The Sinful Kingdom

Brad Mills

Amos • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

Amos 9:7–10

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Announcements

## Announcements

- **Prayer Meeting:** Tuesday night at 6:30.

- **Grace Youth Ministries (GYM):** Jr. High and High School students are welcome to join Matt Balocca for a time of games, teaching, and discussion.

Prayer Meeting: Tuesday night at 6:30.

- **Luke Sermon Series:** We will finish Amos in our Afternoon Worship Service in a few weeks. Then we will transition to the Gospel of hope you can join us at 4pm.

Grace Youth Ministries (GYM): Jr. High and High School students are welcome to join Matt Balocca for a time of games, teaching, and discussion.

- **Men’s Study:** Some of the men will be gathering here at the church on Saturday mornings at 10am to discuss the Heidelberg Catechism. You can talk to Daniel Anrig if you are interested in more details.

Luke Sermon Series: Join us at 4pm tonight as we near the close of the book of Amos at our afternoon worship service. In two weeks we will transition to the Gospel of Luke.

Men’s Study: We’ve got a good group of men gathering here at the church on Saturday mornings at 10am to discuss the Heidelberg Catechism. You can talk to Daniel Anrig if you would like more details.

## Opening Prayer

- Based on the Call to Worship.

Afternoon Prayer

New Members: Let’s ask the Lord to provide five new families in 2017.

Radius International: Some recent graduates are in their last few days or weeks before they head to the field. The formal Radius training lasts only 10 months... the task of making Christ known where His message has never been preached takes years. The faint of heart don’t show up here as students. They truly are an incredible bunch to teach!

Financial Stability: We were thrilled to experience several months of covering 100% of our expenses through internal giving in the first two quarters of the year. Those months of plenty provided us a storehouse to make it through what looks to be some lean months ahead.New Music Leader: We continue to pray that the Lord would provide someone who would be a good fit for our church longterm.New Members: Let’s ask the Lord to provide five new families in 2017.The Winslow's: Derek's mom, Dorothy, is recovering from stint surgery.Sue Yu: Sue's son, Chris, is currently out of work. He is in the entertainment industry which does not provide a stable income. Please pray that he might find a new direction that he enjoys but is also more consistent.

Joe Salas: Brother-in-law Nick is recovering from a stroke. The cause is unknown.

New Members: Let’s ask the Lord to provide five new families in 2017.

The Winslow's: Derek's mom, Dorothy, is recovering from stint surgery.

Sue Yu: Sue's son, Chris, is currently out of work. He is in the entertainment industry which does not provide a stable income. Please pray that he might find a new direction that he enjoys but is also more consistent.

Scripture Reading

Luke 4:1-

Luke 4:1–15 ESV

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Affirmation of Faith

Luke 3:39-52

Affirmation of Faith

WSC Q.82-85

Offering

, “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.

Psalm 24:1 ESV

1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,

You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Introduction

Before we begin, let me acknowledge Dr. Vern Poythress for his help in my preparation to preach this passage. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to pick his brain over lunch this week. Although I won’t quote him directly, many of the pointers to Christ came directly from him. So, thank you Dr. Poythress. I pray there is a lasting evidence of the fruit of your ministry to me.

Amos is wrapping up his final words of judgment upon a people who have turned away from the Lord entirely. From the watching world, it might look as if they were faithfully practicing their religion. But the Lord knew their hearts. He knew they were only worshipping him for the gifts he might give them.

Amos declared words of judgment in the first six chapters followed by visions of judgment in chapters seven through nine. Words of relief have been sparse and subtle. But here, we get a hint of what the concluding paragraph will make absolutely clear.

Amos 9:7–10 ESV

7 “Are you not like the Cushites to me, O people of Israel?” declares the Lord. “Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir? 8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord. 9 “For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth. 10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

**Read

As a prophet, Amos has served a role that is fairly typical. He comes on the scene as a covenant lawyer on God’s behalf. He declares the testimony of God to the people, accusing them of being covenant breakers.

Amos declared words of judgment in the first six chapters followed by visions of judgment in chapters seven through nine. Words of relief have been sparse and subtle.

Amos was possibly the first writing prophet. He warned Israel of the coming exile (within a few decades), when Assyria would ruthlessly conquer them and scatter them among the nations. About 130 years later, Judah would fall to Babylon.

