[Y]et we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified....I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2

[Y]et we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified....I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:16,20 

I continue a pause my study of Hosea to focus on Galatians through Friday as this book will be discussed with my Friday AM men's Bible study.  I move on to Galatians chapter 2 where Paul hammers home the theme that grace alone is this basis of our salvation, as Paul reinforces how we should not be adding to, subtracting from, and twisting the Word to suit our own desires and motives - in this case requiring believers to follow OT/Mosaic ceremonial law.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Paul emphasizes key doctrinal themes, particularly how Christ justifies believers not on the basis of works, but "through faith in [Him]" (v16).  We do not earn our salvation - grace alone saves!  In vv20-21, Paul then shares how Christ gives us freedom from the law (see also v4), and new birth/life with the Holy Spirit living in us, facilitating a life for Him.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We see Paul's humility (even though he has much to be proud about given His appointment by God), false brothers who espouse false teaching (v4), hypocrisy (vv12-14) from Cephas (Peter), and conflict between Paul and Cephas (v11).  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): See also post yesterday. Avoid knowingly preaching or falling prey to false gospel.  Claim the promise that God alone saves and gives new life.  We should also avoid hypocrisy - saying one thing and doing another.  Follow the example of Paul of recognizing false gospel and correcting those who knowingly spouses such false gospel and who also demonstrate hypocrisy. Confess, repent, and believe in He who saves - then live by faith!

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, as I know that You alone - in Your grace - saved me.  Thank You also for Your gospel - the Word - and how You use the Word to reveal Yourself to me, to reveal my sin to me, and to strengthen and encourage me in my journey with You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily - including hypocrisy!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ...For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ...For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:6-7,11-12 

I pause my study of Hosea to focus on Galatians today through Friday as this book will be discussed with my Friday AM men's Bible study.  I start with Galatians chapter 1 where Paul gets right to it and exhorts the church at Galatia to avoid following false teachers - primarily Judaizers or those who taught that salvation was the result of both God's grace and obedience to certain Mosaic or Old Testament ceremonial laws. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God's grace alone saves - and there is not a thing anyone can do to earn their salvation.  See also Ephesians 2:8-9.  Similarly, there is only one Gospel and we should be careful not to add to, subtract from, or twist God's Word to suit our own desires or motives.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: There are many in this world who have and will continue to put themselves above God by promoting a false gospel.  If you knowingly preach a false gospel (having been corrected by a brother or sister in Christ yet continue preaching such false gospel), you are per the text (vv8-9) accursed.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid knowingly preaching or falling prey to false gospel.  Claim the promise that God alone saves.  Follow the example of Paul of recognizing false gospel and correcting those who knowingly espouse such false gospel.  Know God and know His Word - do not add to, subtract from, or twist God's Word to suit your own desires or motives. Love God and follow Him - we exist to glorify God. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, as I know that You alone - in Your grace - saved me.  Thank You also for Your gospel - the Word - and how You use the Word to reveal Yourself to me, to reveal my sin to me, and to strengthen and encourage me in my journey with You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him....For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:1-11

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him....For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:2,6

I continue my study of Hosea, and my focus this morning is Hosea 6:1-11, where God continues to describe Israel's unfaithfulness, while also pointing to Jesus and how He restores.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv1-3: God shares an exhortation that Israel repent from her unfaithfulness - to "return to the Lord."  Their return promises healing and points to Jesus with new life on the third day.  They are encouraged to endure and know the Lord and His faithfulness despite our own unfaithfulness.  V5: God cuts, carves, and shapes Israel as He pronounces His judgement and discipline upon them. V6: He makes clear that superficial acts of ceremony (sacrifice) are not what God seeks - He seeks our heart, and a heart that seeks to know, love, and please Him (vs ceremonial acts performed as rote without a heart for God. See also Matthew 9:13 and 12:7 where Jesus challenges religious leaders to understand God and His intent of the law. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V4: Israel's (and Judah) love for God and faithfulness fail to endure - instead going away early in the day. Israel's sin is further described in vv7-10 - faithless, evildoers, robbers, murderous, villainy, whoredom, and defilement. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We must not perform empty rituals of worship when our heart is not earnestly seeking Him.  We should claim the promise that God gives new life and restores us if we return to Him.  We should follow the example of David, the prodigal son, Paul, and so many others who repented of their sin and returned to Him.  With a contrite heart, earnestly seek Him.   

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, for giving me new life, and for restoring me.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.

