A Journey of Starting Over

Sunday Sermon 14/01/18
by Rev. Renny Khoo

Topic: A Journey of Starting Over

Text: Jeremiah 31:3

Jubilee Concept

The Jubilee Year is the 50th year at the end of 7 cycles of sabbatical years (7x7). According to Lev.25:8-13 slaves and prisoners will be freed, debts forgiven and land that had been sold will be returned. It is a year of release and a reset button to start over because God is a redemptive God.

1) Redemption of God

Redemption means to buy back with a price. To release someone from bondage a ransom has to be paid. Salvation is not free. To free us from the deadly consequences of our sins God bought us back at a tremendous price and the price tag is the blood and death of his son Jesus Christ.

2) Regimental Journey Vs Redemptive Journey

Discipleship is not a regimental Journey but a redemptive Journey.
While the regimental journey focusses on Performance, Work, What we must do and the demands of the law; Redemptive Journey on the other hand focusses on Pilgrimage of following Jesus, walking with Jesus, What Christ had accomplished and Abounding grace the unmerited favour of God.

3) Redemption Rooted in Love

Rom. 8:35-39 reassures us that Christ's love for us is eternal. Though we may face hardships, persecution, illness, imprisonment even death we are more than conquerors in him who love us and nothing can separate us from his love.
It is often said that God's love is unconditional but it is also conditional because besides being a loving God he is also a holy God and he demands holiness.
The good news is his standard of holiness which we can never achieve is fulfilled in Christ Jesus on our behalf. Though conditionally unconditional, his love is illogical because no one in his right frame of mind will go to this extent of giving love.

Starting Over is Coming Home

God is inviting us to come home and start over again. No matter whatsoever we have done or become he wants us to start afresh with him in a new relationship because his steadfast love never ceases and his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning and great is his faithfulness Lam. 3:22-23. You may press your reset button now.

Questions

1) Share your 'starting over' experiences. What made you decide to start over?

2) Read Rom. 8:31-39 aloud. Identify and share truth statements from this passage.

3) Describe your present relationship with God. Would you say that it is a loving relationship? How so? or How not so? Pray for one another.