God's Love Brings Forgiveness

God's Offer of Forgiveness

Book of Jeremiah 3

If we do not know by now, the Lord loves to forgive. We talk many times how the Lord when on the cross reached back to get all sin of the past and looked forward to gather all sin from the future and took all that sin to the grave with Him no more to be remembered, if we would repent and accept the Lord as our Savior!

This is true of the Church Age, but it is true of all remaining ages.

All the words in this wonderful book we see of Jehovah talking to Jeremiah are the same words Jeremiah is to preach to Judah.

To his credit King Josiah had an unwavering loyalty to Jehovah God.

2Ki 23:25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

Josiah was only 8 years old when he took the throne of Judah and 8 more years passed until He devoted his life to Jehovah and a short time later he died in a battle trying to stop Egypt from open passage through the land of Judah.

The wrath of the Lord had already been kindled against Judah for the evilness of King Manasseh and the whole nation of Judah had turned away from the Lord.

As hard as Josiah tried to rid his nation of idolatry, he just did not have enough time and repentance was far from this nation.

2Ki 23:27 And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.

Those that repented would be spared, but Judah as a nation refused to repent and the Lord would do to them as He had informed Jeremiah!

*****Jer 3:6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

I believe the Lord is saying to Jeremiah, are you aware of the things going on around you?

A pastor from Peru sent me a message the other day and in it I found these things.

1) Adultery is openly allowed in South Africa. Adultery cannot be used as an excuse for divorce.

2) During the Obama presidency the only way for any country to have a good relationship with America they had allow homosexual marriage. I don’t thoink this is the way President Trump.

3) In Germany it is no longer against the law for incest to take place. Siblings can marry, Mothers and sons, and dads and daughters.

4) City of Miami has allowed that open sex in public not to be a crime.

5) Canada now allows bestiality and just so you know they dont mind running up the price of things that are sent to America except for prescribed drugs and thats because they want the drug trade.

6) In Spain, pornographic movies are authorized viewing in secondary schools and universities.

7) Prostitution for minors has been authorized in Nigeria. Marg Luker states that every young lady from the age of 10 starts feeling the need for sexual pleasure and no one should hinder her from discovering how her body works.

8) Finally, the US have authorized and made public satanic churches. There is one in Columbia SC as well as in 30 more states.

We might ask ourselves, are we sure we are aware of the things that are going on around us just as God asked Jeremiah.

We should repent ourselves that all these things have happened, and we are not even aware of them taking place.

God said Israel (the Ten Tribes) had played the harlot, which means they had left their first love.

God had asked them to repent but Israel had refused.

*****Jer 3:7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

The people of Judah had failed to learn from the mistakes that the Northern tribes had made.

They had not only committed Spiritual adultery they had become an immoral society.

The Old Testament we have today is full of people being bad examples, but the Old Testament is also full of how God handled these situations.

We will first learn that if we will repent we will be forgiven but if we refuse to repent we will see the wrath of God!

God had turn the northern tribes over to the evil Assyrians and then the Lord had punished Assyria by allowing Babylon to defeat them because they had mistreated God's people and it would be the same for Babylon when God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to defeat Judah.

1) So, Judah had failed to learn from Israel's sin. (Note the words backsliding and apostate)

2) Judah had failed to learn from God's discipline of Israel. The nation was destroyed, and people exiled to Assyria.

We should also recall that God had promised that the Messiah would come through the family line of King David, so they felt that God would never allow Judah to be destroyed.

When we think we can out think God we are on a downward fall.

3) The people of Judah had become hypocrites, claiming to worship Jehovah, they had defiled the land with the untold idols of the nations around them.

King Josiah felt that the things he had done by destroying may of the idols and repairing the Temple had solved the biggest problems but even he was deceived by his own people.

4) The people of Judah had become much guiltier than the people of the Northern tribes.

It should be obvious to us that backsliding will bring the wrath of God!

The children of Israel had forgotten their own history had broke down the nation of Israel until May 14,1948

Today we have failed to learn from Bible history and our own history and now our history as a nation is being erased.

*****Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

Jer 3:9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

We should know by now the terrible things that follow the footsteps of wickedness and pure evil!

We are already reeling from the wickedness we see in our nation today.

We should also understand that to be evil and immoral is one thing but to claim to know the Lord in a personal relationship and be wicked and immoral is far worse!

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

*****Jer 3:10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

That word "feignedly" means, "not just to tell a lie but to tell a lie in the sanctuary of God". When we heap lie after lie upon the altar of God and our own fire has gone out and our faith non-existent, then we certainly deserve what punishment God brings down upon us!

A true hypocrite will never object to go where the music is good and loud and the preaching is pointless!

