Slide Show By Zeke Flores

Our Duty To God and Country

Christians Are Citizens of a Heavenly Country.

• “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

• Yet, we must “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God, the things that are God’s.” Luke 20:25

Authority and Government Originated With God

• So, they are to be used in service for good– Rom 13:1-7

• So too, we must use our rights as citizens in service to God.– 1 Pet 2:13-17

• “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” Prov 29:2

• “Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. If the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.” (Pres. James Garfield, July 1877)

• “It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.” (John Adams, 2nd Pres.)

• “There are three points of doctrine the belief of which forms the foundation of all morality. The first is the existence of God; the second is the immortality of the human soul; the third is a future state of rewards and punishments. Suppose it is possible for a man to disbelieve... these three articles of faith … that man will have no conscience...” (John Quincy Adams, 6th Pres.)

• “Our liberty depends on our education, our laws, and habits ... it is founded on morals and religion, whose authority reigns in the heart, and on the influence all these produce on public opinion before that opinion governs rulers.” Fisher Ames, 1st Amendment Framer

• “Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion ...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.” Charles Carroll, Declaration of Independence Signer

• “It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people.” Richard Lee,

Signer of Declaration of Independence

• “It is impossible that any people of government should ever prosper, where men render not unto God, that which is God’s, as well as to Caesar, that which is Caesar’s.” (William Penn)

• “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Prov 14:34

• “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3

What Can the Righteous Do?

• Pray– 1 Tim 2:1-4

• Teach Your Children– “…bring them up in the discipline and

instruction of the Lord.” Eph 6:4

What Can the Righteous Do?

• Get Involved!– “All that is necessary for evil to triumph

is for good men to do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)

– 1 Pet 2:12, Titus 3:1

• 94% believed in God– Gallup Poll, 1986

• Over 80% approved of voluntary school prayer– Compendium of American Public

Opinion, 1988

• 81% opposed homosexual behavior– Nat’l Opinion Research Center, 1987

• 89% opposed abortion as means of birth control– Boston Globe, 10/31/1989

What Can the Righteous Do?

• Get Informed!– “Should you help the wicked and love

those who hate the Lord?” 2 Chron19:2

– Investigate a candidate’s beliefs.

• “… you will know them by their fruits” Matt 7:20

• “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Eph 5:11

What Can the Righteous Do?

• Develop and Maintain A Sense Of Duty– “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole

matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

“How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!”

Psalm 144:15

How To Avoid CondemnationHow To Avoid Condemnation

To Remove Sin You MustBelieve, John 8:24Confess, Matt 10:32Repent, Acts 17:30Be baptized, Acts 2:38

ChrisChristt

SinLive faithfullyLive faithfully

1 John 1:71 John 1:7

Receive Receive

Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Romans 8:1 “…no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”