Although Amos did not have all of the details, he knew God’s judgment was coming soon, he knew God’s patience was wearing thin. God’s people cannot go on ignoring his Word and expect his favor forever. So Amos, warns the people one last time,

He is hoping to prick the hearts of those who claim to follow God, but follow after their sin instead.

What Had Become of God’s People? (7)

2. What Would Become of God’s People? (8-10)

What Would Become of God’s People? (8-10)

What Had Become of God’s People? (7)

Amos 9:7 ESV

7 “Are you not like the Cushites to me, O people of Israel?” declares the Lord. “Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir?

God is not just sovereign over Israel, but all nations. Clearly, he orchestrated the migration of Israel out of Egypt. But he was just as in charge of the migration of the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir. Truly, the Lord can be credited with overseeing the migration of every nation in history.

However, I think Amos is suggesting something beyond that even. The Israelites had become like the Cushites to God. There was no longer any distinction between them and the nations. They were not set apart in worship or lifestyle. Though God had brought them safely out of the land of Egypt, out of captivity and slave labor, you wouldn’t know them from Cush, or Philistia, or Syria.

Israel thinks they’re immune to judgment because of their past Exodus out of Egypt. But, that fact alone doesn’t make them special. God has done that countless times ().

Deuteronomy 2 ESV

1 “Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir. 2 Then the Lord said to me, 3 ‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward 4 and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. 5 Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. 6 You shall purchase food from them with money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink. 7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.” ’ 8 So we went on, away from our brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road from Elath and Ezion-geber. “And we turned and went in the direction of the wilderness of Moab. 9 And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab or contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the people of Lot for a possession.’ 10 (The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim. 11 Like the Anakim they are also counted as Rephaim, but the Moabites call them Emim. 12 The Horites also lived in Seir formerly, but the people of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the Lord gave to them.) 13 ‘Now rise up and go over the brook Zered.’ So we went over the brook Zered. 14 And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. 15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from the camp, until they had perished. 16 “So as soon as all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the people, 17 the Lord said to me, 18 ‘Today you are to cross the border of Moab at Ar. 19 And when you approach the territory of the people of Ammon, do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.’ 20 (It is also counted as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim formerly lived there—but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim— 21 a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim; but the Lord destroyed them before the Ammonites, and they dispossessed them and settled in their place, 22 as he did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them and they dispossessed them and settled in their place even to this day. 23 As for the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and settled in their place.) 24 ‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. 25 This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’ 26 “So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon the king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, 27 ‘Let me pass through your land. I will go only by the road; I will turn aside neither to the right nor to the left. 28 You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money, that I may drink. Only let me pass through on foot, 29 as the sons of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I go over the Jordan into the land that the Lord our God is giving to us.’ 30 But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day. 31 And the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land.’ 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz. 33 And the Lord our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people. 34 And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivors. 35 Only the livestock we took as spoil for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities that we captured. 36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, as far as Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. The Lord our God gave all into our hands. 37 Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not draw near, that is, to all the banks of the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill country, whatever the Lord our God had forbidden us.

Without a covenant relationship, the Exodus is just another migration.

Illustration

Amos has declared something like this earlier:

Amos 2:9–10 ESV

9 “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. 10 Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.

Israel gladly accepted God’s gracious selection of them as his unique possession. But they stubbornly refused to consider the calling God had placed upon their lives. Clearly, God had blessed Israel so that they might be a blessing to the nations.

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

;

Isaiah 42:6 ESV

6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,

Unfortunately, Israel failed to honor their covenant agreement. In fact, Moses had already anticipated their failure. At Moab, during a covenant renewal ceremony, he details the history of God’s blessings and he also warns them of the consequences of departing from the Lord. With the knowledge that Israel would fail, Moses calls them to repentance ().

Later on, after declaring the faithfulness and justice of God their “Rock”, Moses summarizes Israel’s faithless response:

Deuteronomy 32:5 ESV

5 They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation.

Amos is simply recognizing the fulfillment of Israel’s utter failure. They were no longer set apart, they had forfeited their distinct status as God’s people and adopted the gods of this world. In other words, their religion was fake.

Poythress But the corruption of Israel is already anticipated in (and, for that matter, in ). Despite her unique calling, Israel has become like the other nations.

However, where the sons of Israel failed, the True Son succeeded. Jesus dealt with this too. He ministered at a time when the Temple, the House of Prayer had become a Den of Thieves. It was a time where once again, the poor were taken advantage of and the sacrificial system had been turned into a money-making scheme.

