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Understanding and Knowing God - Part 4
A Glorious Life - A Glorious Future
by Alex M. Lindsay
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Reference: Jeremiah 9:23-24

If we dwell only on Jeremiah 9:23, we might misconstrue that God doesn't want us to have any glorious experiences in this life. This would make humility and self-denial an empty vacuum. But God did not make us in His image to be degraded and aimless people. Sin marred the original condition of man. He was made to know God in an innocent state of love and trust. We were put here to oversee and manage the other things that God created. Sin did not just displease God; sin destroyed our innocence - the unspotted simplicity that we were first given. "For as in Adam all dieā€¦" (I Corinthians 15:22). We all universally lost our purity and simplicity when Adam sinned. He did not just commit a sin. He put all his family in the condition of being sinners - as soon as we were conceived, we were sinners. Therefore, we sin. Committing sin does not make us a sinner. Being a sinner makes us sin.

When Christ died for us, He did more than pay for the sins we have committed and will commit (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; I John 2:12). He also paid the price to deliver us from what we are - fallen sinners. That's why any discussion of our salvation must include the new birth - the changing of our heart and soul (II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-6,10; I Peter 1:22-23). "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (I Corinthians 15:22). This last statement does not teach that all humans universally will be born again. Only those in Christ, by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) will experience the new birth. By nature, we are all in Adam and are therefore sinners who naturally sin and fall short of God's glory (Romans 5:12,15; 3:20-24). Justification changes the problem of what we've done. The new birth changes the problem of who we are. See both aspects of salvation in Colossians 2:13-14.

So, our first consideration of Jeremiah 9:24 is that the Christian life is to be filled with glory. We are not to wallow in the shame of our past. We have something very good happening within us. We need to focus on our glorious God and the glory that God has given us and will be giving us.

See Romans 5:1-2; 8:18; I Corinthians 2:7; II Corinthians 3:18; 4:6,15-18; 12:7-10; Galatians 6:14; Ephesians 1:12, 15-18; 3:14-19; Philippians 1:11; Colossians 1:25-28; 3:4; II Thessalonians 1:3-4; 2:13-14; II Timothy 2:10; I Peter 1:7-8; 4:12-14; 5:10-11.

Next, in Jeremiah 9:24, we will be considering the things that God delights in and how we should join Him in celebrating and glorying in these great things:

  • Lovingkindness

  • Judgement / Justice

  • Righteousness.

Originally delivered October 4, 2020
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