Sermon for July 28, 2019
Evil Does as Evil Is
“Worthless and Without Grace” (Jeremiah 13:20-27)
Auxiliary Text: Matthew 7:13-23
Call to Worship: Psalm 1
Question: How does God deal with evil?
Answer: God is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. Such patience is intended to lead us to repentance. However, when we choose to trust falsehood and forget Him, He withholds such blessing. No goodness comes from an evil heart—it is worthless and destroyed without grace.
Word of the day is NARROW
- Jeremiah 13
- 1-11: God Foreshadows: Loincloth hidden at Euphrates—God’s destruction of His people
- 12-14 God Foretells: Parable of wine bottles: God foretells their drunkenness in misery
- 15-21 God Forewarns: He forewarns to prevent future judgments
- 22-27 God Forestalls: Their abominations are the cause of His judgments; prohibiting His blessings
- Matthew 7:13-23
- 13-14 Jesus Foreshadows:
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
- 15-16 Jesus Forewarns:
Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
- 17-20 Jesus Foretells:
So, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
- 20-23 Jesus Forestalls:
And then I will declare to them I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.
Conclusion:
The three most terrifying words in all of Scripture are “Depart from Me,” and yet that is the prospect of evildoers. Those who do evil are not narrow-minded for the sake of God’s glory but are broad-minded for the sake of selfish satisfaction.
JESUS:
THE NARROW GATE