Forgiveness Offered

Transcript

GR 447
6/06/1982
Forgiveness Graciously Offered
Jeremiah 3:6-25
Gil Rugh

God uses marriage to picture His relationship with the nation Israel. He has entered into a relationship of oneness and intimacy with Israel and has established a covenant relationship with them. In this spiritual marriage, Israel has proven herself an unfaithful, adulterous wife. She has pursued other lovers, entered into other marriages, and thus violated the covenant that she entered into with God. The other lovers picture the other gods that Israel has worshipped and served.

The first five verses of Jeremiah 3 are based on Deuteronomy 24. In that passage, if a marriage has been established and divorce occurs followed by a new marriage, the original partners can never go back together again without polluting the land. Israel now calls upon God for help. But she is unwilling to abandon her new lovers. So Israel’s cry is not out of a genuine heart of repentance. That will be developed through the rest of the chapter.

The time when these prophetic messages were given to Jeremiah is identified in Chapter 3 verse 6 as being “in the days of Josiah the king.” No other indication of time is given until chapter 7. The days of Josiah were great days for the Southern Kingdom, Judah. They were days of revival with a godly king on the throne. He is attempting to turn the nation back to worshiping the true God. There is much external change, but the issue that is going to be developed by Jeremiah is the lack of true heart sincerity on the part of the people. They are going through the motions externally, but they have not changed their hearts. They are still in love with other gods.

This section begins, “Then the Lord said to me in the days of Josiah the king, ‘Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a harlot there. And I thought, ‘After she has done all these things, she will return to Me’; but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it” Jeremiah 3:6-7. God is drawing a contrast between the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom, Israel, and the two tribes of the Southern Kingdom, Judah. In His description, God uses names for them. “Have you seen what faithless Israel did?” verse 6. Faithless is a name for Israel; Faithless because that is the character that Israel demonstrated.


Later in the chapter God calls Judah Treacherous, using that as a name as well as a description. So there are two sisters--the Northern Kingdom Faithless, and the Southern Kingdom Treacherous. God thought that after the Northern Kingdom Faithless saw the pursuits of her lovers and satisfied herself, then she would return to Him. But she did not, and Judah saw it verse 7. In verse 8 God said, “I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce.” That occurred in 722 BC when the Northern Kingdom was sent away into captivity at the hands of the Assyrians. God said He wrote out a bill of divorcement and gave her over to the lovers she pursued. She had sought relationships and help from the Assyrians. She had pursued other gods, so He wrote out a bill of divorcement and sent her away.

The captivity of the Northern Kingdom is pictured as the act of divorce. At the end of verse 8, “Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.” A principle is established here which will be developed in the next few verses that Judah has had the advantage of seeing the judgment of God for sin in her sister but has not taken advantage of the lesson. The principle is established that there is more responsibility and accountability for those who have had the lessons and examples of others before them. Judah should have learned from Israel’s behavior and subsequent judgment. But she went and played the harlot also.

Israel took the matter of being a whore lightly as indicated in the phrase “because of the lightness of her harlotry” verse 9. Israel did not think it significant, or any big deal as we would say today. She played the prostitute and went after other lovers. We can understand that. Adultery and immorality seem to be no big deal anymore. Society does not even frown upon it. It is acceptable behavior. I was reading an article within the last couple of weeks where someone was commenting that divorce is even an “in” thing. We take it lightly.

That is what happened with Israel spiritually. Judah took the matter of harlotry lightly. It was not a big deal. We can do that as well, even in the spiritual sense. We saw this earlier in Jeremiah. We fail to have God’s perspective on how serious the matter of false worship really is. We are taking lightly the matter of spiritual harlotry. It is not something to get all excited or concerned about; it is not something to make an issue over.

“And it came about because of the lightness of her harlotry, that she polluted the land and committed adultery with stones and trees” verse 9. Just because you take your sin lightly does not remove the fact that it is sin. The land was still polluted in God’s sight even though Israel did not think the sin was of any great dimension. Committing “adultery with stones and trees” means worshiping other gods, which is spiritual immorality.

God continued His charges, “And yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in deception” verse 10. The names are important. Faithless or apostate Israel is a wife who had been unfaithful. But Judah takes a further step. Judah is not only unfaithful and apostate, Judah is treacherous. The Northern Kingdom had established false worship centers, particularly the one in Samaria. Israel was open about her harlotry, but Judah is trying to pretend that there is some allegiance to God while at the same time she is pursuing other relationships. So Judah is not only unfaithful and apostate, Judah is treacherous. She is functioning deceptively, pretending to be something she is not. God says, “Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in deception.” verse 10. Note that contrast, because it is going to come up again and again in Jeremiah.

