Jeremiah 8:4-17 “Why No Repentance”

“Why No Repentance” Oct 16

If a baby learning to walk falls down, the baby is encouraged to get up and try again. If someone falls, he gets up and goes on often with greater determination. The Lord, through Jeremiah, asks Israel, “will you fall and not get up?” ().

I. Why Perpetual Blacksliding? –

A. They cling to deceit

1. Truth has perished –

2. People manipulate others with flattery –

B. No one repents –

1. No one examines himself but justifies themselves

2. Like a warhorse rushes into battle so they go headlong into sin not caring about the consequences –

3. Knowing the righteous judgment of God, they practice sin knowing they deserve eternal judgment –

4. There is an eternal judgment to come – ;

5. Those outside of Christ will have to pay all that is due to an eternal God –

II. False Hope –

A. Boast in Christian heritage –

1. Yet question the relevance of God’s law today

2. By asserting that some of God’s commands were based on culture not God’s character –

3. Motivation is covetousness –

B. Peace, peace when there is no peace –

1. Instead of cleansing one’s conscience to be accepted by God through Christ’s atonement – ;

2. Today the objective of faith in Christ is self-acceptance, self-esteem, loving oneself not God’s acceptance through Christ’s righteousness

III. Temporal Judgment –

A. Economic problems –

1. God curses our blessings –

2. Many come to the U.S. for prosperity not because they are committed to the values that made America a place of freedom of conscience

3. Peace treaties bring no peace –

B. God sends snakes –

1. Yet He also sends a cure –

2. Christ cures spiritual snake bites –

Hope for our future as a nation is in repentance toward God and faith in

Jesus Christ!!

The Bible records many of His servants who wept. Job wept; David wept; Jesus wept (); Jeremiah wept (). What happens when a believer weeps with others? They gather around with Kleenex and murmur verses of encouragement. God works all things for good (). Things will be all right. But what if things are not all right?

I. A Sovereign of Sorrows –

A. Where is the Lord in trouble? –

1. The Lord Himself creates calamity –

2. Is there no balm among God’s people? –

B. Trouble helps us to examine ourselves

1. And hope in God –

2. The Holy Spirit is poured out in trouble –

3. As we grieve, groan, and weep, the Holy Spirit prays –

The first step toward hope is to recognize how desperate our situation is!! Our nation is in a death spiral.

II. Trouble Affects Believers and Non-believers –

A. Weeping can turn to anger –

1. People are dying because of sin. Satan only comes to kill and destroy – ; John 8:442. Anger desires to separate ourselves from those opposed to God –

3. Focus on the Lord, not those around you –

B. We live in the midst of liars and evil doers –

1. Why?

2. So that we might suffer with them

3. Jesus was the man of sorrows –

4. He wept at Lazarus’ tomb –

5. We are called to suffer even at the hands of evil doers and liars –

It is ugly to shout Bible verses and speak gospel hope if we withhold ourselves from suffering with those crushed by sin –

III. Refined Through Suffering –

A. We are tested in the furnace of affliction –

1. The Lord is testing the genuineness of our faith –

2. It is through tribulation, we enter the Kingdom –

3. We will suffer persecution – ;

B. Christ has overcome the world –

1. He is with us in the fire –

2. He goes with us! Do not fear –

Until we learn to lament and weep, we have very little to say to the world around us. May we witness with compassion and tears the living Word of the gospel!

8.22 There is a balm in Gilead to save the sin-dead soul