3:16: The Return

 

Series Summary

In this series, called 3:16, we will be exploring several significant passages in the Bible that are located at the 3:16 chapter and verse marker in their respective books. These passages cover a wide range of variety, from a variety of authors, covering a variety of topics, through a variety of time periods of Israel’s and the church’s history. The only common denominator in this series is where each of those passages is located in the Bible, at a 3:16 mile marker. You likely already know that all Scripture is inspired by God. That fact is stated in 2 Timothy 3:16, which is one of the 3:16’s we’ll look at in this series. But while all Scripture is inspired, the chapter and verse designators are not. Those came later – the Old Testament around the 13th century, and the New Testament a little later. They were added to help make it easier to find a particular passage, especially when someone was trying to manipulate a bulky, awkward scroll instead of a book. But, even though the verse numbers aren’t inspired, it’s curious that so many weighty passages are found at the 3:16 mile marker. Maybe God knew that we needed some things to be easy to remember. In this series, we will be looking at several different passages that are found at 3:16, in different books of the Bible. In some cases, we may only look at the verse, or maybe two or three. For others, we may need a good portion of the chapter in order to understand it completely. But all of them are found at the 3:16 point. Among the 3:16's we'll examine are John, Genesis,  Proverbs, Colossians, Daniel, Ephesians, 1 Peter, 2 Timothy, and more. It'll be unique. It’ll be enlightening. And we hope you’ll join us as we examine the 3:16’s of the Bible!

Sermon Summary

The book of Jeremiah is filled with gloomy prophecies about the future of Israel. It seems to be full of despair and gloom. But it's also filled with snapshots of the heart of God, as he loves his children, the nation so Israel in that context, and you and me in today's. Jeremiah 3 is one of those snapshots. God is tired of their idolatry and unfaithfulness, and has sent Jeremiah to warn them of exile. But he still reminds the nation of Israel that if they would only return –  repent – he offers restoration and mercy. What Jeremiah predicts is what we can experience too. Because of the cross, we have the opportunity to return and receive God's mercy and forgiveness. The cross took the bad news of our sin and replaced it with the Good News of salvation.