Jeremiah 14:10 English Standard Version (ESV) Thus says the Lord concerning this people: “They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.”

While we are seeking agreement about this issue of lost salvation let us break down verse 10 into two separate events. First is the act and second is the consequence. Let us begin with the act.

They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; can be felt by all of us at one time or another. Wandering from the Word of God can be seen as sin. Let us concede that issue so we can all agree.

1 John 1:8 English Standard Version (ESV) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

We must address a more important issue than sin. Is the Spirit of Truth in us? We have all sinned and we will continue to have sin. If that were the only issue we would all be lost forever. The issue of the abiding presence of Truth is the dividing line between action and consequences.

One sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us is restricted movement. We are given a new heart upon new birth, a heart to love the Lord and the desire to be close to the One we love. Now it becomes a matter of love. We do not wander from those we love. But is sin straying from Christ? Is this the wandering of Jeremiah 14:10?

John 15:7-9 English Standard Version

⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

Abiding in His love means that wherever we go, He goes with us. We cannot wander away from His abiding presence. We take Him with us when we sin.

Jeremiah 14:8-10 English Standard Version

⁸ O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night? ⁹ Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us.” ¹⁰ Thus says the Lord concerning this people: “They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.”

When we ended yesterday there was a question about our feelings about our own righteousness. There are a few ways to address this issue and this is one that is important to get right. There is some confusion within different administration of churches that hold to a belief that we can lose our salvation.

Rather than to be dismissive and just announce “you are wrong” to the other viewpoint to which I do not hold, let us seek understanding within the scriptures used against our firm belief.

Here in Jeremiah are words that clearly indicates that the Lord does not accept those who wander away from the Lord. It is undeniable that His Word is true, but our understanding of the meaning is in question if it convinces some for loss of salvation and some do not.

Let us agree on the one point which is within the core of misunderstanding which is true. The Lord lives among us. The problem is not with the Lord‘s faithfulness but rather in the understanding by those who have read these scriptures without allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal truth in them.

What is the truth that can be gleaned out of this confusion that might allow all of us to understand the scriptures with agreement? Perhaps it is in line 10, “they have loved to wander”.