Thesis: To teach the hearers the importance of the heart’s condition, and the role it plays in one’s eternal destiny (Pro 4:23).
Pro 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
Text: Jeremiah 17:1-10
Introduction,
In this section of Scripture, God, through the prophet Jeremiah describes the deplorable condition of Judah, they have become so corrupt, it was as if their sins were engraved on their very hearts.
Their condition had corrupted so long, that their children knew nothing but the evils of idolatry.
Therefore God would give them up, they had drove Him to an irrevocable anger.
For they not only partook of the man made religions of idolatry, but they also looked to neighboring pagan nations in times of need, instead of the one true God, thus they would be likened to a plant wilted in the desert.
But those that put their full trust in the Almighty, they would be as a deeply rooted tree, planted near the waters, and when the hard weather comes, they will endure on account of those living waters.
Man’s heart is led quickly away by the things of the world, its condition may be hidden from men.
But the Mind Searcher, the Heart Searcher knows all, and rewards all, based upon their active faith, in view of His word.
What about today? Does this not parallel in many ways what is seen in the world around us today?
With this in mind we will look closer into this text and specifically at . . .
1) The engraved heart (Jer 17:1-6)
2) The implanted heart (Jer 17:7-8)
3) The tested heart (Jer 17:9-10)
I. THE ENGRAVED HEART (Jer 17:1-6)
A. (v 1)
Jer 17:1 "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of their altars,
Here the LORD, through the prophet Jeremiah lays out the sin of Judah, IDOLATRY! And it was so deeply ingrained in them that it was as if it were engraved with a diamond stylus upon the tablets of their very hearts, and upon the horns of their pagan altars.
1. People may say today, “We don’t commit idolatry, what does this have to do with us?”
a. Oh how wrong they are, that type of statement just shows one’s lack of spiritual discernment and a true knowledge concerning the things of God, and the lackadaisical approach of many to the study of the bible, which clearly declares that covetousness (which abounds) is idolatry (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5).
Eph 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Col 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
b. The basic definition of covetousness is “the greedy desire to have more,”
c. The question may be asked, “more what?” The answer is “anything” that is not from above, that is not of a godly spiritual nature, such as money, prestige, possessions, luxuries, comforts, and so on.
d. We need to remember (Ja 1:17) . . .
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
e. And (Col 3:1-2) . . .
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
f. And (Mt 6:33) . . .
Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
g. Thus a dissatisfaction with one’s situation in life is basically a calling of reproach upon the Most High, Who is over all (Eph 4:6), consider this (Ps 23:1) . . .
Psa 23:1 the LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
h. Instead of “wanting,” the child of God is to be “thanking” (Eph 5:20; 1 Thess 5:18).
Eph 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
i. This was one of the main problems in the wilderness wanderings, and it is a big problem today.
j. God fed them miraculously with manna from heaven, it basically rained food, they merely had to pick it up, but before long they looked at it with disdain, they said (Num 11:4-6) . . .
Num 11:4 . . ."Oh that we had meat to eat!
Num 11:5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.
Num 11:6 But now our strength (soul) is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."
k. What was God’s answer? It is found in (Num 11:18-20),
Num 11:18 . . . 'Consecrate (Sanctify) yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt." Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.
Num 11:19 You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,
Num 11:20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we come out of Egypt?"'"
l. Does He sound pleased? We should keep in mind that “manna” was a type, a shadow of Christ, the bread of life (John 6:35), Whom they also rejected, What does this have to do with us? (turn to Ps 78:18-32; 1 Cor 10:6, 11)
Psa 78:18 They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved (food according to their lusts).
Psa 78:19 They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
Psa 78:20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?"
Psa 78:21 Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel,
Psa 78:22 because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.
Psa 78:23 Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven,
Psa 78:24 and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven.
Psa 78:25 Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance.
Psa 78:26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind;
Psa 78:27 he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas;
Psa 78:28 he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings.
Psa 78:29 And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved (lusted after).
Psa 78:30 But before they had satisfied their craving (lusts), while the food was still in their mouths,
Psa 78:31 the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel.
