Intro:

            How true it is – we are just little babies grown up! We still have the very same Human nature!
We want, we yearn, we strive, we fight to be independently alive and determine our life path. We will fight wars of independence, and claim liberty is the reason.

[Story of the Declaration of Independence. It shows the commonly held and openly unarguable facts that humans are endowed by their Creator with RIGHTS that cannot be removed from them. Mostly that humans have the RIGHT to determine their own life path, and NO one can interfere.]

Benefit Statement: What really is freedom? What really is liberty? Is mankind qualified as babies grown up to define their own life path, and claim liberty is their right? When we believe that we are qualified to run our own lives, and maybe even intervene in a few others with our goodness and rightness, we consider that we are good. We are good inside, or at least have good in us. That is why we have the right to be independently planning life. Right?

SPS: So …“Are We Good?”

Body:
1)    Everywhere you look, everybody is out to get the best of somebody else!
                        Galatians 5:22-23 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 
23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 
                                    All diametrically contrary to human nature!

True Love is outgoing concern for others – with no expectation of return. Human nature is self-love – wanting to give to, serve, and help the SELF!

God’s Spirit is full of Joy. But human nature is so intent upon fulfilling its own selfish aims that it has no time for the expression of true Joy! It is trying to GET – and it is miserable if it cannot obtain its desires. We want to run our universe in our favor, and those who support out thinking. We actually act like we think WE are God!

God’s Spirit brings peace – contentment and peace of mind. But human nature is always striving to obtain more for the self. It knows no rest, no relaxation. It is full of worry, fears, and frustrations.

God’s Spirit is patient. It is willing to contentedly wait on God to perform His promises and pour out His blessing in His own good time. It is willing to suffer long, and endure reproach for Christ’s sake. It is supremely patient.

What about goodness? God gives His blessings freely, to all, without respect of persons. God seeks to lavish GOOD upon His People. It rejoices God to be able to BLESS others. But human nature, on the contrary, is rude, insolent, and feels that others are worthless, undeserving of as much favor (evidence the ability to consider one’s self more good than others – else how could we look at other’s lives to judge their behavior?)

Real humility which comes from God’s Spirit causes one to be humble, respectful of others, recognizing their potentialities and qualities. Such a one is willing to give up his own comforts, even his own life, in order to serve and help others!

(((Ps 39:5 5    Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
    And my age is as nothing before You;
    Certainly, every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah)))

But NOT so human nature. It is proud, insolent, full of scorn for others. Self is placed on a towering pedestal, enshrined in an ivory tower, and puffed up like a bloated balloon. It is so self-involved that it actually devalues others, but will not see that reality.

When we accurately analyze ourselves using God’s Mind to do so, we may see how OFTEN we submit to selfish temptations. How often we exhibit competitiveness, greed or selfishness. How often we become hasty, rash, in seeking our own way. How often we become worried, anxious, or fearful that we will not get what we want. How often do we sulk or brood over “what could have been”.

How often do we play the angles and try to impress people (because after all, the opinions of other people will give us eternal life, or at least recognize our supreme value …right?)

How often do we permit human pride and vanity to become manifest in our lives – taking pride in our accomplishments, boasting, of what we have done, bragging on self?

            Jesus Christ also had human nature.
Heb 2:14 14Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Christ was tempted in all points like as we are!
(((Heb 4:14 14Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. )))
                       
And HE knew human nature – knew “what was in man”. He mastered His human nature. He kept it under control – ALWAYS – by the POWER of God! He did not seek human approval or acknowledgment for HIM! That (He understood) is worthless. DO WE understand that?
Jn 2:23 23Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
NO human can be so valuable as to CONTROL our lives …unless we let them! WE are in charge!!!

                        (((Prov 3:5 5    Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    And lean not on your own understanding;
6    In all your ways acknowledge Him,
    And He shall  £direct your paths.
7    Do not be wise in your own eyes;
  Fear the Lord and depart from evil. )))
How can we possibly trust our own minds since we are born with minds that are only “half there”! Without God’s Spirit and responding constantly to It, can we think straight, as far as spiritual matters are concerned.
           
