A CALL TO REPENTANCE

HOSEA 6:1-3

INTRODUCTION:

God has just told the nation that He was going to retreat to His place and wait on their sincere return to Him.

So, it is no accident that as this chapter opens, it is a clear call to the nation for repentance because repentance is the only path for them back to God. Repentance is found in both the Old Testament and New Testament.

If you are coming to God for the first time or you are coming back to God after being in a backsliden state, you must come in repentance.

What is repentance?

The New Testament thought of repentance lies in the Hebrew word meaning “to turn back, to turn away from, or to turn toward.” There are two thoughts in repentance: it is a turning away from and a turning toward.

Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of heart and action. It is a change of mind about sin. EXAMPLE: Prodigal Son.

When you have a change of mind about sin, it will lead to a change of heart and action that will cause you to leave the sin and come to God.

In Hebrew, there is the idea of “to lament or to sigh” and could carry the idea “to grieve.”

True biblical repentance is a “turning from sin” and “grievnig.”

REPENTANCE IS NECESSARY

The sin that the nations had commited and would not abandon was destroying them. Remember last week as we looked at chapter 5, God said he would be to them like rottenness and sickness and like a lion would tear them apart.

The only path back to God is through repentance. The nation needed healing and restoration and the only way to have it was to repent.

Their sin had brought about God’s displeasure with them. “He has torn and He has stricken. “ They had chosen to live in their sin. They had rejected God’s pursuing love, the hedge of thorns designed to push them to Him and His provision and God. Their continued rebellion had brought the judgment of God.

Prayerfully, they had begun to understand that their continued sin had brought the judgment of God. Why does God send judgment like this?

God sends judgement in order to get the people back to Him.

“The consideration of the judgment of God upon us and our land especially when they are tearing judgemtns should awaken us to return to the Lord by repentance, prayer and reformation.”

God knew what He needed to be torn frome them was selfishness and pride.

MODE OF REPENTANCE

God spells out what repentance looks like here in verse 1 “Come let us return unto the Lord.” Repentance is a return. There must be a return. There has to be a coming back to God. By definition, repentance is a return.

When you walk away from God and live in your sin, in order to come back to Him you must leave that sin just like the prodigal son.

There is the aspect of dying involved in repentance.

When you repent, you must die to self and your old sinful selfish nature. The flesh desires the sin therefore you must daily to to the cross and die daily to self and your selfish desires.

The cross is the means of reconciliation. The cross has to do with dying. You must be willing to die. If you are going to enjoy the victory of the Christian life there has to be some dying that takes place.

Paul said “I have been crucified with Christ…

Jesus said that grain of wheat had to be put in the ground and die before it could produce.

RESULTS OF REPENTANCE

Notice first that there is the expectation of God’s favor when one repents.

Notice these statements: “He will bind up”; He will revive us; He will heal us; He will raise us up.

When you come to God in repentance, you come to the God who can heal you from the sin that has ravaged you.

God will bring healing ( a cure). He will make you whole. He will bind you up (bandage and encourage). He will renew you. He will raise you up.

Your return will be like coming to life from the dead (v2).

The language used here is resurrection language. Sin destroys but God gives life. God will revive you: from sickness (sin sickness), discouragment, faintness, and death.

Your return will be growth.

“Let us know”: to have full and accurate knowledge. We have this when we pursue the knowledge of God.

Pursue: to chase or follow after. At one time you were chasing sin and the things of the flesh. Like Solomon you were chasing the wind.

Proverbs 2:3-5 “ Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and you lift up your voice for understanding. If you seek her as silver and serch for her as for hidden treasure; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”

Your return will have God’s favor.

“As the morning” This is like the morning after a long sleepless night. This is the return of God’s favor on you.

“Like the rain” One word: REFRESHING. Just like the dry earth has refeshment after the rain, our soul needs that refreshment after a life of sin which brings nothing but dryness.

CONCLUSION: