Join Jeff Archie as he navigates through the scriptures, highlighting the importance of faith, repentance, and redemption. We are reminded of the certainty of reaping what we sow, and the immutable nature of God’s laws. With illustrative examples from both Old and New Testaments, this episode invites listeners to reflect on their own spiritual journey and the importance of living a life aligned with God’s will.
00:00:00 Introduction and Reflection on Numbers 32
Friends, have you ever said or heard the following statement, what goes around comes around? Well, you know, Moses termed it differently centuries ago with a simple warning, be sure your sin will find you out. So let’s think on this today. We’re right here from International Gospel Hour. Please stay with us.
SPEAKER 01 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today. Here’s Jeff.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, greetings, everyone. Great having you with us. And I always appreciate to take a moment to thank you for tuning in to our broadcast. And I’d like to ask, if it’s convenient… give us a call at our toll-free number, 855-444-6988, or send us a message through info at internationalgospelhour.com, or maybe at our website. I’d love to hear where you’re listening our broadcast from. Sometimes folks will let us know they hear us on a radio or a podcast or some tool, but love to know where you’re located or the station of which you’re listening. We are under the oversight of the West Fayetteville, Tennessee Church of Christ, located in Fayetteville, Tennessee, and we’re located about 20 miles north of Huntsville, Alabama. Our address is P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee. Our website, as I mentioned just moments ago, internationalgospelhour.com. And you can also reach us at our toll-free number, 855-444-6988. Thank you again for being with us. And we appreciate our J-Web, too. And you’ll hear from Jay again throughout our broadcast. Our lesson text today is Numbers 32, 16 through 23. When the children of Israel came near to Moses and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones, but we ourselves will be armed, ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place, and our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has received his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on the eastern side of Jordan. Then Moses said to them, If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before the Lord for the war, and all of your armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven out his enemies from before him… and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you may return and be blameless before the Lord and before Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. Well, friends, if the children of Israel failed to carry through what they were commanded to do, the end result, be sure your sin will find you out. You know, friends, is that not true today? Now, it may be expressed in other phrases such as, what goes around comes around, or, watch out, it’ll come back to bite you. In the New Testament, as we’ll see also in a moment, what about Galatians 6-7? Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. Friend, this is a worthy study today, and we’re going to consider this subject and know this from the outset. Our sin will find us out. Allow me to pause for a few words from our J-Web, and then let’s discuss today, Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out.
SPEAKER 01 :
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SPEAKER 02 :
Friends, let’s think about those in the Bible whose sin found them out. What about Adam and Eve in Genesis 3? Did they not partake of the forbidden fruit and God cast them out of the Garden of Eden? Later in Genesis 4, when Cain killed Abel, indeed he was found out. What about those in Noah’s time in Genesis 6? The population of the earth, less eight people, sin found them out and kept them out of the ark. What about Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6 when he touched the ark of the covenant when commanded not to and he lost his life? What about Peter in Matthew 26 who told the Lord he would not deny him, but he did? And Judas in Matthew 27 who betrayed the Lord and his guilt was so great he hanged himself. What about Saul in Acts 7 through 9 who met his match when the Lord appeared to him on that road to Damascus? Well, friends, why would God approach sin differently today? I mean, we just see a sample of just a few whose sin found them out. You know, in Malachi 3 and verse 6, we are reminded, For I am the Lord, I change not, and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13 and verse 8. Friends, God will not ignore sin. God will not allow us to have a bypass into heaven if we have lived a life of sin. And it is so true that we need to be sure that our sin will find us out. Let’s go back to Galatians 6. I mentioned Galatians 6 and verse 7 moments ago. But let’s look at Galatians 6 verses 7 through 10 that says, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Now, friends, there are two simple truths that come forth from this text. We will reap what we sow. We know that. And, friends, the second is that when we are not doing well or sowing well, we will fail. We must understand that if we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption. If we sow the Spirit, we will reap everlasting life. Our sin will find us out. When we define sin or allow the Bible to define it, in 1 John 3 and verse 4 we are reminded that sin is transgression of the law, to go beyond what God has commanded. In 1 John 5 verse 17, all unrighteousness is sin. What about when James tells us in James 4 and verse 17, rather, that if we know to do good and we will fail to do it, or knows to do good and does it not? Well, friends, when you think about this, it really brings the matters home, does it not? And what we know in doing good is necessary to please God, and we can see the clear-cut definition of sin, that we are to do what God commands us to do. Friend, when we take a look in the Bible and we see from John 3 and verse 16 and Hebrews 11 and verse 6, the importance of faith and how faith comes from the Word of God, Romans 10 and verse 17, I understand that I need to believe in God. But may I ask you a question? Does the Bible ever tell us that belief in God is enough? You know, a lot of people believe there is God, but they fail to live for Him. Why, in James 2 and verse 19, the devils believe, yet they tremble. And we know we’re not going to be saved with a bunch of hell-bound deacons. I’m sorry, demons. Excuse me. Sorry about that, folks. I’m human. And also, what about when we think about faith and those in John 12, 42 and 43 who believed on him but failed to confess him? So folks, I understand the teaching of faith is important. And Jesus’ teaching of repentance allows us to change our lives. Luke 13, 3 and 5. He said it would be preached among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. When we see that in Luke 24, 44 through 47. And indeed it was preached on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, verse 38. And friends, we can confess our faith in Christ. As Romans 10, 9 and 10 commands. And we can be baptized into Christ for our sins to be remitted, Acts 2 and verse 37. And yes, friends, to have our sins washed away, Acts 22, 16. And based upon our faith in Christ to be saved, Mark 16 and verse 16. Friends, we need to think about these matters and to know the seriousness that our sin will find us out. I’m going to pause here as our J-Web has a great online video study just for you. He has details of how you can receive the link for that study. This is a little lengthy, but bear with J and he’ll help you out. Here is our J-Web with our study, Does It Matter?
SPEAKER 01 :
Does It Matter? is a free online video study. The most important question in all the world is, where will you go when you die? God has provided from the Bible all that one must know. Any questions about salvation, sin, and the church? They will be addressed from God’s Word. May we send you the link and give it a try? Just call toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, email, and just say, Does It Matter? Again, call toll-free at 855-444-6988, and please leave your name, email, and just say, Does it matter? You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, email, and type Does it matter in the message blank. We will send the link right out to you.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, friends, indeed, the statement is as true then as it is now. Be sure your sins will find you out. We hope this study today has been of help to you, and we hope that you can let us know how we can help you. Again, the Does It Matter study is a free online video study. We will send that link to you, and then you can watch the video at your leisure along with your study as you would like. And again, our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. And we’ll be glad to help you in your study of God’s Word. We also have available studies by mail. And if you would prefer that, give us a call, leave us your name and address, and just say Home Study, and we can mail you the study by mail as well. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. We’ll continue this study again at another time. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 01 :
Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory. God be with you till we meet again.