These people can sit like a true Saint of God while their heart is far from loving the Lord and plotting their next mischief out in the world and most probably against that true Saint of God.

There is the rededication to the Lord that is not sincere.

There is the going to church which is not a true church.

There is a supposed calling of God that was just an excuse to do the work of Satan!

What did the Lord say?

*****Jer 3:11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

Israel without the kings in the line of David.

Israel without the Temple of God.

Israel without the Levites and the true priests of God.

Israel without a nation such as they were, to be an example of the wrath of God on His own people.

Israel who confessed their sin but refused to repent.

To Judah who refused to confess their sin because in their mind they had no sin to repent from.

Israel was certainly more justified in their sin than treacherous Judah!

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

What is more wonderful than we realize? Jehovah God is so wonderful that He will even offer us a chance to repent!

*****Jer 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

Jer 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

The message of repentance is not heard in many of the pulpits today but without repentance there can be no forgiveness.

Repentance signifies a change of the mind!

Repentance signifies a submission by separating yourself from sin which can only be done with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Jeremiah walked toward the north, he was to proclaim in the ears of Judah and Benjamin the sin of the ten tribes of Israel, the northern tribes that were now in captivity, sin that was not near as bad as the sin of Judah.

The ten tribes had not claimed Jehovah and worshipped false gods, they had just rejected Him altogether.

Judah was still claiming to serve Jehovah, but they worshipped false gods.

We should be able to see the difference here and these Jews should also see the difference.

The main ingredient in salvation is to realize that we are sinners. Once we realize we are sinners we will then realize we need a Savior and that Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ and yes, we can say Jehovah, they are one and the same!

The hand of judgment will never fall on those who repent their sin at the proper time!

Repentance is a complete change of mind that brings a complete change of direction!

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Those who refuse to repent will certainly see the judgment of God!

Another truth about our Savior, He has as much "Mercy" as He has "Grace"!

We must never miss the fact that God would rather bless us than to chastise us!

We must also know that God would rather save us than send us to the "Burning Lake of Fire"!

1Ti_2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Compare:

2Th_2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

We will all commit Spiritual Adultery if we rebel against the truth of God!

*****Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

It would be good for us to remember that God will never break any covenant He has ever made. This is the reason God can say "I AM" married to you.

The perfect marriage of one man and one woman will be to the death and the Lord is perfect!

BUT, Since the Lord can never die and He can never sin, His covenant is unbreakable.

It is only our own sin that can cause our death if we fail to repent before our own death!

Repentance means to be set free from Satan's chains, Satan's captivity!

Repentance means God will give us true shepherds, (Pastors).

Every time a sinner repents and returns to His Creator, the family of God grows because God can never lose any of His children.

Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

Joh 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Everyone who has called upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation can then freely walk into the throne room of God!

Everyone who has called upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation will also witness God establish His Kingdom upon this earth!

We also know that the Lord has already begun to bring His people back to Israel, one from a city and two from a family, till they all return to the Promised Land!

*****Jer 3:16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.

We should understand that in the 1000 years of the Kingdom of the Lord, there will certainly be no need for the Ark of the Covenant because the covenant Maker will be with them!

The Ark of the Covenant symbolized the presence of Jehovah and He will be with them in His person.

The Ark of the Covenant symbolized a blessing because the Lord will only abide with His chosen people.

The Ark of the Covenant symbolized their Leader, because the Ark always led these Jewish people through the wilderness a cloud by day and a light by night.

The Ark of the Covenant symbolized their wanderings were over because the Ark would would reside in the center of the camp!

The Ark of the Covent was always a token of "Good" to the children of Israel.

Understanding these things, we should better understand Revelation 11:19.

Rev_11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the true Ark of the true Covenant.

*****Jer 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

We know that during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ , He will sit upon the throne of David in the city of Jerusalem.

This will be God's residence for 1000 years and the Church will be with Him!

During this period, the King of Kings, The Lord of lords, will rule with a rod of iron which means, "neither shall they walk anymore after the imagination of their hearts".

We will all know just exactly what we are to do, no questions to ask!

The Lord Jesus Christ is holy in His being and His rule will be a holy rule.

*****Jer 3:18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.

There are no lost tribes of Israel because the Lord knows exactly where they are located.

The two kingdoms that were once divided will then be united like they never have before!

Jer 50:20 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

Not only these things but Church and Israel will be united all of us understanding the Word of God!

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

When God forgives, God then grows His family!

What is forgiveness? Without forgiveness there could be no justification!

It is because of forgiveness that we are no longer condemned to pay the wages of sin, which was death!

Because of forgiveness we get to witness the absolute "Grace" of God, which is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Amen.

Let's Pray!