A nation and world altering event took place on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia when 56 representatives of 13 British colonies signed the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.

The Declaration is America’s original founding document and is “the most consequential enumeration of the fundamental and unalienable Rights of Mankind as irrevocably endowed by our Creator.”

Today in a special Independence Day program, we’re going to commemorate this bold act that altered our nation from being yet another British colony under the King and Church of England. Instead, America became a Constitutional Republic that separates power from the dictates of one king into branches of government and elected representatives of the people. We will examine what led to the Declaration of Independence and the impact it made on America, even to this day.

The Bible says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33). While this specifically refers to Israel, there is general blessing for any nation that reveres and obeys God. God has greatly blessed America. The question going forward as we increasingly rebel against Him is: Will America repent and honor God?