God's Call to Return: Love, Forgiveness, and Restoration
Summary
In the message today, we explored the profound theme of God's unwavering love and forgiveness, even towards those who have strayed far from Him. Drawing from Jeremiah 3:22-23, we are reminded of God's call to the backsliding children to return to Him, promising healing and restoration. Sin inevitably leads to sorrow, and while it may be delayed, it is certain to come. However, God's love is so immense that He offers redemption and healing to those who turn back to Him, no matter how far they have wandered.
The story of a woman who forgave her neglectful husband after 40 years serves as a powerful illustration of God's patience and love. Despite our prolonged neglect and rebellion, God welcomes us back with open arms, ready to forgive and restore us. This is a testament to His boundless grace and mercy, which surpasses human understanding.
To return to God, we must first acknowledge Him as the central figure in our lives, recognizing His sovereignty and our dependence on Him. We must renounce all other trusts and idols, placing our faith solely in God and His salvation. This involves a complete surrender of our own righteousness, strength, and understanding, acknowledging that true wisdom and salvation come only from God.
The call to return is not just for the penitent but for the backsliding, those who are still in their sin. God invites us to come as we are, promising to heal our backslidings. This is a call to genuine repentance and faith, a wholehearted acceptance of God as our sole hope and salvation. It is a call to embrace the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, transforming and guiding us.
Key Takeaways:
- God's Unfailing Love: God's love is like that of a forgiving spouse, welcoming back the unfaithful with open arms. No matter how long we have strayed, His invitation to return remains open, offering healing and restoration. [05:20]
- The Necessity of Acknowledgment: Returning to God begins with acknowledging His sovereignty and our dependence on Him. We must remember Him in our thoughts and give Him the reverence He deserves. [08:34]
- Renouncing False Trusts: To truly return to God, we must renounce all other trusts, including our own righteousness, strength, and understanding. Salvation is found only in God and His provision through Christ. [18:25]
- Come as You Are: God's call is to the backsliding, not just the penitent. We are invited to come to Him with all our sins and weaknesses, trusting in His promise to heal and restore us. [15:22]
- Embracing the Trinity: Accepting God as our hope involves embracing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each plays a vital role in our salvation, from the Father's forgiveness to the Son's sacrifice and the Spirit's transformation. [30:24]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Jeremiah 3:22-23
[00:44] - The Consequences of Sin
[01:33] - Godly Sorrow and Salvation
[02:17] - The Invitation to Return
[03:06] - A Story of Forgiveness
[05:20] - God's Unfailing Love
[07:50] - The Call to Return
[08:34] - Remembering God
[11:02] - Turning Back to God
[13:41] - God's Forgiveness
[15:08] - Come as You Are
[17:12] - Renouncing False Trusts
[20:53] - Surrendering to God
[28:12] - Accepting God as Our Hope
[30:24] - Embracing the Trinity
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Jeremiah 3:22-23
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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jeremiah 3:22-23 reveal about God's attitude towards those who have backslidden? How does this reflect His character? [08:19]
2. In the sermon, a story was shared about a woman who forgave her husband after 40 years of neglect. How does this story illustrate God's love and forgiveness? [05:20]
3. According to the sermon, what are the consequences of sin, and how does God offer a solution to these consequences? [00:44]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the first step in returning to God, and why is this step crucial? [08:34]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of God's unfailing love challenge or affirm your understanding of forgiveness, especially in light of the story shared in the sermon? [05:20]
2. The sermon emphasizes the necessity of acknowledging God's sovereignty. What might this look like in practical terms for a believer today? [08:34]
3. The sermon calls for the renunciation of false trusts. What are some modern-day "idols" or false trusts that people might need to renounce to fully return to God? [18:25]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the Trinity in the process of returning to God, and why is embracing the Trinity important for a believer's faith journey? [30:24]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What steps did you take, or could you take, to return to Him, acknowledging His sovereignty in your life? [08:34]
2. Consider the story of the forgiving woman. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive, and how can God's example of forgiveness guide you in this process? [05:20]
3. Identify any false trusts or idols in your life that might be hindering your relationship with God. What practical steps can you take to renounce these and place your trust solely in Him? [18:25]
4. The sermon invites us to come to God as we are, with all our sins and weaknesses. How can you practice this kind of vulnerability in your relationship with God this week? [15:22]
5. Embracing the Trinity is a key takeaway from the sermon. How can you actively engage with each person of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—in your daily spiritual practices? [30:24]
6. Think about a specific area in your life where you need healing or restoration. How can you invite God into that area, trusting in His promise to heal your backslidings? [15:36]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of remembering God in your daily routine, ensuring that He remains the central figure in your life? [08:34]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Love as a Welcoming Embrace
God's love is likened to that of a forgiving spouse, always ready to welcome back the unfaithful with open arms. This love is not conditional on how long or how far one has strayed. It is a constant invitation to return, offering healing and restoration to those who choose to come back. The story of a woman who forgave her neglectful husband after 40 years serves as a powerful illustration of this divine patience and love. Despite our prolonged neglect and rebellion, God is always ready to forgive and restore us, showcasing His boundless grace and mercy, which surpasses human understanding. [05:20]
Jeremiah 31:3 (ESV): "The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel distant from God? How can you take a step towards accepting His welcoming embrace today?
