A Place Forever

Our world desires security.

National security. Economic security. Security in relationship and the list could go on. This is not necessarily a bad thing but if we are not careful we can place our hope for security in something/someone who cannot provide it.

Freedom does not necessarily mean independence.

Though many times we use this word interchangeably we must be careful to know how we and others define independence. Sometimes we can forget that Scripture calls into interdependence with other Christians and complete dependence on Christ.

Entitlement gets in the way of grace.

As we start to look into our text I see a result of entitlement—I cannot be wrong. I deserve something. Because I know “someone” I deserve this or I have what you say I need.

Grace reminds us everything is a gift from God.

We do not deserve anything except death. The Jews forgot this point and if we are not careful so will we. Their pride became their physical and spiritual lineage which led them to believe God was always on their side.

Only Jesus provides true freedom.

Not our traditions or religious participation. Not our family status or the good things we do. Jesu and Jesus alone.

Hearing means obeying. Obeying means living differently.

In verse 31 the word is “hold”. In verse 42 it is “love”. In verse 47 it is “hear”. Yet, all three in this context mean more than just a mental or emotional one time decision.

All Scripture points to Jesus.

No not in a literal sense. Jesus talks about Abraham seeing the “messianic age” and now that it is here the Jews cannot see it. The rabbis talked about how this was true and yet failed to see it when it was in front of them.

Jesus can offer security because He is eternal.

Before the beginning there was God. He created “the beginning” and thus we can place our hope and trust in Him. Verse 58 makes this point abundantly clear and the people around him “got it”. He was claiming to be the eternal God of the OT.