But rather than compromising his mission and joining in with their wicked practices, Jesus was filled with a righteous zeal to clean house ().

John 2:17 ESV

17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

His overturning of the tables of the money changers foreshadows the judgment that will fall upon all hypocrites at his Second Coming.

However, where the sons of Israel failed, the True Son succeeded. It is only the unblemished blood of Christ that will “purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (). By his blood we can enter into this sanctuary with confidence ().

Matthew 7:22–23 ESV

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Implication

Deceitful religion isn’t simply a thing of the past. It is an ongoing challenge for the Church of God to maintain its purity. It isn’t pleasant or easy to admit our failure. Oftentimes, throughout history, Church leaders have made moral compromises and succumbed to the pressures of the world, the flesh, and the devil. And there have been far too few men with the holy zeal of our Savior, who would come and clean house.

We must hold fast to the Gospel! It is only the unblemished blood of Christ that will “purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (). It is only by the unblemished blood of Christ we can enter into this sanctuary with confidence ().

In other words, their religion was fake.

1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Hebrews 10:19–20 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

The hypocritical state of Israel would lead to their judgment…

Poythress Christ is the true Son who, as the Word, brings a spiritual feast of the word () and the purification of worship (; ).

Poythress But this zeal for holiness is seen also in the substitutionary judgment that falls on Christ in his crucifixion. And it is seen in the way in which the Holy Spirit searches out and cleanses the soul, through union with Christ. The cosmic power of God displayed in creation will be displayed also in re-creation, now (already, ) and in the future ().

Motyer Just as for us, if benefits are associated, say, with the resurrection of Jesus and He never in fact rose, then the benefits are phoney, we are deceived and still in our sins (cf. ).

The state of Israel would lead to their judgment…

What Would Become of God’s People? (8-10)

Amos 9:8 ESV

8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord.

Instead of “My people” Israel has been given the title of “sinful kingdom”. Their destruction is coming, although it will not be utter annihilation. God would preserve a remnant as he has always done.

Their destruction is coming, although it will not be utter annihilation. God would preserve a remnant as he has always done.

Amos continues...

God will pick up the House of Israel as if sieving good soil. He will shake them out among the nations removing the worthless pebbles that remain (9). Not one of them will escape (“fall to the earth”).

Amos 9:9 ESV

9 “For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth.

God will pick up the House of Israel as if sieving good soil. He will shake them out among the nations removing the worthless pebbles that remain trapped. Not one of them will escape (“fall to the earth”).

Amos 9:10 ESV

10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

All of the wicked hypocrites who are among God’s people will die by the sword. These are the same people confidently ignoring Amos. They spread a counter-word of optimism that is entirely baseless. They are so determined to keep the status quo, so they declare “Everything is fine. Don’t be alarmed by this lunatic.”

But as v.8 stated, the people are a mixed batch. Alec Motyer notes:

The metaphor of sieving implies that there are not only impurities to be purged out but good soil to be safeguarded.

And therein lies the subtle word of hope in this passage.

The language of destruction occurs most frequently in Deuteronomy, followed by Joshua. Deuteronomy literally means “second law”. We’ve already considered how Moses reiterated the covenant stipulations and curses to Israel at Moab (). The Book of Joshua details the first opportunity for Israel to fulfill their covenant obligations by entering the Promised Land and eliminating all enemies from its territory.

In response to Joshua, the people responded,

Joshua 1:16 ESV

16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

However, shortly after defeating Jericho, Israel is defeated at Ai (). The sin of Achan was a foreshadowing of an even greater and more widespread compromise that was to follow. Their compromise would spiral out of control, as depicted in the book of Judges.

In their Introduction to the Old Testament, Longman and Dillard explain:

God’s holiness required that he respond in judgment on the sins of the nation, but his commitment to Israel meant that there would be a remnant, those who had undergone divine judgment and survived to become the nucleus for the continuation of the people of God.

God would not utterly destroy Israel, his steadfast love and compassion for them would not allow it. It isn’t because they were worthy, but because he is faithful:

Deuteronomy 32:27 ESV

27 had I not feared provocation by the enemy, lest their adversaries should misunderstand, lest they should say, “Our hand is triumphant, it was not the Lord who did all this.” ’

Isaiah 43:25 ESV

25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Ezekiel 36:22 ESV

22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.

