The Gospel

Bill IBC Hamilton • August 13, 2025

Understanding God

The Gospel

A few years ago during the Children’s message, I used a seat belt to describe being safe and secure. The Gospel gives us those assurances plus salvation. All mankind is given the choice of life or death. Even though Deuteronomy was written by Moses more than 3300 years ago it still speaks to us today. When it comes to understanding God here are 3 things to consider as we study Deuteronomy 30:11-20:

1. There’s a Choice

^11 “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ¹²It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹³Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹⁴No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. ¹⁵See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. ¹⁶For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

2. There are Consequences

¹⁷But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

3. There is a Commitment

¹⁹This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

The Choice is Yours. Choose life in Christ. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you really know me, you will know^] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” - John 14:6-7

It’s time to let God fasten your seatbelt.

Amen?

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