Psa 78:32 In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (These things were evil in that they were things which they coveted; they desired better food than the mere bread from heaven, which is a type of Christ)
1Co 10:11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition (warning), upon whom the ends of the ages are come. (We need to be satisfied with Christ and His gospel, not attempting to change it to our own destruction, this is God’s Way, Truth, the only path to eternal life, let us continue to walk that narrow, that difficult way which is pleasing to the Most High)
m. The inspired apostle Paul teaches us, what our attitude it to be concerning our situation with “things” (Phili 4:11; 1 Tim 6:8; Heb 13:5).
Phi 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.
1Ti 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
B. (v 2-3a)
Jer 17:2 while their children remember their altars and their Asherim (wooden images; NKJV; groves; KJV), beside every green tree and on the high hills,
Jer 17:3a on the mountains in the open country.
The children don’t remember the things concerning the true worship of God, singing songs of praise to Him, partaking of the Lords Supper, giving as God has prospered us, praying, preaching righteousness, but rather they remember the things connected with idolatry, the altars and the images, the fornications that took place under the trees and upon the hills for the price of a raisin cake, these children were not raised godly, but with the corrupt mindset of their idolatrous parents, so where will they end up?
1. What about today, what do our sons and daughters remember from their childhood, pure and simple NT worship, or the pomp and ceremony of some concoction of men,
a. Voices in unison lifted up to Jehovah, or a rock band jamming “in the name of the Lord.”
b. Do they remember looking forward to seeing other Christian children on the Lord’s Day, or do they remember the pregame show, the pizza, and the beer.
2. Now concerning the fornications associated with idolatry, this was one of the main drawing points, it provoked the inordinate desires (lusts) that could never be filled, it brought about a situation in Israel as described in Jer 5:7-9, (look there).
Jer 5:7 "How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores.
Jer 5:8 They were well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor's wife.
Jer 5:9 Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?
a. What are our children being exposed to today? Television, radio, and the internet alike promote broken families, selfishness, immodesty, nudity, sexual relationships between the unmarried, sodomy, lesbianism, transgenderism, profanity; the schools are giving young children contraceptive devices, they are counseling them on how to commit safe sexual sins, counseling them on how to get an abortion behind their parents’ back, the list goes on and on, do you think God is pleased?
3. What about the idolatry of offering children into the red hot arms of god Molech? The children were baked alive, they would wail as their innocent bodies were literally fried, they would beat drums in order that the screams wouldn’t be heard, this is a terrible situation surely we wouldn’t partake of such an abomination today! RIGHT?? WRONG!!!
a. Not only do we do this, we do even worse, innocent babies are being murdered daily in the wombs of their own mothers in this country because of the god of selfishness; it is better that this mother be able to go on with “her” life, to seek out “her” career, “AT THE COST OF A CHILD MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD!!!” Do you think these infants are screaming as they are killed? Do you think God is pleased as millions upon millions are offered up to this god yearly?
b. Want a more specific number on these idolatrous offerings unto the god of selfishness in the good ole US of A (since 1975 it has been over 1,000,000 each year, that’s over 40 years of averaging about 1 ½ million every year since, that comes to over 4000 infants killed each day). [Note 43% of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 27% as Catholic]
c. Well I here people say, “oh the war in mid-east, it is a terrible situation, young men are dying over there, we shouldn’t be over there.” And it is true that good honorable men have lost their lives in that pretensed battle against terrorism, how many? In the first 2 ½ years of the Iraqi conflict 2,000 good men died in that battle for evil, but in that same 2 ½ years this country has sanctioned the killing of 4 million babies, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!!!!!
d. Well maybe you didn’t partake in abortion, you’re off the hook right? Maybe so, and maybe not! (2 John 11 states),
2Jn 1:11 for whoever greets him (biddeth him God speed) takes part in his wicked works.
e. Who did you vote for this last election? For someone that sanctions baby killing, have you ever voted for a baby killer that was put into office? If you have, you are as guilty as nurse who assists the physician that has the audacity to kill infants in order that he can have a mansion and a yacht! Who then sells baby body parts for even more money, of which of some even end up in our food chain! And in our medicines! That right baby parts are used in the production of food additives, vaccines, beauty products, and God knows what else.
f. You may say, “well this politician is going to put in place programs that will help the poor, and the aged, in order that they can live longer, healthier lives.” AT THE COST OF INNOCENT LIVES?????!!!!!!!!
g. What is the matter!!! Weren’t you satisfied with the manna God already has provided for you?!!! Can you not see how the evil god of covetousness is working overtime in this country? Do you not see why God considers this idolatry?
