jesus as the Christ
Be baptized to wash away your sins.
You have the right to salvation but only on God’s
terms
For those in Christ there is no distinction.
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave
nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are
all one in Christ Jesus.
God does not favor an individual because of his station
in life, his nationality, or his material possessions.
He does however respect his character and judge his
work.
Acts 10:34-35
"In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But
in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him.”
In the eyes of God “All Men Are Created Equal.”
We Are Endowed By Our Creator With Certain
Unalienable Rights
The age we live in, may well go down in history as
the “Age of Rights.”
The Bill of Rights
Constitutional Rights
Women’s Rights
Children’s Rights
Minority Rights
Human Rights
The Bible declares that we as Christians have
certain rights.
The pursuit of Happiness
We have the right to be happy.
God wants us to be happy!
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
There are times when it is hard to rejoice and be
happy. Sin
Illness
Trials
Temptation
Through it all we are told to “Rejoice”
We should rejoice because Christ’s blood cleanses us
I John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His
Son cleanses us from all sin.
You can overcome temptation
Your Salvation
I Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your
strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of
escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Acts 8:39
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord
caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on
his way rejoicing.
You have the right to rejoice and pursue happiness.
We Have The Right To Liberty
True liberty (freedom) is found only in Christ.
Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me
to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
If you are looking elsewhere for freedom you are
wasting your time.
Our freedom should not be used for sin
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us
free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:13
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use
liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve
one another.
Knowing Jesus and His word will free us from sin.
John 8:32
"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free.''
Notice Romans 6:16-23
Christ frees us from the condemnation of sin and the
law of sin and death
Romans 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according
to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free
from the law of sin and death.
You have a right to liberty
True freedom is found only in Jesus Christ
You Have The Right To Life
John 10:10
I have come that they may have life, and that they
may have it more abundantly.
When Christ came into the world, He brought with
Him a standard by which we should live our lives
When we live by Christ’s standards our lives will be
better and more abundant.
The real reason Christ came into the world was to
save sinners and give us the hope of eternal life.
John 10:27-28
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they
follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of
My hand.
Eternal life comes only through Jesus Christ.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.”
John 14:6
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Matthew 25:46
"And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the
righteous into eternal life.''
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Notice I John 5:11-13
As a child of God, you have the right to eternal life.
Like any other right these rights may be forfeited.
As we said earlier these rights are not promised to
everyone, but only to the Christian.
We should never think we are independent of God.
ARE YOU
DEPENDING ON
GOD TODAY?
• Given by David Hamlin on July 4, 2010 am
Hollister, Missouri church of Christ
www.hollisterchurchofchrist.org