God's Justice, Patience, and Salvation Through Christ

Devotional

Day 1: God's Definition of Sin

Sin is not determined by human standards but by God's. The northern kingdom of Israel, under King Hoshea, exemplified this by doing what was right in their own eyes, yet it was evil in God's sight. This serves as a reminder that our understanding of right and wrong must align with God's Word, as He is the ultimate authority on morality. The story of Israel's kings highlights the danger of redefining sin according to personal or societal standards, which leads to spiritual decline and separation from God. Recognizing God's definition of sin is crucial for maintaining a relationship with Him and living a life that honors His commandments. [09:01]

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life might you be relying on your own understanding of right and wrong instead of seeking God's perspective through His Word?

Day 2: Resistance to God as the Root of Sin

The primary sin of Israel was not merely their societal evils but their turning away from God. This resistance to God is the root of all sin, as it disrupts the order of loving God first, which should lead to loving others rightly. Without godliness, righteousness cannot be sustained. The northern kingdom's idolatry and rebellion against God's commandments illustrate how resistance to God leads to a breakdown in righteousness and justice within society. Understanding this helps us see the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God as the foundation for all other aspects of life. [14:21]

"But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear." (Zechariah 7:11, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are resisting God's guidance? How can you begin to open your heart to His leading today?

Day 3: God's Accountability for Sin

Every sin is recorded by God, and He will bring all to justice. Despite His patience, there is a day of judgment where all deeds will be revealed. This underscores the importance of living in accordance with God's standards, knowing that His justice is perfect and inevitable. The fall of the northern kingdom serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of God's judgment. Yet, it also highlights His patience and desire for repentance, offering hope for those who turn back to Him. [21:30]

"For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:14, ESV)

Reflection: How does the knowledge of God's perfect justice influence the way you live your daily life? Are there changes you need to make to align more closely with His standards?

Day 4: God's Work Continues Despite Sin

Even in the midst of Israel's rebellion, God continued His work by bringing people from other nations to know Him. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and His ability to use even the failures of His people to accomplish His purposes. The story of the northern kingdom's fall shows that God's plans are never thwarted by human sin, offering hope that He can bring good out of even the most challenging situations. This encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty and remain faithful, knowing that He is always at work. [25:07]

"The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." (Proverbs 16:4, ESV)

Reflection: Can you identify a situation in your life where God has brought good out of a difficult circumstance? How can this encourage you to trust Him more fully in your current challenges?

Day 5: Salvation Through Christ

Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins, fulfilling God's covenant. His sacrifice on the cross is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and His resurrection empowers us to overcome sin's power. By submitting to God, we can experience transformation and live in the hope of eternal life with Him. The story of Israel's kings and their failures points to the need for a Savior, and Jesus' life and work provide the ultimate solution to the problem of sin. Embracing this truth allows us to live in freedom and hope, reflecting the character of Christ in our daily lives. [33:51]

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to experience Christ's transformative power? How can you actively submit this area to Him today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through the Bible, we find ourselves in the period after King Solomon, focusing on the division of the kingdom into Israel in the north and Judah in the south. This era, spanning from 931 to 722 BC, is marked by significant spiritual decline, particularly in the northern kingdom of Israel. After the division, the northern tribes appointed Jeroboam as their king, who led them into idolatry by establishing alternative worship centers with golden calves, directly disobeying God's command to worship in Jerusalem. This act of rebellion set a precedent for the 18 subsequent kings of Israel, none of whom followed God's ways.

The fall of the northern kingdom is attributed to their sin against God, as they turned to other gods and abandoned His commandments. This narrative highlights the critical theme of sin, which is defined by God, not by human standards. Sin, at its root, is resistance to God, and this resistance leads to a breakdown in righteousness and justice within society. Despite the grim history of Israel's kings, God's work continued. Even as the northern kingdom fell, God orchestrated events to bring people from various nations into the land, providing them with the opportunity to know Him through a Jewish priest sent to teach them.

