God’s Unadulterated Love The Book of Hosea Drew Mathews, Associate Pastor Sunday, February 16, 2014

The book of Hosea

Written 8 th century B.C.

The book of Hosea Written 8 th century B.C. To the northern kingdom of Israel

The book of Hosea Written 8 th century B.C. To the northern kingdom of Israel During a “golden age” of prosperity

The Old Testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 & 2 Samuel 1 & 2 Kings 1 & 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi “Torah” (Law) Historical books Wisdom literature Prophetic Books

D URING J UDAH ’ S E XILE L AMENTATIONS D ANIEL E ZEKIEL P RE -E XILIC P ROPHETS P ROPHETS TO O THER N ATIONS J ONAH – A SSYRIA (760 B. C.) N AHUM - A SSYRIA (630 B. C.) O BADIAH - E DOM ( AFTER 586) A FTER J UDAH ’ S E XILE H AGGAI Z ECHARIAH M ALACHI

The book of Hosea Written 8 th century B.C. To the northern kingdom of Israel During a “golden age” of prosperity

Israel’s behavior

Amos - warns against Israel’s injustice Israel’s behavior

Amos - warns against Israel’s injustice Hosea - warns against Israel’s adulterous sin

Israel’s behavior Amos - warns against Israel’s injustice Hosea - warns against Israel’s adulterous sin “The crux of the indictment is Israel’s failure to know the Lord, so visibly expressed in her harlotry. The theology of [Hosea] as a whole identifies the fundamental sin of Israel to be the lack of knowledge of the Lord.”C. H. Bullock

You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

Gospel Truths from Hosea

1.All sin is adulterous.

You have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man— you who judge those who practice those things yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Romans 2:1-3

Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. Romans 2:4-5

Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone. John 8:7

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20

Gospel Truths from Hosea 1.All sin is adulterous. 1.God can rightfully walk away from us and punish us.

Gospel Truths from Hosea 1.All sin is adulterous. 1.God can rightfully walk away from us and punish us. All sin is infinitely bad because the one it is committed against is infinitely glorious.

Gospel Truths from Hosea 1.All sin is adulterous. 1.God can rightfully walk away from us and punish us. 1.God’s love for his people is unadulterated!

Summary of Hosea All people are adulterously sinful, but God’s love for his people is unadulterated.

How can we respond to God’s Love?

Know God by following Jesus Christ

How can we respond to God’s Love? Know God by following Jesus Christ Repent of adulterous ways and return to the Lord

How can we respond to God’s Love? Know God by following Jesus Christ Repent of adulterous ways and return to the Lord Seek the Lord- Bible and prayer

How can we respond to God’s Love? Know God by following Jesus Christ Repent of adulterous ways and return to the Lord Seek the Lord- Bible and prayer Share His Word

How can we respond to God’s Love? Know God by following Jesus Christ Repent of adulterous ways and return to the Lord Seek the Lord- Bible and prayer Share His Word Husbands, Love your Wives like Christ loves

How can we respond to God’s Love? Know God by following Jesus Christ Repent of adulterous ways and return to the Lord Seek the Lord- Bible and prayer Share His Word Husbands, Love your Wives like Christ loves Wives, Love your Husbands

How can we respond to God’s Love? Know God by following Jesus Christ Repent of adulterous ways and return to the Lord Seek the Lord- Bible and prayer Share His Word Husbands, Love your Wives like Christ loves Wives, Love your Husbands Let us all reflect God’s amazing love in the way we love others

Summary of Hosea All people are adulterously sinful, but God’s love for his people is unadulterated.