The Redeeming Love of God

This morning we begin a new study through the book of Hosea. In our text today we consider Hosea 1:1-11 as both an introduction and a summary for the rest of the book. We see in the first chapter of Hosea that the people of God will be punished for their spiritual adultery. God pronounced judgement on His people because of their unfaithfulness, yet He promised a future restoration. God reveals the depth of the people’s betrayal in Hosea’s life and shows us the even greater depth of His redeeming love. God's faithful, steadfast, and redeeming love is highlighted as the theme of the book.

It is good, true, and beautiful to consider our rebellion as spiritual adultery because it cultivates deepening humility, gratitude, freedom, and joy in God's redeeming love shown towards us in Jesus. It is good and wise to admit that we have committed spiritual adultery because we are boasting in the good news that God’s grace is stronger than our adultery, failure, and lack of faith. May God strengthen our faith as we see that His grace and restoration doesn’t rest on our performance, but upon His promises. Our hope is not in our own commitment to Christ, but in His covenant and character.