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!