(((When humans depend on their own mind to tell what is right and what is wrong, the place human beings end up is not what they desire.
                                    Prov 14:12 12    There is a way that seems right to a man,
    But its end is the way of death.
13    Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
    And the end of mirth may be grief.
14    The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
    But a good man will be satisfied  £from above.
                                                AND God repeats –
                                    Prov 16:25 25    There is a way that seems right to a man,
    But its end is the way of death.
26    The person who labors, labors for himself,
    For his hungry mouth drives him on.
27    An ungodly man digs up evil,
    And it is on his lips like a burning fire.
28    A perverse man sows strife,
    And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29    A violent man entices his neighbor,
    And leads him in a way that is not good.
30    He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
    He purses his lips and brings about evil. )))

When people follow their own vain reasonings, they miss out on the whole purpose of why God put them here on the earth – HE intends them to learn to do the righteousness OF GOD!!!
Rom 10:31 1Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for  £Israel is that they may be saved. 2For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
           
                        We must literally be willing to give up our very lives.
Lk 14:26 26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 

Otherwise, we would be just so many “little devils” – lusting, lying, and murdering. Jesus plainly told certain men of His day who their true father is …
Jn 8:44 44You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 

Jesus clearly showed us all that the evil motivations of our human nature are basically the same as those of the Devil’s perverted nature.
2 Tim 3:2  2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
                                    A TRUE picture of OUR nature!

Now, in man, God has set His hand to produce the crowning pinnacle of His own works of creation. Yes, even higher than the angels.

It’s true that WE, as we NOW are, certainly are not very important – certainly are of very little consequence – so far as our own inherent ability and capacity is concerned. We are full of faults, weaknesses, shortcomings. We have bad habits. We have sins – “secret sins” – that we have not yet mastered and overcome, which NO ONE knows anything about except just ourselves – AND God!

THE purpose of the Everlasting God is to make out of US – sinful and unworthy and incapable through we have been – immortal, spiritual and holy character so pure, and noble, and righteous that ultimately the eternal God Himself can look upon you with loving pride as the SUPREME product of all His creative power through eternity!

            He will do the work. HE is the divine Sculptor.

2)    BUT this character will NOT be created in you unless and until you, yourself, make the ongoing, minute by minute decision – and unless and until you constantly hunger and thirst for the pure, holy character of God built IN you – unless and until you yourself constantly desire this mortal flesh and its cravings and desires and tempers and self-justifications all crucified – until you exert your utmost effort to put down and hold it under, crying out earnestly to God, believing, trusting Him to forgive, understand, and fill you with His selfless Way of outgoing concern with no expectation of return.

To fill you with his understanding for all Creation, and His wisdom allowing you to make the correct decision every time. His faith, power – to simply take you into His capable hands and make of you what He purposes, and what you are UTTERLY incapable to make of yourself.

            (((THEN you will see the Creator still creating in YOU!
Eph 2:109 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Eph 4:24 24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. )))

In America’s War of Independence (the Revolutionary War) a premise was that we fought and died to achieve freedom from our oppressors. To have control over our own destiny.

            The question IS – WHO is our real oppressor and CAN we control our own destiny.
WE are our oppressor. WE can control our destiny and thereby achieve TRUE freedom from oppression by ceasing submission to this world of our way, and actively learn God’s Eternal Way.  

We shall have to WANT the righteousness of GOD (not our self-made rightness) with such fervor and burning desire that we are willing to FIGHT our own SELVES – constantly throwing ourselves on God’s mercy, trusting in His power – the Holy Spirit – in order to overcome our natures and develop God’s Character!

God will not give eternal life to ANY person who is not willing to live a happy, joyful, interesting, abundant and useful life. But all have been seeking it by running directly away from it! Man has been reaping what he has sown – discontent, unhappiness, strife, violence, suffering, fear, death.

Humans look for the “freedom loopholes” in order to not follow oppressive law. In order to be “free” to enjoy control of our own destiny. We have become very good at self-rightness.

What exceptions are there to God’s Way of life, so we can keep a little of our own?
            There ARE no exceptions. NONE.
           
