Returning to God: Hope and Redemption in Christ

 

Summary

In the second chapter of the book of Jeremiah, we find a prophet raised by God to address the children of Israel during a time of great turmoil and decline. The Israelites were facing a powerful enemy, and their society was in disarray, with moral, religious, and governmental decay. God sent Jeremiah not just to denounce them but to offer a message of hope and salvation, urging them to turn back to God. The root of their troubles was their turning away from God, a truth they were unwilling to acknowledge. Despite their rebellion, God, in His infinite compassion, pleaded with them to return to Him.

This message is not just historical; it is relevant to our current world, which is also in turmoil. The same issues that plagued Israel—moral decay, societal confusion, and a turning away from God—are evident today. The Bible teaches that humanity's troubles stem from a fundamental fall from grace, a departure from the original state of communion with God. This fall has left humanity enslaved to sin, robbed of righteousness, and in a state of disgrace.

The world often believes in the theory of evolution, suggesting that humanity is on an upward trajectory. However, the Bible presents a different view: humanity has fallen from a state of grace and is in need of redemption. This fall has left us enslaved to sin, unable to exercise true free will, and robbed of our original righteousness and communion with God. The solution is not found in human effort or societal change but in returning to God through Jesus Christ, who offers forgiveness and a new nature.

God's love is demonstrated in the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, to take on the punishment for our sins. Through Christ, we can be reconciled to God, receive a new nature, and be restored to our intended state as children of God. This transformation is available to all who repent and believe in Christ, offering a new mind, heart, and will, and the promise of eternal life with God.

Key Takeaways:

- The root of Israel's troubles, and indeed humanity's, is a turning away from God. This rebellion leads to moral and societal decay, but God's message through Jeremiah is one of hope and redemption if we return to Him. [03:01]

- Humanity's current state is not one of evolution but of a fall from grace. We were created in the image of God, meant for communion with Him, but sin has enslaved us and robbed us of our original righteousness. [18:04]

- The world often believes in progress through human effort, but the Bible teaches that true restoration comes from acknowledging our fallen state and turning back to God. Our troubles are not due to a lack of progress but a departure from God. [22:19]

- True freedom and restoration come through Jesus Christ, who took on our sins and offers us a new nature. This transformation is available to all who repent and believe, offering a new mind, heart, and will. [49:30]

- God's love and grace are available to all, offering forgiveness and a new start. By acknowledging our sin and turning to Christ, we can be restored to our intended state as children of God, free from the bondage of sin. [52:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:08] - Introduction to Jeremiah's Message
- [02:26] - God's Plea for Israel's Return
- [04:31] - Relevance to Our Current World
- [06:33] - The Consequences of Turning Away
- [08:24] - The Story of Humanity's Fall
- [10:59] - Man's Original State
- [13:37] - Misunderstanding Human Condition
- [15:01] - Evolution vs. Biblical View
- [18:04] - Humanity's Fall from Grace
- [22:19] - The False Supposition of Progress
- [23:48] - Man's Current State as a Slave
- [30:49] - The Enslavement of Humanity
- [39:10] - The Humiliation of Man
- [49:30] - Redemption Through Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Jeremiah 2:14-17
2. Romans 6:17-18
3. John 3:16

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the primary reason for the troubles faced by the Israelites according to Jeremiah's message? ([03:01])

2. How does the sermon describe the current state of humanity in relation to its original state as created by God? ([18:04])

3. What does the sermon suggest is the common misunderstanding about human progress and evolution? ([22:19])

4. How does the sermon describe the transformation available through Jesus Christ? ([49:30])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Israelites' turning away from God is similar to the current state of the world? ([06:21])

2. How does the sermon contrast the biblical view of humanity's fall with the theory of evolution? What implications does this have for understanding human nature? ([18:04])

3. What does the sermon imply about the role of human effort versus divine intervention in achieving true restoration? ([22:19])

4. How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus Christ's sacrifice in the context of humanity's need for redemption? ([49:30])

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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? ([03:01])

2. The sermon suggests that humanity is in a state of fall rather than progress. How does this perspective influence your view of personal growth and societal change? ([18:04])

3. Consider the ways in which you might be relying on human effort to solve problems in your life. How can you shift your focus to seeking God's guidance and intervention? ([22:19])

4. The sermon emphasizes the transformation available through Jesus Christ. What specific areas of your life do you feel need transformation, and how can you invite Christ into those areas? ([49:30])

5. How can you demonstrate God's love and grace in your daily interactions, knowing that you have been offered forgiveness and a new start through Christ? ([52:57])

6. Identify a specific sin or habit that you feel enslaved to. What practical steps can you take to seek freedom through Christ's power? ([31:36])

7. Reflect on the concept of being restored to your intended state as a child of God. What changes in mindset or behavior do you need to make to live in this truth? ([53:17])

Devotional

Day 1: Turning Back to God for Restoration
The Israelites faced turmoil due to their rebellion against God, leading to moral and societal decay. Despite their unwillingness to acknowledge their departure from God, He sent Jeremiah with a message of hope and redemption, urging them to return to Him. This message is relevant today as we face similar issues of moral decay and societal confusion. The root of these troubles is a turning away from God, and the solution lies in returning to Him. God's infinite compassion offers hope and salvation to those who choose to turn back to Him. [03:01]

Jeremiah 3:12-13 (ESV): "Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, 'Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you have turned away from God? What steps can you take today to begin returning to Him?


