Delve deep into the profound teachings of Jeremiah, a pivotal prophet who warned Judah of its imminent destruction due to idolatry. Through vivid narratives, Jeff Archie reveals how the ancient warnings apply to today’s challenges. By examining the essence of baptism and the contact with Christ’s cleansing blood, listeners gain insight into God’s unyielding plan for salvation. This episode offers a dual study intertwined with themes of obedience and spiritual redemption, guiding you on the path toward divine truth.
Oh, to embrace the promises of Christ and the assurance He grants. Friends, we have a special two-for-one study today, just ahead on the International Gospel Hour, back in a moment.
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ.
SPEAKER 01 :
Here’s Jeff. Well, thank you to our J-Web always. We appreciate Jay’s kind words, and he’ll be sharing with you some free publications and free study material in just a little bit. And we bid a greetings and hello to all of you that tune in to our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. We are honored you’ve chosen to listen and to study with us today. Romans 15 and verse 4 says, For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we, through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. With that said, let’s consider the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet of Judah, was called by God to speak to the southern kingdom regarding their backsliding wicked ways. His was God’s last effort to save the nation from Babylonian captivity. Judah had become guilty of the same sins of idolatry that her wicked sister Israel had adopted. However, for the most part, Jeremiah’s mournful plea fell on deaf ears, and Judah was ultimately taken captive by Babylon as punishment for her evil ways. Chapter 2 of Jeremiah provides a scathing indictment against God’s people for their exchanging of God for idols. Through Jeremiah, God said, My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Jeremiah 2.11 He stated, For my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2.13 Theirs was a state that could not be changed, and a condition that could not be remedied by any other means than complete subjection and obedience to God. It was to this end that the Lord revealed, For though you wash thee with niter, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. Jeremiah 2 verse 22 So obviously, friends, their remedies were not God’s remedies. And you know the same is true today. Much soap, if you will, will not cleanse man of sin. However, many continue to attempt to wash away sin with much soap. Sin is washed away in the blood of Christ, Revelation 1.5. However, the saving blood is contacted initially through only one means, and that means his baptisms. Baptism washes away sins, Acts 22, 16, since it puts one in contact with the blood, the cleansing agent which was shed in Christ’s death, Romans 6 and verse 3, as well as John 19, verse 34. The blood can never be contacted merely through faith or by any other means than that prescribed by God. To attempt to contact it otherwise is to use much soap. Baptism is the means God has chosen for man to contact the blood of Christ. Paul spoke of it as the operation of God in Colossians 2.12. And the power is not in the water, friends, but the obedient act itself, 1 Peter 3.21. One must obey it in order to have remission of sins, Acts 2.38. Sadly, most in the religious world accept much soap or the ideas of man as a replacement for God’s plan. No sinner’s prayer or generic just ask Jesus into your heart or accept Jesus as your personal Savior will suffice to wash away sins. Only God’s plan can do that. And only strict obedience to His plan will bring it about. Don’t try to wash away your sins with man’s soap. Be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Wonderful thoughts in this, our first part of our two-for-one study. Let’s move from these thoughts concerning obedience. And let’s think about our study by mail, God and man, how to be saved from sin. This is a perfect tie-in of what we’ve just studied. We’d love to send you that free material for your further study. And here is our J-Web with the details.
SPEAKER 02 :
An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and man in the message box. Another Bible study that is free from IGH. And our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
And friends, if you would like the God and Man study, I’d like to ask you to hold that thought for just a little bit. We have a free publication we’re going to offer later, and we can send you both at one time. So hold that thought. We’ll come back to it in a bit. And now, part two of our two-for-one study. Quickly on the heels of his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 and verse 7, Jesus began to put his words into action. He was not one who would simply teach and not do. He would practice what he preached. Things began to occur quickly following this discourse, and an interesting statement is made in Matthew 8 that would reflect upon that which was to come. It is a seemingly insignificant statement, but when brought to the surface says a great deal about what he was all about. Following his discussions with the scribe and another unnamed individual regarding their wishes to follow him, from Matthew 8, 18-22, it is stated that Jesus entered into a ship with his disciples in tow, Matthew 8, verse 23. Soon a great storm arose, a storm of such magnitude that it caused even those experienced fishermen to fear for their lives. They cried, Lord, save us, we perish, Matthew 8, 25. And the text then states, And he said unto them, Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8, 26. Now notice, friends, he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Now the basic sentence is, he arose and there was a great calm. What a tremendous statement foreshadowing that which the Lord would accomplish further down the line in his earthly ministry. He would arise and calm the storms of doubt. He would speak to His followers about their doubts in the near future. Matthew 14, verse 30. Matthew 21, verse 21, and Mark 11, 23. He would arise and calm the storms of fear. He would soon address their being fearful as well. Matthew 8, 26. Mark 4, 40, and parallel here, Hebrews 2, 15. When he arose, there would be no reason for fear in the life of any of his followers. In fact, such fear would be fatal to their spiritual lives. Revelation 21.8 He would arise and calm the storm of death. In light of the resurrection, Paul would ask rhetorically, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15.55 John presents a coming place in which there shall be no more death. Revelation 21.4 To his words the Lord put his stamp of approval. Write, for these words are true and faithful. Revelation 21, 5. It was he, after all, who came that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death. Hebrews 2, 14. Indeed, he arose and there was a great calm. Again, we think of his resurrection from Matthew 28, verse 6. Mark 16, 16 and Luke 24, 6. Friends, do you know this peace of God which passes all understanding? Philippians 4, 7. He came so that you could. Again, friends, we want to send you the God and man how to be saved from sin Bible study. Indeed, allow Jesus who has arisen to bring forth a great calm. And don’t allow much soap from others to deceive you. Now, I mentioned moments ago about the God and man material. I want to defer back to our J-Web, who has our free publication offer today. And it is Reason and Revelation. And what we’ll do, we can send both God and man and Reason and Revelation to you at the same time. Here is our J-Web with the details.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our free publication today is Reason and Revelation, a monthly journal courtesy of our friends at apologeticspress.org. Get your free copy today by calling toll-free at 855-444-6988. Leave your name and address and just say, Reason. That is it. You can also send your request through our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the Contact tab and leave us your name and address and put Reason in the message box. We will send you a copy. Again, we have a limited supply, so get yours now.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now, again, friends, if you would just want to make just one call or reach out to us, you can say God and man and reason. You can say both, and we’ll send them to you both at one time. So just trying to make that a little simpler, a little easier. We are always appreciative to send out our material. It’s always, friends, it’s free. You’ll never hear us ask for your money here from the International Gospel Hour. I am indebted to my brother and friend, Eddie Gilpin, for our thoughts today. Two wonderful articles titled, Though Thou Take Thee Much Soap and Then He Arose and There Was a Great Calm. And I appreciate both of those articles and am honored to share those on our broadcast today. And you know, since we were talking about articles, again, our free publication, Reason and Revelation, is available to you today. as well as the Bible study, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. We’re honored to study with you here on this broadcast each and every opportunity, and we’re honored that you’ve joined us today, and please reach out for the study material. Thank you, friends, for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening today. To God be the glory. And we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com And join us next time.