C. (v 3b-4)
Jer 17:3b Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your high places for sin throughout all your territory (borders).
Jer 17:4 You shall loosen your hand (discontinue) from your heritage that I gave to you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever."
Because of these atrocities, and by God’s own people, He would give them up, His patience is gone, the Babylonian war machine is going to take them away, and it wont be a pretty sight, remember (Gal 6:7).
Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
1. Do you think that we can escape the angry fire of the Lord that is kindled against all unrighteousness, this country says it follows God, it’s under God, but it’s only with their lips, their hearts are very, very far from Him.
a. Let us not follow the multitude to do evil, nor speak in a cause that wrests justice (Ex 23:2), but rather let us follow and speak about the of the righteousness of God, the gospel of Christ, in hope that some in this evil world will hear, believe, change and obey, and come out of mystery Babylon (USA), for God is going to judge her, and burn her, and forever destroy her.
D. (v 5-6)
Jer 17:5 Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.
Jer 17:6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
Judah first attempted to get help from Assyria, that didn’t work out, they turned on them, and so they went to Egypt for help.
1. These are the children of “Israel,” “Isra-el’ means “prince that belongs to God,” they should have been on their knees to the Most High, begging for deliverance, but instead they trusted in flesh, in men for strength, not God, Who is Spirit, because their hearts had departed from Him.
2. Where do we stand today, trusting in God, through the mediation of His only Begotten Son, or in the arm of flesh?
a. Do we spend every moment and dollar we have to spare in trying to preserve our physical lives, which are not our own?
b. Are we redeemed, purchased, or not? (1 Cor 6:20; Tit 2:14)
1Co 6:20 for you were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.
Tit 2:14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.
c. Christ came to take away the fear of death (Heb 2:15), didn’t He do a good enough job?
d. (Heb 9:27)
Heb 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this comes judgment;
e. This is one appointment that no one will escape, therefore seek God first and His kingdom, and the things that we NEEEED!!! will be given unto us (Mt 6:33).
3. What about this nation, on much of our currency it states “In God we trust” if that’s true how come our defense (attack) budget is in the trillions, while benevolence (feeding and clothing the poor) is a mere fraction of that, surely that is not living by faith!
a. Don’t worry, before long that slogan will be gone, because of the efforts of certain godless individuals, they are working on it right now, and our slogans will then, line up with our works.
b. The begging question is “what is engraved on our hearts? This (hold up the bible; Heb 8:10; 10:16),
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
c. Or this (holding up a dollar bill)? Our choice determines our god!
II. THE IMPLANTED HEART (Jer 17:7-8)
A. (v 7-8)
Jer 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.
Jer 17:8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream (river), and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Here was God’s will for the nation of Israel, that they would trust in God, that they would learn to grow spiritually from the hardships He allowed, and when the going got really tough, they would be approved in God’s sight, whether physically alive or not.
1. These verses are very similar to that which is seen in Ps 1 (turn to Ps 1:1-3)
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
Psa 1:2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psa 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
a. It is the will of God also for every Christian that they trust completely in Him, this can only take place when we receive the bible as it truly is, the living and active word of God (Heb 4:12), not of men (look at 1Thess 2:13).
1Th 2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
b. Which when received in our hearts as the truth will be demonstrated outwardly by a changed lifestyle, a change of practice, knowing the will of God, and “doing it,” from the heart (Ja 1:21-22).
Jam 1:21 Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jam 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
c. Then, will the words of our Lord be fulfilled (Mt 7:24-25).
Mat 7:24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Mat 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
d. There will be hardships in this life, even more so for the faithful (2 Tim 3:12),
2Ti 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
e. But God uses these as tools to hone our souls, to humble us, in order that we can better serve “Him,” to learn to count on “Him,” to commit ourselves to “Him” and prepare us for the heavenly places, wherein “there” will be our rest (Heb 4:9-12) . . .