God expressed the same idea through Isaiah when He said, “this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me” Isaiah 29:13. They did not turn to Him with their hearts, but rather they turned to Him in deception. During this time of revival under Josiah, the nation is being forced to externally profess allegiance to God. But deep down they were still pursuing their lovers.

The fact that Judah had an example in Israel has crucial significance for believers today. Judah should have learned from what she saw in Israel’s unfaithfulness and the consequences of her sin. In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul says that believers ought to take heed to the same lesson because Christians today have not only the example of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, but we also have the example of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. The opening verses talk about Israel’s activities. In verse 6, “Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved.” Paul continued, “And do not be idolaters, as some of them were” verse 7, “nor let us act immorally, as some of them did” verse 8, “nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did” verse 9, “nor grumble, as some of them did” verse 10. “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” verse 11.

God says through Paul that what we have recorded in the Old Testament about Israel and Judah is for our benefit and example. Now if God would say to Judah, “You should have learned from Israel. You had the advantage of seeing what sin cost Israel,” what would He say to us? Believers today have not only the example of Israel but also the example of Judah. We can see the seriousness of sin in the lives of the people of God. We can see how heavy the hand of God is upon those who persist in sin. How much more ought we to be a people who are walking in accordance with the character and will of God. We have less excuse than Judah did. As I read about Judah and Israel, it is easy to think, I cannot believe Judah could be so stupid and so spiritually dense. And then I think to myself, Gil, you have a much greater advantage than Judah had because you have got the picture of them both to look at. And yet, do we live our lives consistent with what God says?

If you were going to give a title to Jeremiah 3, you could entitle it “Grace.” There is no clearer demonstration of the grace of God in the Old Testament than Jeremiah 3. Having said all He has said about Israel, God is going to offer an invitation based on grace. Both the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom are hopelessly sinful, corrupt through and through. Now God is going to invite them back into a relationship of oneness and intimacy with Himself to enjoy all the benefits and blessings that He intended for them when He married them.

There is a comparison in Jeremiah 3:11, “And the Lord said to me, ‘Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.’” He is not saying Israel was not sinful, but Israel proved herself more righteous than Judah from the standpoint that Judah had added opportunity, the benefit of seeing what happened to Israel. So it is a comparative righteousness. Because of a greater amount of light there is a greater amount of responsibility and accountability.

So God told Jeremiah, “Go, and proclaim these words toward the north” (v. 12). That would be toward what is left of the Northern Kingdom and toward the north where they had been taken into captivity. It is as though God is saying, “You have gotten what you deserve. Our relationship is over.” You would expect that because that is what Israel deserves, but note what He says: “‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord; ‘I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,’ declares the Lord; ‘I will not be angry forever’” (v. 12). That is amazing! In all of Israel’s sin and persistent rebellion against God, she is unwilling to turn from her sin. Judgment finally comes, and even as Israel is bearing the brunt of the judgment of God, He reaches out in grace saying, “I would love to have you come back. I am gracious. I will not be angry forever.” Think how hard it would be to do that. That is like Hosea who was told to love a woman loved of her lovers, a situation where a wife had pursued lover after lover and relationship after relationship. And in grace the husband says, “I would love to forgive you. I would love to have you back. I want you for myself. I will not be angry about what you have done.”

But God makes a demand that Israel and Judah alike are unwilling to accept. “Only acknowledge your iniquity” (v. 13). That is all that God demands. Can there be any question about Israel’s sinfulness? Could there be any doubt about her vileness? God says that all He wants is for her to acknowledge her sinfulness and thus to recognize her need for the deliverance and salvation of Jehovah.

There are three things He wants Israel to recognize. First, “That you have transgressed against the Lord your God” verse 13. They had been a rebellious, transgressing people. Second, “And have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree” verse 13. They had played the role of spiritual harlot by being unfaithful to their husband, Jehovah. Third, “And you have not obeyed My voice” verse 13. He wants them to admit that they have been disobedient. He does not ask them to do anything to remove their sin. He only demands that they acknowledge their sin so He can provide the cleansing.

The beginning of the message of the gospel is the sinfulness of mankind. God cannot save those who are unwilling to acknowledge their sinfulness. It seems so simple that all God is demanding of Israel is an acknowledgment of their sin that they might cast themselves upon Him and His mercy and forgiveness. But Israel is unwilling to do it because it seems too simple.