This story serves as a reminder of God's justice and patience. He holds the world accountable for sin, yet He is patient, giving opportunities for repentance. Ultimately, God's covenant remains steadfast, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who came to save us from sin. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is the means by which our sins are forgiven, as He bore the weight of our transgressions. For those feeling trapped by sin, the key to freedom lies in submitting to God, allowing His power to transform our lives. As we look forward to the day when we will be free from sin, we are encouraged to live in hope and purity, reflecting the character of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. God Defines Sin: Sin is not determined by our personal standards but by God's. Hoshia, the last king of Israel, did what was right in his own eyes, yet it was evil in God's sight. This reminds us that our understanding of right and wrong must align with God's Word, as He is the ultimate authority on morality. [09:01]
2. Resistance to God as the Root of Sin: The primary sin of Israel was not their societal evils but their turning away from God. This resistance to God is the root of all sin, as it disrupts the order of loving God first, which should lead to loving others rightly. Without godliness, righteousness cannot be sustained. [14:21]
3. God Holds the World Accountable: Every sin is recorded by God, and He will bring all to justice. Despite His patience, there is a day of judgment where all deeds will be revealed. This underscores the importance of living in accordance with God's standards, knowing that His justice is perfect and inevitable. [21:30]
4. God's Work Continues Despite Sin: Even in the midst of Israel's rebellion, God continued His work by bringing people from other nations to know Him. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and His ability to use even the failures of His people to accomplish His purposes, offering hope that His plans are never thwarted by human sin. [25:07]
5. Salvation Through Christ: Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins, fulfilling God's covenant. His sacrifice on the cross is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and His resurrection empowers us to overcome sin's power. By submitting to God, we can experience transformation and live in the hope of eternal life with Him. [33:51]
** [33:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Timeline of Biblical Events
[01:01] - Division of the Kingdom
[02:21] - Israel and Judah
[03:05] - Jeroboam's Idolatry
[04:45] - The Golden Calves
[05:55] - The Kings of Israel
[07:25] - The Fall of Israel
[08:09] - God Defines Sin
[12:17] - Resistance as the Root of Sin
[19:20] - Accountability for Sin
[25:07] - God's Work Continues
[29:48] - The Samaritans
[32:32] - Salvation Through Christ
[36:21] - Forgiveness and Transformation

Sermon Clips

"Without question ho shia would have seen himself as a good person, like folks today he did what was right in his own eyes, and if you had met him he would have been able to give you a good justification for everything he ever did, but sin and righteousness are not defined by what is right in our eyes." [00:08:41]

"God identifies resistance to himself as the root of all sin. Look at verse 7 and this occurred that is their being removed from the promised land. This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the lord their god and had feared other gods." [00:12:09]

"God holds the world accountable for sin. I want you to look here particularly verses 15 to 17 where god lists specific indictments for which he holds his people in the northern kingdom here in particular accountable. There are 12 specific indictments in verses 15 to 17." [00:19:20]

"Every sin is recorded by god. This is 200 years worth flowing from the time of jeroboam. No act of evil has ever escaped the attention of god not one act of evil done in the entire history of this world is unknown to him. All that we have ever thought or done or said is known in its entirety to god." [00:20:47]

"God's work continues despite sin. Now here's something to take in and to refresh your soul here today if there are times when you become discouraged in your faith because of the sins of leaders today, imagine what it must have been like for these people that is for godly people who were living at some time throughout this 200 year period in the northern kingdom." [00:25:07]

"God brought people in his sovereignty from the north and the south and the east and the west into the land he had promised to bless and sent one of his own priests so that these people could come to know him. Isn't god wonderful, and he does it through the king of the city who doesn't even know or recognize him." [00:28:54]

"God sent his son to save us from sin. It's a dark chapter chapter 17 for very obvious reasons a lot of tragedy here, but there is just a little glimmer of light in verse 35 where we're told this that the lord made a covenant with them. This is of course the covenant that god had made with his people way back in the time of moses." [00:32:41]

"God made a covenant with them and commanded them you shall not fear other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to them. God made a covenant with them. Now clearly god's people were not faithful to the covenant, but here's the good news god always keeps his promise." [00:33:56]

"That is why he sent his son into the world fulfilling the promise that he had made to david there'll be someone an offspring of your line and his kingdom and his throne is going to be established forever and he comes into the world and the angel says to joseph you shall call his name jesus for he will save his people from their sins." [00:34:48]

"God wants you to become his worshiper and when you have the presence of god in your life, then you will be in a position where things can begin to change in regards to some of the chaos that has followed you and maybe around you. Godliness is the foundation of righteousness." [00:31:18]

"Submit yourself to god today and you will begin to move forward. Tell him today that you're done resisting him, give yourself to him, tell him you're done pursuing your own way, and crown him as the lord of your life and then believe with us today that god has sent his son." [00:37:27]

"Jesus died on the cross bearing that sin taking these indictments that endless writing upon himself, but he's not on the cross now he arose from the dead he's the living savior, and because he is triumphant he is able to bring the power of his life into yours." [00:38:07]

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