Embracing Eternal Hope: Rejecting Sin and Ingratitude

 

Summary

In examining Jeremiah 17:13, we delve into the profound contrast between the glory of God and the tragedy of human sin. Jeremiah, a prophet burdened with the truth, stands as a solitary voice amidst a people who have turned their backs on God, preferring the comforting lies of false prophets. The essence of sin, as Jeremiah reveals, is not merely passive ignorance but an active, deliberate turning away from God, the fountain of living waters. This deliberate rejection is rooted in a profound ingratitude, a failure to recognize and appreciate the blessings and hope that God has consistently provided.

The narrative of sin is not just a historical account of Israel's rebellion but a universal human condition. From the very beginning, humanity has exhibited a deliberate ingratitude, choosing to believe lies about God's character despite being surrounded by His blessings. This ingratitude is a recurring theme, manifesting in the way people today continue to reject God, despite the evidence of His goodness in their lives.

The sermon also highlights the blindness of humanity to its own real good. People forsake the eternal, life-giving waters of God for fleeting, earthly pleasures that ultimately lead to emptiness and shame. This blindness is a form of spiritual madness, a refusal to see the true source of life and joy.

Finally, the inevitable consequence of such a life is shame and a name written only in the earth, signifying a life without eternal significance. In contrast, those who turn to God have their names written in heaven, a promise of eternal security and joy. The call is clear: to recognize the futility of a life lived apart from God and to embrace the eternal hope found in Him.

Key Takeaways:

- Deliberate Rejection of God: Sin is not merely passive ignorance but an active, deliberate turning away from God. This rejection is rooted in a profound ingratitude, failing to recognize the blessings and hope God provides. Humanity's resistance to God is a conscious choice, reflecting a deep-seated rebellion against His goodness. [09:21]

- Ingratitude in Sin: The essence of sin is ingratitude, a failure to appreciate the blessings and hope that God has consistently provided. This ingratitude is evident in humanity's historical and ongoing rejection of God, despite His continuous provision and love. [15:33]

- Blindness to True Good: Humanity is blind to its own real good, forsaking the eternal, life-giving waters of God for fleeting, earthly pleasures. This spiritual blindness leads to a life of emptiness and shame, as people fail to recognize the true source of life and joy. [26:19]

- Inevitable Consequences: A life lived apart from God leads to inevitable shame and insignificance, with one's name written only in the earth. In contrast, those who turn to God have their names written in heaven, promising eternal security and joy. [28:54]

- Eternal Hope in God: The ultimate call is to recognize the futility of a life lived apart from God and to embrace the eternal hope found in Him. This hope is secure, inviolable, and offers a lasting treasure that transcends the fleeting pleasures of this world. [47:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Jeremiah's Prophecy and Israel's Blindness
- [01:14] - The Prophet's Plea to God
- [02:14] - The Greatness and Glory of God
- [03:39] - God's History with Israel
- [04:59] - The Essence of Sin
- [06:23] - Jeremiah's Compassionate Warning
- [08:27] - The Story of Thomas Gray
- [09:21] - Deliberate Rejection of God
- [15:33] - Ingratitude in Sin
- [26:19] - Blindness to True Good
- [28:54] - Inevitable Consequences
- [36:27] - Names Written in the Earth
- [47:12] - Eternal Hope in God
- [50:43] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Jeremiah 17:13

Observation Questions:
1. What does Jeremiah 17:13 reveal about the nature of sin and its consequences for those who forsake God? [09:21]
2. How does the sermon describe the deliberate nature of sin, and what examples are given to illustrate this point? [10:20]
3. In what ways does the sermon highlight the ingratitude of humanity towards God's blessings? [15:33]
4. What are the consequences mentioned in the sermon for those who live a life apart from God? [28:54]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the metaphor of "names written in the earth" in Jeremiah 17:13, and what does it signify about a person's life and legacy? [36:27]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the blindness of humanity to its true good, and how does this relate to the choices people make in their lives? [26:19]
3. How does the sermon explain the concept of eternal hope in God, and what implications does this have for believers? [47:12]
4. In what ways does the sermon challenge the listener to reconsider their understanding of sin as a deliberate rejection of God? [09:44]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you may have deliberately turned away from God. What steps can you take to realign your life with His will? [09:44]
2. Consider the blessings in your life that you may have taken for granted. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude towards God this week? [15:33]
3. Identify an area in your life where you might be seeking fleeting, earthly pleasures instead of the eternal, life-giving waters of God. What changes can you make to prioritize your spiritual well-being? [26:19]
4. How can you ensure that your life has eternal significance, with your "name written in heaven" rather than just in the earth? What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God? [36:27]
5. Reflect on the concept of spiritual blindness. Are there areas in your life where you might be blind to God's goodness? How can you seek clarity and understanding? [26:19]
6. How does the promise of eternal hope in God influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? What specific actions can you take to live out this hope? [47:12]
7. In what ways can you share the message of God's eternal hope with someone in your life who may be struggling with feelings of insignificance or shame? [28:54]

Devotional

Day 1: The Conscious Choice of Rejection
The deliberate rejection of God is not a passive act but a conscious decision to turn away from the source of life and hope. This rejection is deeply rooted in ingratitude, a failure to acknowledge the blessings and hope that God provides. Humanity's resistance to God is a reflection of a deep-seated rebellion against His goodness, choosing instead to believe comforting lies. This choice is not just a historical account of Israel's rebellion but a universal human condition that persists today. The call is to recognize this deliberate turning away and to seek the truth and life that God offers. [09:21]

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you consciously choosing to turn away from God? How can you begin to seek His truth and life today?


