In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mike is joined by seminary evangelist intern Aaron and special guest Dr. Ken Cherney Jr. of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary to explore the book of Jeremiah, its historical context, and the powerful gospel promises found within its pages.
As Latter-day Saints study Jeremiah and Lamentations in their Come, Follow Me curriculum, Christians have an opportunity to explore these books alongside their LDS friends and family members. But how should we understand Jeremiah’s message of judgment, suffering, and repentance? And where do we find the comfort of Jesus Christ in a book filled with so much hardship?
Dr. Cherney helps unpack the historical setting of Jeremiah’s ministry, the prophet’s personal struggles, and the incredible promises of forgiveness found in God’s new covenant.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Why understanding the historical context of Jeremiah is essential for interpreting his message correctly.
- How Jeremiah’s ministry differed from those of Isaiah and Ezekiel.
- Why God’s judgment against Judah was such a central part of Jeremiah’s preaching.
- What Jeremiah’s personal struggles teach us about serving God when we don’t see the results we hope for.
- Why Christians can bring their grief, frustration, and difficult questions directly to God.
- How Jeremiah’s laments reveal the emotional struggles of a faithful believer.
- Why witnessing success cannot be measured simply by visible results.
- Where we find Jesus Christ in Jeremiah’s prophecies about the righteous Branch.
- Why Jeremiah 30–33 is often called the Book of Comfort.
- What makes God’s promise of a new covenant in Jeremiah 31 so remarkable.
- How the new covenant differs from the covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai.
- Why God’s promise to forgive sins and remember them no more is central to the biblical gospel.
One of the most striking aspects of Jeremiah is how personally we come to know the prophet. Jeremiah experienced rejection, suffering, loneliness, and frustration as he faithfully proclaimed God’s Word to people who refused to listen.
Yet his struggles remind us of an important truth: God never promised that faithfully sharing his Word would always produce visible results.
This is especially comforting for Christians witnessing to Latter-day Saints. We may spend years sharing Scripture, asking questions, and pointing our loved ones to Jesus without seeing the changes we hope for. But the effectiveness of God’s Word does not depend on our ability to measure its results.
And even in the midst of Jeremiah’s difficult message of judgment, God gives an extraordinary promise.
In Jeremiah 31:31–34, God announces that he will establish a new covenant with his people. Unlike the covenant Israel had broken, this new covenant rests on God’s own saving action. He promises to place his teaching within his people, restore their relationship with him, and forgive their wickedness.
God declares that he will forgive their sins and remember them no more.
This promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
When Christians talk about covenants with their LDS friends, Jeremiah 31 provides a wonderful opportunity to explore what God promises to do for sinners. Our relationship with God is not secured by our ability to fulfill religious obligations or maintain our worthiness. It is secured by Jesus, whose perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection have accomplished our salvation.
The new covenant gives us something we could never achieve through our own obedience: complete forgiveness and lasting peace with God.
As you study Jeremiah, remember that the same God who heard the prophet’s cries also hears yours. He knows your struggles, understands your weaknesses, and invites you to bring your burdens before him.
And above all, he points you to Jesus, the Savior through whom your sins are forgiven and forgotten.
Our confidence is not in what we accomplish for God, but in what God has accomplished for us through Christ.
Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL
Links & Resources
- Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform!
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!
- Support Truth in Love Ministry here.
