THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR REPENTANCE (Outline)
November 8, 2009 --
LAST JUDGMENT / 2ND SUN. OF END TIME --
Jeremiah 26:1-26
INTRO: Scripture is always very clear about sin. Mankind sins daily and sin much. This is the simple fact of the world after the Fall. Adam and Eve sinned in a perfect world. The Lord did not destroy Adam and Eve for ruining his perfect creation. Instead the loving Lord God Almighty promised them a Savior. God is patient. The world grows wicked. Only eight are saved from the world-destroying Flood. God is patient. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 PETER 3:9). The Lord desires that all would repent. Man’s life on earth is God’s time of grace for each to repent. God’s time of grace does come to an end. Until God’s grace ends God is patient.
THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR REPENTANCE.
I. Sinfulness deserves God’s wrath.
II. God’s grace provides forgiveness.
I. SINFULNESS DESERVES GOD’S WRATH.
A. Verse 1. Jehoiakim is the wicked son of good king Josiah. Josiah restored God’s law and Passover.
1. King Jehoiakim did not worship God. He led God’s people into worshiping false gods.
2. Jeremiah was sent by God to warn Judah. Their time of grace was quickly coming to an end.
B. Verse 2a. God sends Jeremiah to the temple courtyard. There are still some people worshiping God.
1. Judah needed to change. It was their choice to enjoy God’s blessing or reject it.
2. Verses 4,5. Judah needed to listen to God’s word brought by Jeremiah. They often rejected.
C. Verse 6. The Lord clearly spells out the result of disobedience and rejection by Judah.
1. Shiloh was once the place of worship for the Northern Kingdom. Now it was gone, deserted.
2. When Jerusalem fell nations noticed. Jerusalem was the witness concerning Israel’s rejection.
D. What do you think? Has the world gotten better or has the world gotten worse since that first sin of Adam and Eve? Once perfection was destroyed the world began a downward spiral of wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Approaching the Last Day when the Lord Jesus returns; the love of most will grow cold. Wickedness, rebellion, and sin started with Adam and Eve. Wickedness, rebellion, and sin have been passed on to every generation since. None are exempt. "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people" (EZEKIEL 12:2). At times, we may be too busy to see and hear the many miracles that God amazes us with every day. There are magnificent sunrises and sunsets to see. There are the sounds of nature to hear. All of this is from the hand of our God. We may fail to notice these things in our every day lives. The unbeliever pays even less attention to see or hear what God reveals to all mankind.
E. The wicked world carries on without one concern for any consequences. Everyone does what he or she wants to do unconcerned about anything until they are “caught”. This is our modern day attitude. The Lord God Almighty reminds everyone that there are consequences for every evil act. Much like the time of Jeremiah, mankind is not inclined to pay attention or worse, to repent. "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.’" (ROMANS 2:5,6). Please read Romans, chapter 2.
F. Do not think that we can point our accusing fingers at the world. We dare not point at anyone else as if we were better than he or she. We are daily influenced by the wickedness of the world that surrounds us. We are caught up in the modern day philosophy that we never have enough. We always need more. "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more" (EPHESIANS 4:19). We are controlled by whatever has mastered us. No matter the amount of money we tend to want more. No matter the yield of the harvest we think that it ought to be better. No matter the weather it could always be better. Such are the souls of many that cannot be satisfied. There is always room to repent. Lord, forgive our ungratefulness.
THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM TO REPENT.
Our sinfulness deserves, actually demands God’s anger.
II. GOD’S GRACE PROVIDES FORGIVENESS
A. God gave his word of truth to Jeremiah to bring to God’s people. Jeremiah preached every word.
1. Verse 2b. The truth of God’s word was not always popular.
2. Jeremiah did not water down God’s warnings. God was trying to warn them to change.
B. God was patiently waiting for his chosen people to repent. Only Judah was left.
1. The northern kingdom of Israel was gone for a century already. Patience was soon to end.
2. Even though only a few believers were left Jeremiah did not give up. God did not give up.
C. Verse 3a. Here is God’s definition of repentance: “each will turn from his evil way”.
1. To turn from evil would have one turn to good. Turn far enough away = turn to God.
2. Verse 3b. God always wants to forgive. God always wants to show mercy.
a. God’s mind does not change. b. Disobedience demands judgment. c. Grace is eternal.
D. The mind of God far surpasses our minds and thoughts. The Lord God Almighty who created the heavens and the earth is a forgiving God. Man strays and disobeys. The Lord invites and forgives. There is always room for repentance. There is not one hardened criminal whom the Lord cannot change his heart and soul and life and eternity. There is not the worst of sinners whom the Lord cannot change their heart and soul and life and eternity. "Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon" (ISAIAH 55:7). Our heavenly Father provides our time of grace here on earth to discover his mercy.
E. The Lord looks at the heart. The Lord is concerned about our hearts. We know how to say and do the right things that the world expects us to say and to do. God is not deceived. Thankfully our God is patient. Our God want us to repent. Repentance goes hand in hand with confession. The believer confesses sin. This means that we recognize the wrongs we have done against our God. We are sorry that we have disappointed our heavenly Father time and time and time again. Confession also believes our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death" (2 CORINTHIANS 7:10). God forgives our sins!
F. Our God is not an impersonal being. Our loving Lord is forgiving. The Lord God Almighty loves each of us with an everlasting love. Our Lord God Almighty knows our strengths and our weaknesses. The Lord knows our needs and our sins. The Lord knows we need his forgiveness. There is always room for repentance. "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (LUKE 15:7). Yes, the Lord God Almighty knows each of us by name. He cares for each of us individually, personally. When we stray our Good Shepherd finds us and restores us. There is joy in heaven when one is found.
CONC.: Repentance, confession, and forgiveness are very powerful words. At times they are avoided. For this means we also need to recognize the unpleasant, powerful words: wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Such is the simple, straightforward truth of the word of God. Our sinfulness demands God’s anger to be revealed against each one of us with judgment and punishment. Instead our Lord God Almighty reveals to us his justice. God’s justice is far from what any would expect or even deserve. "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy"(MICAH 7:18). Our God delights to show mercy. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR REPENTANCE. Jesus’ blood covers our sins. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
2nd END TIME rdgs:
MALACHI 4:1,2a;
HEBREWS 9:24-28;
JOHN 5:19-24;
(PSALM 90)
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