Sermon from February 14, 2010
Speaker: Glenn Record

God’s Unfailing Love

Hosea 14:1-9

I.       Introduction

         A.    It is fitting to think about love today – the Lord’s Day

                1.    Marriage is honorable in all (Heb. 13:4)

                2.    Marital love is a Biblical concern – it is commanded.

         B.    Jesus is the model for the kind of love husbands are to have. (Eph. 5:22, ff)

               1.    We husbands are to love our wives as Christ loved the church.

               2.    Other passages reveal just how durable, how unfailing this love is. (1 Cor. 13:7-8)

         C.    The enduring, unfailing nature of God’s love may be richly seen in the Book of Hosea.

                1.    Hosea shows us that God has always manifested patient, enduring love.

                2.    Let us look at the message of Hosea briefly, and see the unfailing love described within it

II.     Hosea – A living example of God’s relationship with Israel.

        A.    Hosea was called to marry a harlot. (Hosea 1:2)

        B.    His children’s names give us an indication of how the marriage was going.

               1.    Jezreel (v. 4) God sows, or God scatters

               2.    Lo-ruhamah (v. 6) “No mercy”

               3.    Lo-ammi (v. 9) “Not my people”

               4.    Indications are that she had completely reverted to her former way of life

        C.    He was to reclaim his unfaithful wife, buy her back (3:1-3)

        D.   This is of course, a living analogy of God and His covenant people

              1.    God brought an idolatrous people out of Egypt (Josh. 24:14-15)

              2.    Israel was continuing to do what it had for years (Hos. 4:12; 13:2; 12:1; 2:12)

              3.    God was bringing judgment against Ephraim, Israel (Hos. 4:6; 5:9; 7:11-13)

              4.    God had a plan to buy her back (Hos. 2:7, 16-20, 23; 1 Peter 2:10)

III.   God loves unlovable people.

        A.    He demonstrated His enduring love even in the face of rejection

               1.    How painful it must be to watch those you love turn away! (Hosea 11:8-9)

               2.    Yet God continues to extend that love even today to those who are just as unlovable.

               3.    He still determines to love them (Hosea 14:4)

        B.    He paid the unspeakable price to redeem us, to take the initiative (Romans 5:8)

        C.    He continues to wait all day long

              1.    Romans 10:21

              2.    No matter how you’ve disappointed Him in the past, He still seeks your return
(Luke 15:20-22)

IV.  What does this example of love say to us?

        A.    We must not be presumptuous about God’s love

               1.    It does not preclude judgment (2 Peter 3:7-12; Hos. 10:12; 14:9)

               2.    It does not guarantee salvation. (Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Thes. 1:9)

        B.    We must return it

               1.    1 John 4:19; John 14:15

               2.    Live as faithful bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20)

        C.    We must imitate it.

               1.    God asked Hosea to imitate Him in loving the unfaithful

               2.    Christ asks us to imitate His love, as well (Matt. 5:44-46; John 13:34; 1 John 3:16)

V.    Conclusion

        A.    How will this love story end for you?

February 14, 2010