July 19, 2026
TEXT: Acts 17:22-34
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.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our
repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus
marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time
to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have
reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to
their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common
kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and
correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must,
therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold
the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
I. We all have the same Creator who has created all things (vv. 22-25)
A. God is evident in His creation, but known in His Word (vv. 22-23; Psalm 19:1-6; Psalm 19:7-12)
B. God is the Creator of all things in creation (v. 24)
C. God must be worshipped His way (v. 25; Roman 3:20-25; Galatians 2:16; I Timothy 2:3-7)
II. We all have the same origin and source of life (vv. 26-28)
A. The Creator God gave us life originally (Genesis 1:1-2, 26-31; John 1:1-5)
B. The original parents gave us all the beginning of life (v. 26a; Genesis 3:20; Matthew 19:4-5)
C. Noah and his family continued life for us all (v. 26b; Genesis 9:19; 11:7-9; Malachi 2:10)
III. We all will meet our Creator for our accountability to Him (vv. 29-34)
A. We are God’s creation; He is not our creation (v. 29; Genesis 1:1-2, 26; 11:7; I John 5:6-13)
B. God is patient with us, but He will hold us all accountable (vv. 30-31; Psalm 103:6-10; Romans 5:12-19; I Corinthians 15:22, 47)
C. We are all responsible to God for our own response to His truth (vv. 32-34)