God amplifies His invitation to Israel in verse 14, “‘Return, O faithless sons,’ declares the Lord; ‘For I am a master to you’” God uses two analogies to express their intimacy and closeness--the husband and wife and the father and son. The word for master could also be translated husband. To translate it “a husband to you” would continue the analogy of the marriage. Or translating it “a master to you” would relate to the analogy of a father and son showing God as master or the father to Israel.

They must return to God which entails acknowledging their sinfulness and trusting in Him as their Savior, because in acknowledging their sinfulness they are acknowledging Him as the true God. Their sin has involved transgressing against God by pursuing other gods and not obeying the God of the Scriptures. So in acknowledging sin, there is the recognition of who God is. This is involved in true faith during any age. Anybody who comes to God in saving faith believes in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Involved in that saving faith must be a recognition of personal sinfulness and, at the same time, a recognition of the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to provide the needed cleansing. So Israel must recognize their sinfulness and the sufficiency of God to provide the forgiveness and cleansing. On that basis alone, they are invited. That is why God says, “I am gracious.” Grace is what characterizes Him.

Romans 11 tells us that this issue has not changed. Over 500 years after Jeremiah, God is writing concerning Israel, and the issue is still the same--the grace of God. Israel is unwilling to accept the grace of God. Verse 6 talks about God’s election and grace, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” Romans 11:6. When God calls to them as a God of grace, He is not asking Israel to earn or work for their salvation. The Book of Galatians is clear that the Law was the basis of grace alone. When we talk about people who are sinful, we have automatically ruled out any hope or chance of perfection on our part in all that we do all the time. As soon as we acknowledge that we are not perfect but sinful, then we rule out any chance of being acceptable on the basis of what we do. We are guilty and accountable and must be judged for our sin. Yet God has intervened on our behalf in mercy and in grace. So people in the Old Testament and people in the New Testament are alike. We are all sinners. The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament is the same. He is a holy and righteous God who judges sin but offers salvation on the basis of mercy and grace.

Psalm 14 is quoted in the New Testament particularly in Romans 3. Psalm 14 starts out saying, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” Psalm 14:1-3. Paul develops that in his argument on the sinfulness of man in Romans 3.

God says there is not one who does good. Then in Jeremiah 3 God says to Israel, “You are sinful, but if you will acknowledge your sin and trust Me, I will forgive you.” But Israel is unwilling to acknowledge their sinfulness and thus their need to trust the Savior. And people have not changed. Scripture still says that all have sinned. There is none that does good, but there is a God of mercy and grace who offers a salvation full and free to all who will acknowledge their sinfulness and place their faith in the Savior who is revealed in the Scripture. But people are unwilling to do that.

So, we look at Israel and say, “How can they be so stubborn and obstinate?” Then we look at ourselves and at the people around us, and we see reflected out of the same kind of sinful hearts the same kind of stubborn obstinacy toward the gracious invitation of God. We think, Well, if I go back to God, if I turn to Him, I will have to give up all my fun and enjoyment. Of course, Israel was having a great time! They were slaves to the Assyrians, grinding it out for harsh taskmasters.

God intends for Israel all the blessing that they would desire. “And I will take you one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion” verse 14. A family is a tribe or clan. Continuing in verse 15, “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” verse 15. Do you see what God promises them? Shepherds who will look over them, who will have their well-being in mind. “Shepherds after My own heart” verse 15 are those shepherds who have the heart and mind of God, thus the concern of God for His people. They will care for God’s people in the way that God would have them cared for. They “will feed you on knowledge and understanding” verse 15. This is probably better translated they “will shepherd you with knowledge and understanding.” In other words, these shepherds will do their shepherding in the realm of knowledge and understanding. It will be according to the Word of God and with the proper use of the Word of God in dealing with people.

The next section fits into a different time frame. “‘And it shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘they shall say no more, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” And it shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they miss it, nor shall it be made again. At that time they shall call Jerusalem “The Throne of the Lord,” and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord; nor shall they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance’” Jeremiah 3:16-18. In this passage we are carried to the future, the time when Israel will be restored and will walk in a covenant relationship with God again. God is talking about the Millennium. He holds that out in gracious invitation to Israel.

Israel is still unwilling to acknowledge their sinfulness and bow in faith before the God of the Scriptures and the Savior that He has provided, Jesus Christ. There is coming a time when they will finally respond to this gracious invitation and a millennial kingdom will be set up. Is it not amazing, all the hardship and heartache that Israel has endured because they have been unwilling to acknowledge their sinfulness and accept salvation from God? Is it not amazing how stubborn we can be as sinners? God offers a free salvation, and in stubborn obstinacy we say, “I will not have it.” That is amazing! Awesome! One thing that studying the Old Testament does for us is to help us appreciate how wretched we really are. We are the bottom of the barrel. We find out that Israel is just a layer above us. It helps us appreciate our own sinfulness.

