The Grace of God
I.
Introduction
a.
When one thinks about the book Jeremiah, God’s
grace may be the last thing that crosses their mind.
When one thinks about the book Jeremiah, God’s
grace may be the last thing that crosses their mind.
b.
However, Jeremiah’s prophecies are full of God’s
grace to the brim!
However, Jeremiah’s prophecies are full of God’s
grace to the brim!
i.
The very fact that some were allowed to be taken
into captivity was very merciful on God’s part.
ii.
The promise of the New Covenant and the coming Messiah
are examples of God’s grace.
iii.
God’s willingness to bring Israel back home was
a gracious act of God, and it stands as a testimony today of God’s matchless
grace.
c.
The subject of our discussion, however, is some
comments that God made in Jeremiah 3:1-5.
The subject of our discussion, however, is some
comments that God made in Jeremiah 3:1-5.
i.
“They say,
If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s,
shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but
thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the
LORD. (2) Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and
see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as
the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy
whoredoms and with thy wickedness.
(3) Therefore the showers have
been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s
forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
(4) Wilt thou not from this time
cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? (5)
Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold,
thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest” (Jeremiah 3:1-5)
ii.
The marriage laws in the Old Testament, as we’re
about to discover were strict. God, using the common illustration that He and
Judah were married, demonstrates to us His wonderful grace.
II.
Marriage Laws
a.
The Marriage Laws for the Old Testament can be
found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4.
The Marriage Laws for the Old Testament can be
found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4.
i.
“When a
man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no
favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him
write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of
his house. (2) And when she is departed out of his house,
she may go and be another man’s wife.
(3) And if the latter husband hate
her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and
sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to
be his wife; (4) Her former husband, which sent her away, may
not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is
abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which
the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance” (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).
1.
Jesus gives the correct interpretation of these
laws in Matthew 19:1-9. He shows how “uncleanness” in Deuteronomy means
“fornication.”
Jesus gives the correct interpretation of these
laws in Matthew 19:1-9. He shows how “uncleanness” in Deuteronomy means
“fornication.”
2.
Israel and Judah had both left God and went to
serve idols. According to Old Testament marriage laws, it would have been wrong
for God to take either of them back (Keeping in mind that this is just an
illustration. God did no wrong in taking Judah and Israel back).
Israel and Judah had both left God and went to
serve idols. According to Old Testament marriage laws, it would have been wrong
for God to take either of them back (Keeping in mind that this is just an
illustration. God did no wrong in taking Judah and Israel back).
ii.
God is a righteous and a gracious God. Though
Judah didn’t learn from her sister and sinned, God was still willing to take
her back.
b.
The punishment for violating the marriage
covenant, when witnessed by several witnesses, was death. God had ample number
of witnesses to destroy Judah and raise up stones unto Abraham (Matthew 3:9).
Yet, He saved them in order to fulfill His promises to David. “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David
his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his
children” (II Kings 8:19).
The punishment for violating the marriage
covenant, when witnessed by several witnesses, was death. God had ample number
of witnesses to destroy Judah and raise up stones unto Abraham (Matthew 3:9).
Yet, He saved them in order to fulfill His promises to David. “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David
his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his
children” (II Kings 8:19).
III.
We Must Depend on God’s Grace
a.
“Saviour
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our; (7)
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).
“Saviour
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our; (7)
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).
b.
“And if by
grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it
be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”
(Romans 11:6).
“And if by
grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it
be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”
(Romans 11:6).
c.
God did not send His Son to die for us because
we earned or deserved it, but because He loves us and wants everyone to have
the opportunity of Heaven.
God did not send His Son to die for us because
we earned or deserved it, but because He loves us and wants everyone to have
the opportunity of Heaven.
d.
Though we are not saved by works, it is by God’s
grace that there are certain steps one must take in order to become a
Christian.
Though we are not saved by works, it is by God’s
grace that there are certain steps one must take in order to become a
Christian.
i.
It is by God’s grace that we have the written
word that produces faith: Romans 10:17.
ii.
It is by God’s grace that constrains us to
repent of our sins: Acts 17:30.
iii.
It is by God’s matchless grace that we are able
to confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God: Romans 10:10.
iv.
That is all the work that we must do. The next
step is no work of man, but it is a work of God. That step is baptism
1.
“Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of
the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
“Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of
the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
2.
Baptism is God’s work where He adds us to the
church (Acts 2:47). It’s a shame that so many stand in the way of God’s work.
Will you?
Baptism is God’s work where He adds us to the
church (Acts 2:47). It’s a shame that so many stand in the way of God’s work.
Will you?
IV.
Conclusion
a.
There is no reason for you to not depend on
God’s grace. Never think that you are “too far gone” to reason forgiveness of
sins. Paul was the chief of all sinners, and he found grace in the eyes of the
Lord.
There is no reason for you to not depend on
God’s grace. Never think that you are “too far gone” to reason forgiveness of
sins. Paul was the chief of all sinners, and he found grace in the eyes of the
Lord.
b.
If God was willing to take back adulterous
Judah, then He will also be willing to welcome you home.
If God was willing to take back adulterous
Judah, then He will also be willing to welcome you home.