Day 2: Humanity's Fall from Grace
The Bible presents a view of humanity's current state as a fall from grace, contrary to the belief in evolution and progress. Created in the image of God, humanity was meant for communion with Him, but sin has enslaved us and robbed us of our original righteousness. This fall has left us in a state of disgrace, unable to exercise true free will. The solution is not found in human effort or societal change but in acknowledging our fallen state and turning back to God. [18:04]

Romans 5:12 (ESV): "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned."

Reflection: How does recognizing humanity's fall from grace change your perspective on personal and societal issues? What steps can you take to align your life with this understanding?


Day 3: The Illusion of Human Progress
The world often believes in progress through human effort, but the Bible teaches that true restoration comes from acknowledging our fallen state and turning back to God. Our troubles are not due to a lack of progress but a departure from God. The false supposition of progress can lead us away from the true source of restoration, which is found in God alone. By recognizing this, we can begin to seek true freedom and restoration through Jesus Christ. [22:19]

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (ESV): "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun."

Reflection: In what ways have you relied on human progress for solutions to life's challenges? How can you shift your focus to seek restoration through God instead?


Day 4: Redemption Through Christ
True freedom and restoration come through Jesus Christ, who took on our sins and offers us a new nature. This transformation is available to all who repent and believe, offering a new mind, heart, and will. Through Christ, we can be reconciled to God and restored to our intended state as children of God. This redemption is not based on our efforts but on the grace and love of God, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son. [49:30]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: What areas of your life need transformation through Christ? How can you actively seek this transformation today?


Day 5: Embracing God's Love and Grace
God's love and grace are available to all, offering forgiveness and a new start. By acknowledging our sin and turning to Christ, we can be restored to our intended state as children of God, free from the bondage of sin. This transformation is a gift from God, available to all who choose to repent and believe in Christ. Embracing this love and grace allows us to live in the freedom and righteousness that God intended for us. [52:57]

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV): "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

Reflection: How can you embrace God's love and grace more fully in your daily life? What changes can you make to live in the freedom and righteousness that God offers?

Quotes


Here they are in utter weakness and confusion and they're threatened by a mighty powerful enemy from CA who is waiting to attack them and to destroy their cities and to carry them away into captivity now that was the condition of the Jews the children of Israel at this particular point when God raised up this Prophet. [00:01:43]

The object in sending Jeremiah was one of Grace the intention was I say to spare them to save them from what was coming to meet them now then that is the general message and the prophet puts it rarely in one great phrase which is this that all their troubles are due to the fact that they've turned their backs upon God. [00:02:43]

God in his great kindness and infinite compassion and condescension not only sends this message he pleads with them you remember we were looking at that a few Sunday nights back he says wherefor I will yet plead with you he like a barister handling a case deploying arguments giving reasons God does that and here we see the love and the compassion and the kindness of God. [00:03:30]

The world has never been more troubled than it is at this present moment do you feel happy about the situation can you feel happy happy it's impossible I'm not only thinking of the wars we've had and the threat of further Wars and calamities I'm thinking of the whole state of society the problems the minor problems when you consider these terrible problems of the end of the world. [00:05:18]

Man is not now what he once was this is the first and the fundamental proposition of the Bible that there has been a calamitous change in the condition of man man is not now what he once was listen is Israel a servant is he a homeborn slave now what's he mean well what he means is this here is the prophet looking at the children of Israel. [00:11:06]

The Bible says is this that the story of mankind is not one of evolution it is one of fall now it's one or the other and the Bible is perfectly clear and explicit the Bible in the case of the children of Israel says this that's what Jeremiah was saying to these people he says you know you were not made like this this wasn't the story at the beginning. [00:18:06]

Man was created uniquely in the image of God man is a special distinct a separate creation man is not not evolve from the animals God said let us make man in our own image and in the image and likeness of God made he him how did he make him he made him perfect he made him upright he endowed him with his own righteousness and original righteousness. [00:19:19]

The world is as it is tonight because for the last 100 years mankind has been treating itself on the false supposition all our multiplied activities have been on the basis of the fact that man is rising and developing but where have we arrived where have we landed what of the success of our treatment isn't it about time that we stopped for a moment and began to think. [00:22:40]

Man is a slave in his mind he's a slave everywhere and unfortunately he's not only a slave in that respect he's a slave to these terrible unseen spiritual forces that manipulate the mind and the Outlook of men but oh it isn't it doesn't stop at that does it man is a slave of lusts passions desires of the flesh desires of the Mind an absolute slave to these things. [00:28:39]

Man is disgraced and humble I needn't keep you with this don't we see the disc race at the present time look at men with all his learning and all his knowledge look at him drunk look at a man of ability a man of integrity in his profession in his business in his calling drunk It's a disgrace it's a humiliation that a man endowed with such faculties and propensities should be talking like a fool. [00:39:48]

God sent his only son into this world to take our guilt upon him that's why he died on calvary's Cross his body was broken his blood was shed why because he was receiving the punishment of my sins and thus God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them but he not only forgives me because Christ has died for me he gives me a new nature. [00:49:23]

You can be delivered you can be restored you can become a son again a child of God no longer a slave but a child and what you've lost will be restored in him the tribes of Adam boast more blessings than their father lost and you'll be able to look forward to the future without fear and without Terror knowing that if you're killed Suddenly by a bomb it just means going to be with Christ Which is far better. [00:53:08]

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Transcript
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