“From Ashes to Glory — Christ’s Redemption in the Minor Prophets”

= Good morning! Thanks for worshipping with us today.

= I'm Pastor Jeff Pagel. We’re continuing our summer series from the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament

= Today, we’ll explore Hosea chapter 3, but first, let’s briefly consider question 17 from our catechism:

The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds Question 17: What Is Idolatry?

What is idolatry? Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security.

The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds Question 17: What Is Idolatry?

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.… They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

= listen to these two verses, from Romans

= Listen carefully as Paul labels their thinking

= As FOOLISH, UNFAITHFUL AND NOT SERVING GOD

Romans 1:21 “21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

=Our message for today is once again from the book of Hosea.

SERMON # 2: "God’s Redeeming Love"

= Our text this morning is from the Book of Hosea

Hosea Chapter 3; Verses 1-5

= Let’s all stand, if you can as I read the passage

Hosea 3:1–5 ESV

1 And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.

=Please be seated and grab a bible in front of you and turn to page 752; or find Hosea 3 in your own bible or app.

=Here is our theme for today!

Christ-Centered & Grace-Driven Theme:

-God redeems the unfaithful NOT with punishment, but with LOVE.

-Ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who BOUGHT us back with His precious blood.

Hosea 3, Short… but so Rich!

==God commands Hosea to show love again to Gomer, though she has committed adultery.

== Hosea redeems her by paying a price—half in silver and half in barley.

== He brings her home, not as a slave but as a beloved wife, though there must be a season of healing and re-commitment.

-This story is a reflection of God's love for His people.

-Despite Israel’s idolatry and spiritual adultery, God does NOT abandon them.

-He redeems them and brings them back—not just to obedience, but to intimacy.

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This act of REDEMPTION finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

-We were spiritual adulterers, we have turned our backs to Jesus.

-Yet he willingly brings us back to himself at the highest cost—His life—so that we could belong to Him forever.

= Let’s take a look at the passage today…

== I’ll begin with a question…

Essential Question: What does it mean to be redeemed by love when we have done nothing to deserve it?

I have four points to share this morning…

1. Hosea’s Command to Love Again (v. 1) 2. The Price of Redemption (v.2) 3. A Time of Renewal and Waiting (vv. 3-4) – 4. A Promise of Future Faithfulness (v. 5)

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1. Hosea’s Command to Love Again (v. 1) God tells Hosea to take Gomer back despite her betrayal.

2. The Price of Redemption (v. 2) – Hosea pays a costly sum to reclaim his wife.

3. A Time of Renewal and Waiting (vv. 3-4) – Reconciliation requires transformation and healing.

4. A Promise of Future Faithfulness (v. 5) – God's people will return to Him with awe and reverence.

REDEMPTION is the ultimate FORGIVENESS!!

== For Hosea and for us

== Yes, we want to REDEEMED [To be redeemed means to be freed from a state of bondage, captivity, or sin, ]

== But a PAYMENT MUST BE MADE’.

Redemption Requires Love Beyond Reason

Redemption Comes at a Cost

3. Redemption Leads to Relationship, Not Just Rescue –

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Redemption Requires Love Beyond Reason -

God’s love is not deserved; it’s freely given (v. 1).

2. Redemption Comes at a Cost –

a. Hosea pays a price; Christ pays the ultimate one (v. 2).

3. Redemption Leads to Relationship, Not Just Rescue

a.The goal is not mere rescue from sin, but restored intimacy (vv. 3–5)

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Sermon #2 “The Redeeming Love of God”

Prayer/Introduction

= Let’s pray…

=Father, today, as we explore Your Word, deepen our faith in Your unfailing promise of grace.

=Let our hearts fully embrace the eternal hope we have in Jesus Christ—the perfect King who reigns with justice, mercy, and everlasting love.

= Holy Spirit, fill this church, guiding every word spoken and every heart present.

=Make us people who reflect Your redemptive love to a world in desperate need.

= We pray all these things in the powerful and precious name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

Amen.

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= Introduction

= Imagine a story so stunning that if it weren’t recorded in Scripture, we might struggle to believe it.

= This is precisely the account we encounter in Hosea 3—a prophet commanded to love again, redeeming his unfaithful wife.

= The stunning message here is not merely about Hosea’s marital faithfulness, but about God’s extraordinary, relentless grace and redeeming love toward His wayward people—ultimately pointing directly to Jesus Christ and His redeeming sacrifice.

Hosea’s Command to Love Again [V.1]

Hosea 3:1 (ESV): "And the Lord said to me, 'Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.'"

Understanding the Command

==“Go again, love a woman… even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods.”

== Hosea’s obedience illustrates God's relentless pursuit despite our idolatry.

