In the second sermon of our series, we looked at Amos 3 to see how great privilege brings great responsibility. Amos reminded Israel of their unique position - known personally by the Sovereign God and established as His special covenant people. Yet, despite their outward prosperity and religiosity, Israel lived in disobedience. Having experienced great victories and expanded borders, they assumed the Sovereign Lord was on their side, while rejecting justice and righteousness. Through the prophet Amos, God declared that Israel’s judgement and destruction were certain because of their injustice. In the New Testament, we see how Jesus is the true Israel who bore God’s judgement on Himself so that we might become God’s new covenant people. Like Israel, we too have received the privilege of belonging to Him through the cross - and this makes us more accountable, not less. Let us then take God’s loving discipline to heart, turn to Him in repentance, and live out the gospel in righteousness and generosity.