Day 2: The Essence of Ingratitude
Ingratitude is at the heart of sin, a failure to appreciate the blessings and hope that God has consistently provided. Despite being surrounded by His goodness, humanity has historically chosen to reject God, preferring to believe lies about His character. This ongoing rejection is a testament to the profound ingratitude that permeates the human condition. Recognizing this ingratitude is the first step towards embracing the love and provision that God offers. [15:33]

Romans 1:21 (ESV): "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."

Reflection: Reflect on a specific blessing in your life that you have taken for granted. How can you express gratitude to God for this blessing today?


Day 3: The Blindness to True Good
Humanity often forsakes the eternal, life-giving waters of God for fleeting, earthly pleasures that ultimately lead to emptiness and shame. This spiritual blindness is a form of madness, a refusal to see the true source of life and joy. People are often blind to their own real good, choosing temporary satisfaction over eternal fulfillment. The challenge is to open one's eyes to the true source of life and joy that God offers, moving beyond the temporary pleasures of this world. [26:19]

Isaiah 55:2 (ESV): "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food."

Reflection: Identify one earthly pleasure you pursue that leaves you feeling empty. How can you seek fulfillment in God instead?


Day 4: The Consequences of a Life Apart from God
A life lived apart from God leads to inevitable shame and insignificance, with one's name written only in the earth. This signifies a life without eternal significance, a life that ultimately leads to emptiness. In contrast, those who turn to God have their names written in heaven, promising eternal security and joy. The call is to recognize the futility of a life lived apart from God and to embrace the eternal hope found in Him. [28:54]

Luke 10:20 (ESV): "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Reflection: Consider the legacy you are building. Are you investing in things of eternal significance? How can you begin to focus on what truly matters?


Day 5: Embracing Eternal Hope
The ultimate call is to recognize the futility of a life lived apart from God and to embrace the eternal hope found in Him. This hope is secure, inviolable, and offers a lasting treasure that transcends the fleeting pleasures of this world. Embracing this hope means turning away from the temporary and seeking the eternal, finding security and joy in the promises of God. The invitation is to embrace this hope and to live a life that reflects the eternal significance of being in relationship with God. [47:12]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to embrace the eternal hope found in God? How can this hope transform your daily life and priorities?

Quotes



The essence of sin, as Jeremiah reveals, is not merely passive ignorance but an active, deliberate turning away from God, the fountain of living waters. This deliberate rejection is rooted in a profound ingratitude, a failure to recognize and appreciate the blessings and hope that God has consistently provided. [00:09:21]

Men's resistance to God is not merely passive; it is always active, it is always positive, and that is something that we tend to forget. We don't like the doctrine of sin as a whole, as I've reminded you, but having to admit that it's there, well, we say, well, it's just passive. [00:09:44]

The element of ingratitude in sin is always there. Oh Lord, the hope of Israel, says this man Jeremiah, these people are forsaking thee, O Jehovah, the Covenant making, the covenant keeping God, who has formed this nation and brought them out of nothing and elevated them amongst the nations. [00:15:33]

The blindness I mean to our own real good. I'm not going to say with this this evening that is just the negative of the positive I was giving last Sunday night was, isn't it? If you see a man who is in a condition of semi-starvation suddenly offered a meal, if you see him deliberately turning away from it, what did you say about him? [00:26:19]

The inevitable consequence to which such action leads. Oh Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from thee shall be written in the earth. I say the inevitable consequence, that's what the Prophet says, and of course, it must be true. [00:28:54]

The deliberate element in sin is obvious in the case of these children of Israel. They were God's people, as I've been reminding you, and they'd experienced his blessings. For them to get into this plight and into this position was the result of a deliberate act of turning away from God. [00:10:30]

The world today, speaking generally, is not looking towards God. It's got its back turned towards God. It hates the very idea of God. It's trying to disprove the very being of God. It has nothing to do with God. He's only used as a term for cursing or for swearing. [00:22:18]

The blindness of men to his own real good. Have you ever thought of it like that? Have you ever realized that men can be as blind as their to his own real good that he forsakes the fountains of fountain of living waters and turns for happiness and peace and joy to drink and a gambling and a lust and a passion? [00:28:19]

The deliberate element in sin is not only true of the children of Israel but of the whole of mankind. It was the original act of men, wasn't it, when he fell and when he brought calamity first upon himself. The sin of men at the beginning was most deliberate. [00:11:02]

The ingratitude of sin is evident in humanity's historical and ongoing rejection of God, despite His continuous provision and love. Men in sin is still like that because all of us are in this world because of the goodness of God. Do you value life and being and existence? Where does it come from? [00:19:49]

The ultimate call is to recognize the futility of a life lived apart from God and to embrace the eternal hope found in Him. This hope is secure, inviolable, and offers a lasting treasure that transcends the fleeting pleasures of this world. [00:47:12]

The deliberate element in sin is that men try to get rid of the sense of God. He tries to disprove it. He'll call in learning from every quarter conceivable. He'll use his imagination. He'll try to explain it away in terms of comparative religions, in terms of science, in terms of philosophy, in terms of psychology. [00:13:20]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 25, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?