Heb 4:9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
Heb 4:10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
f. Let us therefore give diligence to trust (have faith) in the Lord, faith comes from God’s word (Rom 10:17), it is a work of God within us (Jn 6:29) which comes about by reading, by believing, by studying, by applying, thus “implanting” that living and active word deep into our “hearts,” unto the life eternal, for the Lord has said (John 6:63) . . .
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.
III. THE TESTED HEART (Jer 17:9-10)
A. (v 9)
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick (exceedingly corrupt); who can understand it?
This verse is teaching that a person unregenerated by the Holy Spirit is unlikely to follow one and only true God, but rather they turn to the god of this world, Satan (2 Cor 4:4), they want to be like everyone else, the “majority”, but the problem is that the “majority” follows the way that leads to spiritual destruction (Mt 7:13-14) . . .
Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Mat 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard (difficult) that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
1. But some say that mankind was born this way, yet I disagree, even in this context, the children are the Lords, but they learned and remembered only the evils of idolatry, therefore God would bring judgment upon His people, that was the line they crossed (perverting the children) that provoked Him to irrevocable anger, consider this verse (turn to Eph 2:3) . . .
Eph 2:3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, . . .
a. The word “nature” here is “phusis,” it doesn’t refer to the way one was born, but rather it is defined as “by long practice or custom,” as seen in 1 Cor 11:14, (turn there) . . .
1Co 11:14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
b. Does “nature” (“phusis”) here refer to the way one is born, is a man born with long hair? Or is it the way one has become over time? Thayer defines it as thus . . .
“a mode of feeling and acting which by LONG HABIT has become nature,”
c. It would be more correct to say “2nd nature,” in other words, “something learned,” that basically “becomes automatic” like riding a bike, driving a car, etc. and can there be any doubt?
d. Look around you, what we are exposed to in the media, what we are exposed to in the educational systems, what we are exposed to in public in general?
e. What we are exposed to in most families; the actions, the speech, the dress, the lifestyles, our children learn sin, and “want” to be likened unto their families, likened unto their peers, the “popular” crowd, do our families act and speak like Jesus? Do our peers act and speak like Jesus? Of course not, why? Because they have been molded by the god of this world (Satan; 2 Cor 4:4) through the things of this world, to love the things of this world instead of the things above, THAT is what our children learn by long practice or custom, and THAT is their desires, these are inordinate desires, lusts, and are opposed to God’s commands (1 Jn 2:15-17) . . .
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory (pride) of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.
2. In Mark 10:13-15 our Lord states that children inherit the kingdom of God, and we are to be likened to them, in other words we are to receive the kingdom, the church, the body of Christ, as little children, with a trusting, open mind (the biblical heart).
a. Believing in God and His promises, of the life after physical death as described in the bible, of the resurrection as described in the bible, and the hope of heaven as described in the bible, not as described by the Sadducees, not as described by Calvinism, not as described by the atheists of our day, but as described by the living word of the living God, which is plain, clear, and understandable, Paul wrote in (Eph 3:4) . . .
Eph 3:4 . . . when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;
b. Sure, there are a few things that are a little more difficult to understand (2 Pet 3:16), but it does not concern basic things such as salvation, living the Christian life, the work, worship, and organization of the church, these things are plainly laid out, you can read them, believe them, obey them, and go to heaven, and fit right in, it’s as simple as that.
c. What our verse (Jer 17:9) “is” saying, is that the wretched condition of the world round about them, has filled their hearts (and their children’s; v 2), thus they became and are currently exceedingly corrupt (Isa 53:6a) . . .
Isa 53:6a All we like sheep have GONE astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;
d. Who would ever have foreseen that this would have taken place among the very children of God, back in those days; and among many of those that call Christ their Savior in these latter days? Who? Jehovah that’s Who! Before Whom all things are as if they are naked and clearly laid open (Heb 4:13).
e. Under the Law of Moses He prophesied that it would take place (Deut 28:47-49).
Deu 28:47 Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things,
Deu 28:48 therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.