            (((Christ commanded, “BE” – BECOME -
            Mt 5:48 48Therefore you shall be perfect, [τέλειος teleios  tel'-i-os From G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness:—of full age, man, perfect.]just as your Father in heaven is perfect. )))
                        This process is IMPOSSIBLE without God’s Holy (separate) Spirit!
                                    SO …we claim no self-rightness. There is NONE.)))
                       
God tells us we are UNABLE to be right on our own, and ONLY with God guiding humans can they actually be “good”.
Rom 8:4  4that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

What is our job before God and the world? They both wish for us to agree with them? Are we to agree with the world to make them friends of God, or agree with God to help the world change?
1 Pet 2:11 11Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
WE are responsible for what the world sees of God. WE are! Let us NOT get in His Way with our own self-made rightness.

            How to DO this Work:
(((2 Tim 3:16 16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. )))
            Do NOT follow the world. We control our destiny, and the world must learn God’s Way!
Mt 4:4 4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Deut 8:3 (Living Bible) 16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
           
            (((When mankind does not follow this Joy filled, truly free way of our Destiny, through selfless exciting Life, actually overflowing with ongoing new opportunity and creation – when humans take their lives to themselves in self-rightness -
Jn 12:48 48He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” )))
  
3)    As we have seen – Christ had human nature and was tempted in all points like as we are. But He had the Holy Spirit and responded unfailingly to His Father in every instance.
(Heb 2:14-18; 4:15)

As Jesus strode slowly into the Garden of Gethsemane, just before His crucifixion, His thoughts tossed and turned within Him. He was sorely tempted by His human nature to “forget this whole thing.” His human nature cried out, “Why should YOU sacrifice YOUR life!” “Why should YOU suffer?” “What’s in this for YOU?”

But Jesus Christ never faltered. He prayed to the Father –
Mt 26:39 39He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Christ had totally conquered the SELF. He completely surrendered His will to God. He had brought every thought into subjection to God. He did NOT seek His own way!

This complete surrender – this wholehearted submissiveness to God’s RIGHT WAYS – is the goal of our ongoing seamless repentance (not seeing good in ourselves) to God

Conclusion:
Independence Day is an important day to most Americans who deeply appreciate what the Founding Fathers of this great country bequeathed to us.

There is another kind of freedom than the one we celebrate every 4th of July!

True freedom cannot come from humankind; 60 centuries of human existence prove this true. The history of humanity can be measured by and written as a chronicle of wars. Mankind has enjoyed peace for only peace for 268 of the past 3,400 years, or just 8% of recorded history.

God invented peace wherein true freedom exists. Jesus said to His fearful disciples, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" (John:14:27).

There is another kind of freedom. It comes with God’s real Freedom!
Rom 6:16 16Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
            True “freedom” comes only from God. He gives us actual control over our lives -
(((Rom 6:22 22But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. )))

God’s WAY is one of self sacrifice …and since it is foreign to mankind, seems wrong.

It IS how God lives, and HOW He gives Life to all, and WE may learn to do the same, instead of being manipulated by man’s self-rightness and this world’s teaching.       
Rom 12:21  1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The freedom that Americans celebrate on Independence Day is great, for it allows us freedom of religion, which leads to God's true freedom if we Live as Jesus Lives.
  
Close:
Our job in this soon coming end of the Age is clear. God tells us that we are not to call ourselves good, or judge others among humans
Lk 24:47 47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

(((This concept of seeing ourselves must be practiced to perfection right here in God’s Church FIRST. This is where it starts once some humans allow God to guide them!
Acts 17:30 30Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, )))

As God brings mankind out of slavery, and away from controlling oppressors who would manage every aspect of their lives, and gave them the ability to follow Him to His Kingdom – He was showing us ALL that humanity oppresses us, and God releases us to follow His Way, no matter how different from our thinking it seems.

He tells us as we consider our “freedom”, and try to grasp our way back instead of giving up our lives to God’s fulfilling Way –

As we want so much to return to the way of the world we have experienced, and learned so well, and makes SO much sense to us …away from true FREEDOM to true SLAVERY …

Rev 18:41 1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2And he cried  £mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”
4And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

Come out of her God’s People! We are going to make it!