GOD’S REFORMATION BRINGS GOOD NEWS (Outline)
November 1, 2009 --
REFORMATION / END TIME 1 --
Jeremiah 31:31-34
INTRO: Reformation contains the word reform. Reform means change. People are not always happy with change. People like the daily of a normal life. The world continues to turn from God. Mankind turns to himself for answers. God’s good news brings the change to hearts, souls, and lives that everyone truly, desperately needs. During the time of Jeremiah Israel needed change. Following the Dark Ages the church needed change. God raised up Martin Luther. Today modern churches need to change. Many modern “evangelical” churches need to refocus on God’s good news, the gospel. Thankfully God does not change in his faithfulness. "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself" (2 TIMOTHY 2:11-13).
GOD’S REFORMATION BRINGS GOOD NEWS.
I. Man breaks God’s covenant. II. God make his new covenant.
I. MAN BREAKS GOD’S COVENANT
A. God’s chosen people were facing the very lowest point in their history and even very existence.
1. The northern kingdom Israel was already gone. Only the small tribe of Judah still existed.
2. Judah would soon end politically. Judah had also spiritually given up on the Lord
B. Jeremiah is God’s faithful prophet. Verse 31. The time of God’s change was fast approaching.
1. Judah would end politically, physically, and spiritually. Jeremiah mentions Israel.
2. Israel was no more. The Lord through Jeremiah speaks of Israel as New Testament believers.
C. Verse 32a. Man had broken the covenant of the Lord time and time and time again.
1. Covenant means promise or agreement. The Lord had made many promises. Man broke them.
a. Adam and Eve sinned. b. Israel worshiped the golden calf. c. Israel grumbled against God.
2. Verse 32b. The Lord loved his people like a husband. They wanted to be like unbelievers.
D. It is quite easy to look at the sins of others. The Bible contains the many shortcomings of various sinners. The world has not gotten any better after all these years. We are no better than the worst of sinners. Our Lord God Almighty considers sin as sin. God does not consider one sin greater or less than another sin. Year after year mankind breaks the gracious covenant / promises of the Lord God Almighty. "The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant" (ISA. 24:5). God’s everlasting covenant is not to leave nor forsake his creation.
E. Since creation there have been countless generations of wickedness, rebellion, and sin. The world races toward judgment day with ever increasing sinfulness. We live in this world filled with sin. We spend more time in the sinful world than in the house of God. We may even spend more time in worldly living than Scriptural study. Because of this our hearts become calloused to that which is evil. The Lord states there are things done in darkness that should not even be mentioned. There is nothing sacred anymore. Television and the internet bring everything evil right into our very homes. At times we may even turn a blind eye or deaf ear to the world’s wickedness. "Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them" (ROMANS 1:32). There is an unstated approval of things once shocking.
F. Even worse than worldly wickedness is the danger from some leaders in the church itself. Look around and you will see mega-churches dotted throughout our nation. The media likes these big places of the gathering of people. Look closely. Listen closely. Something is missing. Most have removed the cross from their preaching and teaching. The cross is removed because it points our forgiveness. What is wrong with forgiveness? Forgiveness implies something is wrong that needs forgiveness. Today’s society does not want to hear about sin. The cross disappears. God’s gospel is removed for the convenience of not causing controversy. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them" (MATTHEW 7:15,16a).
GOD’S REFORMATION BRINGS GOOD NEWS. Man’s heart needs changing. The bad news of mankind sinning and breaking God’s promises needs to be changed by God’s reformation of Good News.
II. GOD MAKES HIS NEW COVENANT
A. God’s new covenant would be a great, future event, verse 31. Israel would be Christians in the future.
B. Verse 33a. The Lord declares his new covenant. The law of God would be in their minds and hearts.
1. Jeremiah reminds believers that God is their God and they are his people, verse 33b.
2. Verse 34a. No longer would God’s people need priests or prophets to serve as go betweens.
a. Moses spoke to God for God’s people. b. God’s people spoke to Moses to speak to God.
3. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit would dwell in God’s people – “least to the greatest”.
C. Verse 34b. God forgives. God forgets. The Lord no longer remembers sin. This is forgiveness.
1. “Wickedness” here refers to everything wrong that is twisted, bent, and distorted.
2. Sins are wiped out. Sins are cast into the depths of the sea. Man sins. God forgives.
D. God’s makes his covenant new. We already have seen that God’s covenant consists of many promises that he has made to God’s people. A mystery is that God’s chosen people decided to harden their hearts. Each one decided to “follow the stubbornness of his evil heart” (*First Lesson). Israel disappeared. Judah disappeared. They were God’s chosen. In Israel today no one knows which tribe they belong to. Has Israel disappeared? "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus" (EPHESIANS 3:6). As believers today we are God’s chosen. We are Israel. God makes his new covenant.
E. God’s new covenant is not necessarily that new. God’s promise has been the same since Adam and Eve first sinned. When Adam and Eve first sinned the Lord God Almighty promised a Savior. Generations passed. Man broke God’s covenant again and again. God’s promises never fail. The Savior, Christ the Lord, was born. Jesus lived, died and rose again. This is the good news that changes our hearts, souls, and lives forever. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life"(JOHN 5:24).
F. Mankind breaks God’s promises over and over. It would be wrong to think there is only one old covenant and only one new covenant. God’s promise to us today is that he provides for us eternal life. Do we deserve eternity? Can we buy eternity? Of course not! Rather we are saved by grace alone, by faith alone, and by Scripture alone. Heaven is God’s gift to every believer by the sacrifice of His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (HEBREWS 9:22). We sin each day and break God’s covenant. God makes his promise new to us each day. Each day our Father forgives our sins.
CONC.: GOD’S REFORMATION BRINGS GOOD NEWS. Everyone needs to hear this good news of Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the whole world. Yes, God’s law will point out wickedness, sin, and rebellion. Yes, God’s gospel (good news) will reveal the Savior who pays the price of disobedience with his perfect life of perfect obedience. This is the truth of the gospel that we always want to cherish. "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’" (JOHN 8:31,32). GOD’S REFORMATION BRINGS GOOD NEWS. God’s gospel changes our hearts and our souls and our lives forever. We sin daily and much. God forgives daily and much. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
REFORMATION rdgs:
*JEREMIAH 18:1-11;
REVELATION 14:6,7;
MARK 13:5-11; (
PSALM 46)
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