I have a question that I will pose to the readers. Maybe someone has a good answer to the question. I understand why we celebrate the 4th of July. But there are two other dates that we never consider, one of which possibly overshadows the 4th.
On July 2nd, 1776, “Congress … accepted a resolution put forward by Richard Henry Lee that stated “Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”1
This resolution was introduced to the Second Continental Congress on June 7, 1776. Known simply as The Lee Resolution, it said, “Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
“That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.
“That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.”2
Congress heatedly debated the resolution with some believing it was premature and others wanting to act immediately. It wasn’t until July 2nd that the resolution was adopted. The silver tongue of Thomas Jefferson dressed up the words conceived by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Roger Livingstone, and Jefferson. Known as The Committee of Five, they had been working on a document to present to Congress. This document was ready and adopted on July 4th, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, 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.
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…3
June 7th and July 2nd really got the ball rolling for independence. However, this is where my question comes in. The document was a literary masterpiece on July 4th, but it had no teeth. It wasn’t any different than what someone else might have written against the British government in favor of a free United States. However, on August 2nd, 1776, 56 men – the Congressional delegates – signed their names to the document. This gave it the teeth it needed, and it was now official. Ten days later, news reached England that the signed Declaration of Independence was official. We know how that was received!
So, why don’t we celebrate the 2nd of August – or June 7th or July 2nd??? June and August are rather dull months and couple of more patriotic holidays wouldn’t hurt along with another opportunity to take in some fireworks! The signatures on the document “sealed the deal,” so to speak. Without those signatures, the document would have been ineffective.
In comparison, we could say that there are two things that “sealed the deal” on our salvation, both of which should be celebrated.
The first seal to our salvation is the resurrection of Jesus. We make much of the substitutionary death of Jesus and payment for our sins made in His blood. We should make much of this because “without the shedding of blood” there is “no remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22). But this is only half of the Gospel message.
1 Corinthians 15:12-14 says, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” The death and burial of Jesus is made efficacious by the resurrection. Had there been no resurrection, the death and burial wouldn’t have mattered. Jesus’ blood would have spilled from the cross without effect. 1 Corinthians 15:17 puts it this way. “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”
The second seal is the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:12-14 says, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest (the downpayment; the guarantee) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
The indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit are the fulfillment of promises made by Jesus, further confirming his identity. John 14:16-18 says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
If the Holy Spirit had not come, indwelled, and sealed us, Jesus would have been a liar. If He is a liar, then He is not Lord. If He is not Lord, He cannot be Savior.
These two confirmations are God’s way of signing the purchase agreement for our souls. The “teeth” of the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and it is confirmed with the seal of the Holy Spirit.
It’s ALL worth celebrating, isn’t it? “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-2/delegates-sign-declaration-of-independence
2https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/lee-resolution
3https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