Day 2: Acknowledging God's Sovereignty
Returning to God begins with acknowledging His sovereignty and our dependence on Him. It requires us to remember Him in our thoughts and give Him the reverence He deserves. This acknowledgment is not just a mental exercise but a heartfelt recognition of God's rightful place in our lives. By doing so, we align ourselves with His will and open our hearts to His guidance and wisdom. This step is crucial in our journey back to God, as it sets the foundation for a restored relationship with Him. [08:34]
Isaiah 45:22-23 (ESV): "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you actively acknowledge God's sovereignty in your daily routine today?
Day 3: Renouncing False Trusts
To truly return to God, we must renounce all other trusts, including our own righteousness, strength, and understanding. Salvation is found only in God and His provision through Christ. This involves a complete surrender of our own perceived strengths and a recognition that true wisdom and salvation come only from God. By letting go of our false trusts, we allow God to be the sole source of our hope and security, leading us to a deeper and more authentic relationship with Him. [18:25]
Psalm 146:3-5 (ESV): "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God."
Reflection: What is one false trust you are holding onto, and how can you begin to release it to God today?
Day 4: Coming to God as You Are
God's call is to the backsliding, not just the penitent. We are invited to come to Him with all our sins and weaknesses, trusting in His promise to heal and restore us. This invitation is a call to genuine repentance and faith, a wholehearted acceptance of God as our sole hope and salvation. It is a reminder that we do not need to clean ourselves up before approaching God; rather, we come as we are, allowing His grace to transform us from within. [15:22]
Isaiah 1:18 (ESV): "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."
Reflection: What is one area of brokenness you can bring to God today, trusting in His promise to heal and restore?
Day 5: Embracing the Trinity
Accepting God as our hope involves embracing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each plays a vital role in our salvation, from the Father's forgiveness to the Son's sacrifice and the Spirit's transformation. This holistic embrace of the Trinity allows us to experience the fullness of God's love and power in our lives. By welcoming the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we are transformed and guided in our journey of faith, leading us to a deeper understanding and relationship with God. [30:24]
2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV): "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to work more fully in your life today, guiding and transforming you?
Quotes
"Sin is quite sure to cause sorrow and the longer the sorrow is delayed the heavier it will be when it comes. This ship may be long at sea but it will come home at last with a terrible cargo. There was never a man who broke the law of God who had not in the end to ruin it." [00:36:43]
"When God means to save a man he usually begins by making him sorrow on account of his evil ways. It is the sharp steel needle of the law that goes through the convicted heart and draws the silken thread of comfort and salvation after it." [00:94:51]
"I merely tell you this story in order to say that this woman's forgiveness of her unworthy husband is but a faint picture of the great love of God towards ungodly men. He feeds them and supplies their every need; they are always dependent upon him; they could not live an instant without his permission." [05:11:40]
"Yet even now though they are decrepit and old if they are not only sick but sorry if they are broken down and despairing if they will but come creeping to God's door, he will say come in and welcome. He never yet refused to receive a soul that came to him by Jesus Christ his son." [06:01:62]
"You observe that it is a call to come back to God, and that means first remember him, begin to think of him, let him be a living God to you. Come back to him in your thoughts. The Lord Jehovah is the greatest factor in the universe; he works all things." [08:27:60]
"Come back he says only confess your transgression and come back to me just as you are. Me thinks she must be a wretch indeed if she does not feel that she will lay all the rest of her life out in service and love to such a forgiving husband as she has." [13:19:20]
"Now this is just how the Lord offers to deal with you he says come back I will say nothing about the past I have blotted out as a thick Cloud thy transgressions and there's a cloud thy sins. Return unto me for I have redeemed thee." [13:39:60]
"There is one word in this call from God which proves that you are invited to come back just as you are he says return ye backsliding children. I noticed that he does not say return ye penitent children. He pictures you in your worst colors yet he says return ye backsliding children." [15:09:40]
"First there must be a distinct renunciation of all righteousness of your own. You are a very excellent person in your own estimation you think yourself well up to the mark. What have you ever done that is wrong? Our friend there is no salvation for you on that ground." [18:31:19]
"With that must also go all trust in your own knowledge and abilities and even in your own understanding. Yet this is the Bane and ruin of many men they know so much that like Solomon sluggard they are wiser in their own conceit than seven men who can render a reason." [23:19:79]
"To be saved we must not only cast out deadly doing down down at Jesus feet but we must also lay our boasted reason down down at Jesus feet and ask that he may be made of God unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and Redemption." [25:28:74]
"Finally it is clear from the text that there must also be a hearty true-minded acceptance of God alone as our one hope. Read the passage again behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord Our God truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel." [28:15:90]
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