GRACE: Redeeming Grace

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This morning, we are continuing on in our series on GRACE. Two weeks ago, we talked about Saving. This morning, we are going to talk about redeeming grace.

[Explain the Grace Cycle]

I want to share with you this morning about the account of Hosea and Gomer. We don’t really know much about Hosea. What we do know is that he was a prophet who was a native of the northern kingdom of Israel. He began his ministry around 750 BC. He proclaimed the message God had given him for 38 years. The message that he was called to proclaim was a message to Israel and Judah to beware because there would be an approaching contest by Assyria. The theme of his message was that Israel had failed to acknowledge God and therefore would be punished. See, there was a covenant made between God and the people that the people would be loyal to God and only God. Remember God that God is a jealous god. In the people were commanded “Do not worship any other god, the the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous god.” God demands loyalty. The covenant that was made symbolized marriage between the people and God. Not being loyal was the same as spiritual adultery. Israel had, unfortunately, chosen to worship the idols of Baal, to sacrifice on the altars of pagan gods, and had even turned to women prostituting in the pagan temples.

In Hosea chapter one, we learn that God had told Hosea to marry Gomer. What we know about Gomer is that she was the daughter of Diblaim. She is also described as being very promiscuous, even before marriage to Hosea. Hosea and Gomer get married and end up having several kids. The first was a son named Jezreel (yez rail). Jezreel (yez rail) means “God will Sow.” Now keep in mind that the book of Hosea is written in a style called allegory meaning that it tells the account of Hosea and Gomer, but also the account between God and the people. When Hosea names his child Jezreel (yez rail), It is a reminder to the people of Israel that God will punish the house of Jehu (Yay hoo) because of the blood of Jezreel (yez rail). The second child was a daughter and her name was Lo ruhammah (Low Rue HOM MA). Her name means NOT LOVED or NO MERCY. Her name was a remaindered that God was no longer going to show them favor and mercy. As soon as NO MERCY was able to eat on her own, Hosea and Gomer had another child. This child’s name was Lo-Ammi (Low Olm mee). His name means “Not My People!” Are we starting to see how upset God was with the people??? He was telling them, “Because of your disloyalty, you are not going to receive forgiveness, you are not going to have mercy, you are no longer my people, you are going to reap the product of what you have sown.” They were disloyal people. They had broken a covenant with God over and over again. What they didnt know is that soon after this, they would be led into exile. They would be conquered. By the Way, You dont want to miss that sermon series here in March/ April. ;) Back to Hosea and Gomer. Like I said before, Gomer was promiscuous before the marriage and marriage vows didnt stop her from being promiscuous after the wedding. Gomer basically had put herself in prostitution. Think about the heartache and pain and confusion that Hosea was going through. He must have felt hurt and betrayed. Gomer no longer had a loyalty to Hosea even though he genuinely loved her. Gomer had found herself so deep in her prostitution, that she found herself on the auction block to be sold. I hope I haven’t lost you this morning. We are talking about redeeming grace, but before we get to grace, we have to understand that we were just like Gomer. Let me say it again church…. We were just like Gomer. We were living in sin… pardon me this morning for being so upfront, but we were prostituting ourselves out to sin. We were worshipper of idols. Idols of money, of spouses, of significant loved ones, idols of power, idols of position, idols of education, idols of status. The thing is that when Gomer was on that auction block, she probably found herself having regret, having sorrow. She probably felt hopeless and helpless. Ladies and Gentlemen, I know what sin did to me. I know what dark road it led me down. I know the shame and regret and hopelessness that I felt living in sin. The truth of the matter is that sin always will lead to hopelessness, regret, shame, and sorrow. I have told you this many times before, but sin will lead you where you dont want to go, make you stay longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you’re willing to pay.

Hopelessness… helplessness…sorrow… shameful… Gomer was there on the auction block. She had no money to buy her freedom or to get out of the situation.

This is what we are told happens next….

[READ ]

Hosea went down to the auction block and bought his wife back. He redeemed her. When we talk about the word redeemed, it is really an accounting term that means, “Settled the debt.” Redeeming grace is this… “You have been bought with a price” , “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” Ladies and Gentlemen, We have found ourselves on the auction block. We have prostituted ourselves in sin. We have been disloyal to God and we have found ourselves being sold as slaves. The Good News this morning is this… JESUS has paid for your redemption. Jesus has redeemed you. The debt can be cancelled and settled. Grace is receiving something you don’t deserve. We dont deserve redemption, but Jesus offers it freely anyway.

If you would, stand with me this morning

This morning, very briefly, I want to ask you this?

1.) Are you on the auction block this morning? Have you been prostituting with sin? and this morning are in need of redemption?

2.) Maybe you have been redeemed this morning, My question to you is this, “Are you taking for granted the redeeming grace this morning?”

Respond this morning how the LORD is leading you to respond.