The ark of the covenant is mentioned in verse 16. “‘And it shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘they shall say no more, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” And it shall not come to mind again, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they miss it, nor shall it be made again.’” Do you see the idea? That is exactly what is going to happen in the millennial reign of Christ. The ark of the covenant will be gone forever, forgotten, never to be brought back.

The instructions about the ark of the covenant are found in Exodus 25. The ark of the covenant is symbolic, typical or a type of Jesus Christ. “And they shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out” Exodus 25:10,11. Many commentators are of the opinion that in the typology, the wood pictures the humanity of Christ and the gold, His deity. The ark is made of both wood and gold. It is not a golden ark; it is not a wooden ark. It is a golden, wooden ark which pictures the humanity and deity of Jesus Christ brought together.

Then there are instructions on other aspects of the ark and what is to be put into the ark--the two tables of the law given by Moses--beginning with verse 16 of Exodus 25. In verse 17, “And you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold.” This is the place of atonement or propitiation. Its size is given, then the “two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat” verse 18. Then they spread their wings over the mercy seat verse 20. “And there I will meet with you, and from the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel” verse 22.

At the mercy seat above the ark of the covenant is where God meets with His people. It is the place where the blood is placed as the atonement for the people. So, it is called the place of propitiation. There are some significant uses of that word in the New Testament regarding Jesus Christ and His work. So, what is Jesus Christ? He is the place where God meets with His people. It is in Him that God’s character and glory have been manifested.

Let us pick up and complete the analogy in Jeremiah 3. Verse 17 says, “At that time they shall call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the Lord.’” Throughout the Old Testament, the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat and the cherubim at the top was the throne of God, the place where God manifested His presence within the holy of holies. That will be changed to Jerusalem during the earthly reign of Christ in the Millennium because Christ, as the fulfillment of the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat, will be resident in Jerusalem. So, there will be no need for an ark of the covenant because Jerusalem itself will be the throne of God where God resides and speaks forth His Word to His people.

Psalm 99 refers to the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat as the throne of God. “The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!” Psalm 99:1. This shows God enthroned above the cherubim over the ark of the covenant. Verse 5 continues the idea, “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool; Holy is He.” The ark of the covenant is viewed as being the footstool of God. The ultimate fulfillment of that picture will be Jesus Christ resident in Jerusalem. That will occur during the earthly reign of Christ called the Millennium, that thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth that is yet future.
God does not invite Israel back to an inferior sidetrack. We ought to appreciate the extent of the gracious invitation of God. He invites Israel back to all the glory as the exalted people of God. Isaiah is describing Jerusalem. “The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it will come about that in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways, and that we may walk in His paths’” Isaiah 2:1-3. Exodus 25 said it would be from above the ark of the covenant from between the cherubim that God would speak to His people. During the earthly reign of Christ it is from Jerusalem that He teaches concerning His ways. “For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war” Isaiah 2:3,4. That describes the Millennium when Jesus Christ is personally reigning on the earth. Jerusalem will be the capital of the world, the throne of Jesus Christ Himself. And He will rule the world in righteousness.

Look at John’s picture of the New Jerusalem and its characteristics in Revelation 21. “And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it.” Revelation 21:22-24. At this time the presence of God Himself is the throne in Jerusalem.

In the Millennium, the ark of the covenant will not be necessary. God has talked about the exalted position of Israel. He is not going to send them back to the old ways. He wants to lift them up to the highest heights that He has planned for them from eternity past. But what about their sin? They have rendered themselves unfit and unworthy, but then there is the grace and mercy of God. He takes those who are unfit and unworthy and cleanses and forgives them. Then He establishes them in the presence of His glory. That is amazing! You would think Israel would be falling all over themselves to come and bow down before this gracious Savior. But do you know what the problem is? Obstinacy of heart. They will not have it God’s way.

Look what happens in Jeremiah 3:18. “In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel.” The Northern and Southern Kingdoms will be united again. There will not be a divided Israel. “And they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance. Then I said, ‘How I would set you among My sons, and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of the nations!’ And I said, ‘You shall call Me, My Father, and not turn away from following Me’” verses 18-19. God offered a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of the nations.

