To be a keen student of the Bible means one should also be a keen student of history. The colorful people given center stage in the Bible are also people of history. God doesn’t operate in a vacuum as history is awash with examples of God’s divine intervention in the affairs of humanity. Since the fall of humanity in Genesis chapter three, humans have been locked in a struggle for survival, peace, and tranquility. Throughout time when crisis arose God raised up men and women to stand against evil to lead the masses in the fight against evil and tyranny and gain their freedom— When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him (Isa 59:19).
 America is a nation established as a result of such a struggle. The American Revolution is a defining moment and turning point in the affairs of world humanity. Few times in history—Moses and Egypt is one example—had a people rebelled and revolted against what was considered by most people to be a ruler’s divine power and authority to rule. The American colonists wanted political freedom and self determination of government—in other words they wanted to choose their leaders and their form of government. Americans have a culture that is deeply rooted in the individual’s rights, which is best summed up in the statement--“I have my rights!” Perhaps no one has summed up what rights humans have as individuals as did Thomas Jefferson when he so eloquently wrote: 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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any  Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.You probably recognize these words coming from the U.S. Declaration of Independence ratified on July 4th, 1776!
Jefferson’s beliefs are steeped in Biblical truths. For example the apostle Peter told those assembled with Cornelius… Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34); likewise the apostle Paul echoes the same truth...For there is no respect of persons with God (Rom 2:11). Paul writes of a more radical approach of equality and independence when he wrote…There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Ga 3:28). In the realm of government power and authority Paul says that all power belongs to God and God is sovereign and only he can delegate and establish power. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (Ro 13:1).
Jefferson’s mantra so to speak was “LIBERTY”! He strongly believed that every individual has "certain inalienable rights." Given to him by GOD, and these rights exist with or without government; no human can create, take, or give them away— Jefferson also believed that government cannot create a right to liberty, however it can violate it, hence the tyrant and tyranny to which Jefferson was fond of saying, “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God"  (originally spoken by Benjamin Franklin). Jefferson defines liberty by saying, "rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.” In other words liberty is not doing whatever a person feels like doing; liberty is like a surgeon’s scalpel: it should be used cautiously, with forethought, and responsibly! Liberty is akin to the Royal Law…If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well (James 2:8); Jesus explains in detail the “Royal Law” in the parable of the good Samaritan (Lu 10:25-37).
What is an individual’s right to freedom (liberty)? Obviously the limit of an individual's rightful liberty is not what human law says; it is simply the “law of liberty” decreed by our ”Creator.” The psalmist said…The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple (Ps 19:7). God’s Law is free from all defects as a “just law” should be. God’s Law is called the law of liberty, or freedom, because it produces freedom from the bondage and servitude of sin and lusts. God’s Law is not selfish or self-serving. Often when someone says…I have my rights…it is spoken in the context of selfishness and the fulfillment of sinful desires.
Finally Jefferson in the preamble of the Declaration wrote: 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. The Creator sent his son Jesus into this world to intervene in human events. He declared the cause of freedom from sin and redemption from death would require his death. He spoke with authority as he was sent by his father and declared…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32). This 4th of July, celebrate true liberty and freedom that only comes through Christ. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2Co 3:17). I hope you are living in liberty and freedom!
God’s Peace and Blessing, 
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