== The “cakes of raisins” symbolize worldly pleasures and idols we chase today—success, comfort, or self-righteousness.

Christ’s Perfect Love… This relentless pursuit is perfectly fulfilled in Christ. God loves us while we were yet sinners.

= From Romans 5.8.

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

== Just as Hosea sought his unfaithful wife, Christ came seeking us when we were lost in sin

= From Luke 19.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.””

Application: Reflect: Have you wandered spiritually? I hope honestly we can say… “Yes, yes I have wondered spiritually.

Know this… Christ pursues you relentlessly, no matter your distance.

The Price of Redemption (v. 2)

Hosea 3:2 “2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech [“Le-tech”] of barley.”

== Hosea pays with silver (money) and barley (food), symbolizing substantial sacrifice and cost.

= A Le-tech is about 1/2 bushel

Fulfilled in Christ: Jesus redeemed us with His life, not mere earthly goods. Let deep gratitude shape your heart and life!!

The Ultimate Redemption in Christ

=This anticipates Christ’s redemption of humanity.

= Hosea’s redemption cost silver and grain; Christ’s redemption cost His very life.

=Jesus willingly became the ultimate sacrifice, purchasing our freedom with His precious blood.

1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV): "Knowing that you were ransomed… not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ…"

= Jesus redeemed us not merely from physical slavery, but from spiritual death, eternal separation from God, and the power of sin itself.

How do you value Christ’s costly redemption in your daily life?

== Consider daily the immense price Jesus paid for your redemption.

= Let gratitude stir your heart each day as you remember the incredible cost Christ paid for you.

Point #3 A Time of Renewal and Waiting (vv. 3-4)

Hosea 3:3-4 (ESV): "And I said to her, 'You must dwell as mine for many days... For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods.'"

Renewal through Waiting

== After redemption, Hosea’s wife faced a period of waiting and renewal

== Israel’s spiritual exile parallels our own seasons of waiting and discipline.

These seasons are purposeful: they cleanse, mature, and prepare us for deeper intimacy with God.

Application: Are you in a season of waiting? Use this time to draw nearer to Christ, trusting His transformative work in your life.

Point #4 A Promise of Future Faithfulness (v. 5)

Hosea 3:5 (ESV): "Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king… in the latter days."

Future Hope and Restoration

= God promises restoration: Israel would return and faithfully seek God under a king from David’s line—a prophecy fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1).

== “Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king.”

== Points prophetically to Christ, the eternal King from David’s lineage.

Jeremiah 23:5 (ESV): "Behold, the days are coming… I will raise up for David a righteous Branch… he shall reign as king and deal wisely… in his days Judah will be saved…"

“I will rise up a righteous Branch - Jesus

Our Hope in Christ’s Faithfulness

= Even when we are distancing ourselves, turning around to avoid interacting with Jesus, sinning and moving in a different direction… generally ignoring God and Jesus in our lives.

= Listen to 2 timothy

2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV): "If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself."

=Our future is secure because Christ reigns eternally.

=Hosea’s prophecy promises not just historical restoration but an eternal reality in Christ's kingdom.

Application: Anchor your hope in Christ’s unfailing faithfulness.

= Let’s return to our Essential Question from a bit ago and see if we have anymore insight.

= Here is that question

Essential Question [Revisited]: What does it mean to be redeemed by love when I have done nothing to deserve it?

== It means grace, humility, gratitude, and awe in response to Christ’s unconditional redemption.

Conclusion/Pray

== Hosea’s message is our message—a profound display of God’s relentless love and redemption fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

== Just as Hosea was commanded to love again, Jesus continues to pursue and redeem us today.

== He paid the ultimate price. He invites us to renewal through waiting, and He guarantees our future through His eternal faithfulness.

== Let’s embrace this promise…

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV): "For I am sure that neither death nor life… nor anything else… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Some questions that I’d like you to consider… Is our church known more for grace or judgment when people come in? — AND —

How are we embodying redemption in our community?

Are we calling people into intimate relationship with Jesus rather than mere moral behavior?

Let’s Pray…

== Heavenly Father, we thank You today for Your relentless, redeeming love that reaches out and restores even when we wander.

== Just as Hosea pursued and redeemed his unfaithful wife, You pursued us in Christ, redeeming us at the highest price imaginable—the precious blood of Jesus.

== Lord, as we leave this place, help us carry Your grace within our hearts and into every interaction this week. == Strengthen us by Your Spirit to reflect the kind of forgiving love and patient grace we have so richly received from You.

== We pray also for our church body, that together we would faithfully embody the hope and redemption promised in Christ.

== Make us a community known for Your grace, compassion, and unwavering hope, continually pointing others toward You.

== We ask this humbly and gratefully, in Jesus’ mighty and matchless name,

Amen.