Judah refused to repent. “‘Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, so you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,’ declares the Lord. A voice is heard on the bare heights, the weeping and the supplications of the sons of Israel; because they have perverted their way, they have forgotten the Lord their God” Jeremiah 3:20-21. Have they yet had the pleasant land, the beautiful inheritance? Remember, the way of the transgressor is hard. And the end of Israel’s pursuit has been shame and disgrace, suffering and hardship. We find them weeping. The people to whom God intended to give all the blessings are now in agony.

But in spite of all this, God’s offer of grace is extended again. “Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness” verse 22. Is not the grace of God amazing? The gracious invitation to come back is clear. The solution for Israel’s sin and ours is overwhelmingly simple. “Return to Me.” But I could never climb back up, you fret. God does not ask you to climb. He just asks you to recognize the fact that you are a helpless sinner, and He is the God who can save you. That is all. “Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness.” God will take care of your sin for you. That is amazing!

The last half of verse 22 may be the cry of Jeremiah himself, or it may be the cry of the nation. For some, repentance is genuine; for some, they’re just going through the motions.

Worship of any god other than the God of the Bible is a deception. “Behold, we come to Thee; for Thou art the Lord our God. Surely, the hills are a deception, a tumult on the mountains” verses 22-23. The hills describe the place where the false worship has occurred. The riotous times, the worship of other gods, the immorality and the carousing that has been associated with it has all been a deception.

Worship of other gods promises something it cannot give. It promises peace, but there is no peace for the wicked. It promises meaning and purpose, but only the One who created us can give us meaning and purpose. It promises life after this life, but only God can provide the blessing of eternity in His presence. Worshiping any other god is deception.


“The hills are a deception . . . Surely, in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. But the shameful thing has consumed the labor of our fathers” verses 23-24). The word for shameful is a play on the word Baal. Other times it is used in relation with Baal, the lord, the master, the shameful one. Here, the shameful way, the worship of Baal and other gods “has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters” verse 24. Note one thing that we have seen earlier in Jeremiah--how people can be all-out in false worship. These people have been consumed since their youth. They have given of their substance and of their families in the pursuit of other gods.

The commitment of those who worship other gods often puts believers to shame. We who have the privilege of worshiping and serving the living and true God are beggars in our service for Him. We are more concerned with what we can keep for ourselves. We see the evidences of the fanatical in other worship systems, and often we believers are so beggarly in our service for God. Oh, can I squeeze one hour out on Sunday morning? Maybe I will go all out for God and give Him two hours. And my substance? Well, you know, I have got it meted out here.

What has Israel done? They have given their labor, their flocks, their sons and their daughters without reservation to the worship and service of other gods. And God is still willing to have them back. We ought to learn something from this. God wants them back with the same commitment and zeal in their service for Him. What a tragedy that the people of God are satisfied to have such a low level of commitment when the people who serve the gods of this world, who are a deception, can give themselves with a fanatical zeal and totality of commitment to that which is nothing.

In verse 25 we can sense something of the cry of Jeremiah. “Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, since our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.” This describes Jeremiah’s overwhelming sensitivity to sin. There is often something lost among evangelicals as we stress the love of God which is so great. But we must also recognize that we are wretchedly sinful. Under the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit there ought to be a sense of sinfulness. As we present the Good News of the message of Jesus Christ, we need to be sure that those we talk to are confronted with the reality of their sinfulness.

In this passage we see how God makes a gospel presentation. He has presented to them the reality of their sinfulness that must be dealt with by faith in Him. All the blessings of prosperity will be theirs if they will but admit to their sinfulness and believe in Him as their Savior. We need to be careful about emphasizing all the blessings that God has for those who believe without first causing people to recognize their sinfulness. Sin must be dealt with. When the Spirit does His convicting work, there is a sensitivity and awareness of sin that draws people to Jesus Christ the Savior.

This is God’s gracious presentation. It is so simple, is it not? Yet, it is no different from the presentation we have in the New Testament except that we have the added revelation of the finished work of Jesus Christ, the One who died on a cross to pay the penalty for sin. He was raised because the penalty had been paid.

What does God say to you? He says you are sinful, just as Israel was sinful. You need salvation that only He can provide. He wants you to acknowledge your sinfulness, recognizing the fact that you have been unfaithful and rebellious against Him. Then He wants you to place your faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Savior. In an instant of time, you will be cleansed and forgiven, and all the promised blessings of God will become yours. That does not mean everything in life will become rosy, but it does mean that the future is settled, and the blessings are yours. Is there any reason why you ought not to accept by faith the offer of grace that God gives you for full forgiveness?

If you are a believer, is your life manifesting your allegiance, devotion and commitment to God? Is this the message you are presenting to your family, friends and those you work with?