Isaiah 48:9 ESV

9 “For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.

isa 43

Remember, this is what Amos had said earlier. He was filled with compassion and intercedes for the nation after viewing the visions of locusts and fire (). And what refrain did we see twice (v.3 & 6)?

Amos 7:3 ESV

3 The Lord relented concerning this: “It shall not be,” said the Lord.

Amos 7:6 ESV

6 The Lord relented concerning this: “This also shall not be,” said the Lord God.

Bavinck Still, that punishment is *temporary*. After many days (), after a few days, that is, after a short while (6:2), after seventy years (; ), after 390 years for Israel and forty years for Judah (.), there will be an end to it. God’s chastisement of his people is measured (.; ). He leaves them only for a short while; his wrath is for a moment, but his loving-kindness is forever (). He loves his people with an everlasting love and therefore will again have compassion (, ; ). He cannot utterly destroy his people, though he shakes them as with a sieve (). His heart recoils within him (). He remembers his covenant (). He will redeem his people, not for the sake of Israel but for his name’s sake, for his fame among the Gentiles (; ; ;; .).

And he directly mentioned “the remnant” in ch.5:

Amos 7:1–6 ESV

1 This is what the Lord God showed me: behold, he was forming locusts when the latter growth was just beginning to sprout, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings. 2 When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, “O Lord God, please forgive! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” 3 The Lord relented concerning this: “It shall not be,” said the Lord. 4 This is what the Lord God showed me: behold, the Lord God was calling for a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. 5 Then I said, “O Lord God, please cease! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” 6 The Lord relented concerning this: “This also shall not be,” said the Lord God.

Motyer This, of course, is what we should expect from the teaching of the total context, for this part of Amos began with the repeated assurance that the mind of God was set against any total destruction of His people (7:1–6).

Amos 5:15 ESV

15 Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

****

Amos 5:14–15 ESV

14 Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. 15 Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Implication

And even before that Amos declared their rescue:

Amos 3:12 ESV

12 Thus says the Lord: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.

Amos 3

Although

That remains the hope of Amos. He realizes that some will indeed hear his message and repent. They will turn away from their sin and turn to God.

But, honestly, how could anyone survive the sweeping judgment prophesied here?

Obviously, no one was worthy to be included among the remnant. The chosen son of Israel had failed to keep the covenant.

But, again, their utter failure points forward to Christ’s achievement, which ensured they would not be utterly destroyed.

As Graeme Goldsworthy notes:

Covenant breaking and covenant keeping converge on the one who both kept the covenant and was content to be counted among the transgressors and to pay the full penalty for covenant breaking.

The remnant were not chosen for their giftedness. They were not chosen because they had something special to offer. They were the recipients of divine grace, because their Lord was the recipient of divine wrath.

Furthermore, just as Israel was brought out of Egypt, we are brought out of the kingdom of darkness (). It is in response to Christ’s redemptive work that we now have a mission to accomplish:

Colossians 1:13–14 ESV

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

It is in response to Christ’s redemptive work that we now have a mission to accomplish:

Philippians 2:15 ESV

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

We will always live among “a crooked and twisted generation.” And hypocritical Christians will remain among us until the Lord returns. There isn’t a generation that will escape this dilemma. Roughly 20 years after Christ’s ascension, Paul called the Corinthians to “purge”/“remove” the “evil person” that was among the congregation (). And we can expect to have to do the same think in our own generation.

Poythress Israel was brought out of Egypt; we are brought out of the kingdom of darkness, . Theological themes and types/foreshadowings link and many other passages forward to Christ.

Smith To ignore the presence of sin or its destructive power is to live in a world of delusions, far from God.

Chapter 18.1 of the Westminster Confession of Faith is helpful here:

Smith To ignore the presence of sin or its destructive power is to live in a world of delusions, far from God.

Hebrews 10:26 ESV

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

****

Luke 22:31 ESV

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,

****

Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and estate of salvation (which hope of theirs shall perish): yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.

WCF 18.1 Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and estate of salvation (which hope of theirs shall perish): yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.

In summary…

Conclusion

So Amos, warns the people one last time, hoping to prick the hearts of those who claim to follow God, but follow after their sin instead.

Chapter 18.1 of the Westminster Confession of Faith is helpful here:

Like Amos, we are called to declare God’s truth to a faithless generation recognizing that among their midst is a remnant chosen and sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption.

Benediction

May your prayers be counted as incense; the lifting up of your praise as the evening offering. Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father.

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