Deu 28:49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand,
f. This is what we are looking at in our text, they did this, now they are about to go into Babylonian captivity.
g. And under the Law of Christ prophesies were also given concerning the falling away (1 Tim 4:1-3; 2 Tim 3:1-7; 4:3-4; 2 Thess 2:10-12; 2 Pet 2:1-3).
1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit says expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
1Ti 4:2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.
2Ti 3:1 But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,
2Ti 3:4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts (sodomy, greed, pride, selfishness);
2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
2Th 2:10 . . . because they refused to love the truth (about true holiness) and so be saved.
2Th 2:11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false (redefining sin to coincide with an ever changing perverted, godless society),
2Th 2:12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2Pe 2:1 . . . as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many will follow their sensuality (which defiles a person; Mk 7:20-23), and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
2Pe 2:3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
h. Many of these false doctrines are becoming approved in Catholicism and Protestantism alike today, just as it was written . . .
i. Men attempting to change that which God already bound and loosed in heaven.
j. The denial of the purpose and importance of water immersion, the role of women within the church, the denial of the bible teaching concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage, the offering up of worship unto God according to one’s own will and not the word of God, the changing of the simple organization and work of the church, the acceptation of marital relations without marriage (cohabitation), same gender marriage, sodomy, lesbianism, transsexuality as alternate lifestyles, the murdering of babies in their mothers wombs because of the god of selfishness, the list goes on and on and gets worse and worse, these things have come to pass, it is all around us today.
k. Only Jehovah is capable of true predictive prophecy, and He says as much (Isa 46:9-10).
Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;
Isa 46:10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;
B. (v 10)
Jer 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart and test (try) the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds (doings)."
This verse teaches 2 basic truths . . .
1. The omniscience (all-knowingness) of God.
a. This is a fact that is taught throughout the Scriptures (Pro 15:3; 17:3 Heb 4:13; 1 John 2:25; Rev 2:23).
b. So why would anyone even attempt to do something contrary to the will of God, as if it will escape His eyes, yet all those that become accountable, have (Rom 3:23; 6:23a) . . .
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Rom 6:23a For the wages of sin is death (spiritual and physical)
2. With that in mind we will look at the second basic truth taught here, every person will be judged according to what they “did,” their “deeds”, remember what the inspired Psalmist wrote (Ps 143:2b).
Psa 143:2b For in Your sight, no man living is righteous.
a. That doesn’t leave us in too good of a position seeing that every accountable person will be judged according to his works (Rom 2:6; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:12).
b. Fret not! As Ps 136 states 26 times in a row (and I don’t believe that is even close to being enough) “His lovingkindness endures forever.”
c. Turn to (John 3:16-17) . . .
Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in(to; LITV) him should not perish but have eternal life.
Joh 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
d. When we believe in the Lord Jesus and enter into the process of salvation, we cross over from spiritual death to life, and are delivered from condemnation (Jn 5:24), we become the righteousness of God in Jesus (2 Cor 5:21), this is a work of God (Jn 6:29) within us, that nullifies all our other evil works and imputes unto us Jesus’ sinlessness, the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21), and gets our names written in the Lambs book of life, as it is written “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved,” (Acts 16:31).
e. So at that point in this ongoing process we are “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15), but how do we know it? By what we do, our practice (1 Jn 3:18-20) . . .
1Jn 3:18 Little children, let us not love (only) in word or talk but (also) in deed and in truth.
1Jn 3:19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
1Jn 3:20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
f. Our hearts are to be transformed by that perfect Law (Ja 1:25), made for an imperfect mankind, the love of God is poured into our hearts (Rom 5:5) through the Holy Spirit which we receive at belief in the gospel (Eph 1:13; Gal 3:2),
g. Do we share (Heb 13:16) prompted by the Spirit, living by faith? Or do we not? Are we trusting in the flesh, in material things, instead of God? God is greater than our heart, He knows the truth concerning such matters (1 John 3:21) . . .
1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence (boldness) before God;
h. Thus if we can read His word, and know we are in compliance with it, we have the proof of our salvation, and we can have boldness on That Day, we can know we have eternal life.
i. John writes in this very epistle in (1 John 5:13) . . .
