Jeremiah 14:8-10 English Standard Version

⁸ O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night? ⁹ Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us.” ¹⁰ Thus says the Lord concerning this people: “They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.”

When we ended yesterday there was a question about our feelings about our own righteousness. There are a few ways to address this issue and this is one that is important to get right. There is some confusion within different administration of churches that hold to a belief that we can lose our salvation.

Rather than to be dismissive and just announce “you are wrong” to the other viewpoint to which I do not hold, let us seek understanding within the scriptures used against our firm belief.

Here in Jeremiah are words that clearly indicates that the Lord does not accept those who wander away from the Lord. It is undeniable that His Word is true, but our understanding of the meaning is in question if it convinces some for loss of salvation and some do not.

Let us agree on the one point which is within the core of misunderstanding which is true. The Lord lives among us. The problem is not with the Lord‘s faithfulness but rather in the understanding by those who have read these scriptures without allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal truth in them.

What is the truth that can be gleaned out of this confusion that might allow all of us to understand the scriptures with agreement? Perhaps it is in line 10, “they have loved to wander”.

Exodus 9:19-21 English Standard Version

¹⁹ Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.”’” ²⁰ Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, ²¹ but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.

Here is an example of a warning sent out to all the people in Egypt. Those who feared the word of the Lord were saved from ruination, loss of livelihood. That is not the same thing as salvation.

When the Lord sends out a warning, it is to demonstrate His power and evidence of His authority. Heeding a warning in this case is a matter of self-interest and is not a matter of faith.

Living by the Word of the Lord is not a matter of heeding warnings to keep ourselves safe or prevent loss. We must look to all those who came out of Egypt with Moses to understand the differences between safety and salvation.

Hebrews 4:2 English Standard Version (ESV) For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.^[a]

Footnote ^[a] Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers

There is no benefit of observance without faith. Living by the Word of the Lord is a matter of living by faith.

Romans 1:17 English Standard Version (ESV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Is it possible that some just do not accept they are righteous?