1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you, that you may know that you have eternal life . . .
j. This is the result of “the tried (tested) heart,” tried and transformed through the soul saving message of the gospel, by believing it and obeying it from the heart, reading it assures us and gives us boldness concerning the Judgment, we can know what to expect (Rev 20:15).
Conclusion,
In this lesson we looked at . . .
1) “The engraved heart” (Jer 17:1-6), the biblical heart, the mind, the inner man, the spirit, has been created in a manner that what ever is put in it, that will it be, it was created by God, for God (Col 1:16), to accomplish His will, His way, which is “as it is written.”
2) Then we looked at “the implanted heart” (Jer 17:7-8), this heart has God’s word deeply rooted therein, it responds to sin, and righteousness according to God’s will, this will not happen miraculously, we need to believe, study and obey (1 Pet 2:1-2).
1Pe 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of every kind of evil and deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander.
1Pe 2:2 Like newborn babies, thirst for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in your salvation.
3) Lastly we looked at “the tested (tried) the heart” (Jer 17:9-10) God is the heart, the mind Searcher, He Who created the heart, knows it, as He knows His own Self, He will judge every man according to his doings; man’s ways are seen in Pro 14:12 . . .
Pro 14:12 There is a way which seems right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
4) But our all powerful, all present and all knowing God set up a plan, before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4), that would cut deep into the hardest of hearts and change them, in order that they too, may have the hope of eternal life, which they tossed away, for the cause of sin.
5) He sent His Son, born of a woman (only, not a man; she was a virgin Mt 1:23); born under the Law (Jesus lived and died under the Law of Moses).
6) But that Law officially ended at the cross of our Savior (Eph 2:15; Col 2:14), and it is that act of God, the giving His only begotten Son that pierces deep into the hardest of hearts (Rom 5:8; 1 John 4:19).
Rom 5:8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1Jo 4:19 We love, because he first loved us.
7) Some anger and strike out, some can put it aside and live their lives in this world without hope and without God, but some are drawn by the pull of that greatest of love, the Lord Himself stated (John 12:32) . . .
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.
8) And these will “do” the Father’s will, because of His Spirit within them (Rom 8:12-14).
9) And that will is that all men be saved (1 Tim 2:4), How? “as it is written” by believing in the gospel of Christ and becoming obedient from the heart to that “form” (tupos) “pattern” of teaching that was delivered from heaven (Rom 6:17).
10) What is that form, that pattern? It is that which is revealed in the New Covenant, the NT
11) Its laid out time and time again as a pattern in the book of Acts, there are 9 examples in order that one would have no doubts . . .
One is to . . .
Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17) this how the Father plants the word, the seed of the kingdom (Lk 8:11), within the good ground, that good, honest and open heart.
One is to . . .
Believe that Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, and that we have a living hope of following Him (1 Cor 15:1-4; 23; 1 Pet 1:3-4), belief (faith) is the crossover point (Jn 5:24) wherein one enters into the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:46; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15)
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
And one is not to stop there, but rather continue in the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:46; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15) . . .
One is to . . .
Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5), Repentance is a change of mind that results in a changed life, a life
that is likened unto Christ’s, Whom we follow (Jn 14:6; 1 Cor 11:1)
One is to . . .
Confess Jesus as the Christ to others (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9), if you are ashamed of Christ and His words, He will be ashamed of you on That Day (Luke 9:26), this is how God propagates His kingdom (Mt 28:19-20).
One is to . . .
Be baptized (immersed) into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) where His precious blood was shed (John 19:34) unto (for) the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), it is the point where one is to be dead to the practice of sin and alive unto God (Rom 6:1-11).
And finally one is to . . . Live a holy life (1 Pet 1:15), and “knowing” what being “holy” is, “separated” “set-apart” “from” the ways of the world and “to” the Way of God (2 Cor 6:14-7:1), being renewed day by day, walking not as the world walks, but as God directs, in every aspect of one’s life.
Putting off that old man, and putting on the new, being constantly in a state of spiritual growth,
Engraving, implanting God’s word and will deeper and deeper into our hearts with each passing day