Hosea 5:1-15

I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me. Hosea 5:15

I continue my study of Hosea, and my focus this morning is Hosea 5:1-15, where God prophecies exile for the northern kingdom Israel (referred to as Ephraim) to Assyria.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V2: God shares His description of Israel as "revolters" and how "He will discipline" them.  V3: We are reminded that God is omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (everywhere) and we cannot hide our sin from Him nor can we hide from Him - God knows all.  V15: God responds and returns to those who truly repent (not a half hearted effort) and "earnestly seek" Him - see also Jeremiah 29:13 and Hebrews 11:6.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv4-5: Israel's shame traps them and prevents them from repentance. Once again the sin (crime) is not knowing the Lord. They attempt to seek the Lord - with a half-hearted attempt and God will not respond. Vv8-12: Israel's land will become desolate as God "pours out [His] wrath like water." Israel pursued "filth."  Vv13-14: In their weakness, Israel seeks alliances with Assyria but even this alliance cannot cure what only God can cure - which is a heart that does not know or love God.  Ultimately we know that Assyria overtakes Israel and Israel goes into exile.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid half-hearted confessions of sin.  Claim the promise that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  Follow the example of David who sought God with a contrite heart - Psalm 51:17. Love and know God with all of your heart.

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, and for showing me incredible mercies that never cease and are new every morning.  What a great God You are that I can come to You with a contrite heart and seek forgiveness of sin. I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Hosea 4:1-19

There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Hosea 4:1b-2

I continue my study of Hosea, and my focus this morning is Hosea 4:1-19, where God lays out His case against Israel and her unfaithfulness - the scene in the text plays out like a prosecution attorney's opening statement against the accused.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv1-2 get right to the point - and don't miss how God diagnoses the root cause of a faithless and loveless Israel - "no knowledge of God in the land[.]"  How can one love God without knowing who He is and what He has done for us?  We should not miss how this is a message for all of humanity - that we should all spend time with God to know Him and know what He has done for us.  Lest we be condemned eternally. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?:  The text shares the consequences of faithlessness starting in v3 where God takes away provision for food, He destroys the people for "lack of knowledge" (v6) and for "forgetting" His law. God will forget the children of Israel - this is a harsh punishment to be meted out against those who have no role in the offense. Israel's glory will be turned to shame (v7). They shall eat but not be satisfied (v10).  They shall come to ruin (v14).  Israel is stubborn (v16).     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid not seeking and knowing God.  We are to claim the promise that God will bless us and satisfy us for a hunger and thirst for Him (Matthew 5:6). We should follow the example of Daniel and others that sought God no matter what the circumstances - including threat of death.  Seek Him with all of your heart...and you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, and for the incredible grace and mercies You pour out inexhaustibly.  Thank You also for giving me Your Word that I can know You and fellowship with You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

Hosea 3:1-5

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. Hosea 3:5

I continue my study of Hosea, and my focus this morning is Hosea 3:1-5, where God continues to press His message with Israel that she is unfaithful just as a prostitute is - in the text today God reinforces the message from chapter one that Hosea is to love Gomer just as He loves Israel - despite her unfaithfulness.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God loves the children of Israel, even in their sin.  This reminds of how God saves believers while still an enemy and hostile to Him (see also Romans 5:8). Once again, we must remember God's great love and mercy for us.  God directs Hosea to purchase/redeem Gomer just as Jesus paid a price for all of humanity by sacrificing Himself on the cross for our sin.  God then is more specific about how he wants Gomer (and Israel to respond) - to be faithful - to stop yoking yourself to the world and to dwell/fellowship with and to love God. God not only forgives (v5) but is described as good (not just in the latter days but in all days).  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V5 speaks to a Godly response expected from the children of Israel - that they "return and seek the Lord their God."  God knows that His people have been and will continue to sin but He offers forgiveness and reconciliation to those who confess and repent.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid languishing in our sin and shame.  We are to repent and confess our sin and He will forgive - God forgives not just now but in the future.  We are to follow the example of God who loves despite our sin and unfaithfulness.  Remain in Him and ask Him to reveal our sin to us.  Then we should return to God just as the prodigal son did - repent and confess sin. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for how You lavish love on me despite my sin.  Even in punishment and discipline I see Your love and goodness.  Thank You Jesus for all that You do, including my salvation.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.

Hosea 2:14-23

And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. Hosea 2:19-20

I continue my study of Hosea, and my focus this morning is Hosea 2:14-23, where God shares how He is a merciful God, and how He will restore Israel, despite her unfaithfulness.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: In a parallel to how Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit where Satan tempted Him (and angels ministered to Him) - see Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1–13 - God shares how He will in the future restore Israel; He will lead her into the wilderness and "speak[s] tenderly to her."  What an incredible portrait of mercy - although He is disappointed with Israel's faithfulness, He is full of love and mercy for her.  His mercy is further described how He will give her vineyards and hope, how He will provide peace and stability, and provisions. What a great God!  The text points to Jesus through the description of God's mercy in vv19-20 (and surrounding text) where it says "in that day" God will betroth Israel to Him not for a time - forever.  Similar to text elsewhere (see Ephesians 4:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21) how Jesus justifies, declares us righteous in His eyes, God will restore Israel and "betroth [Israel] to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth [Israel] to me in faithfulness."  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V15 shares how Israel responds to God's mercy by returning to God and loving Him as she once did after He rescued her from Egypt (see also Israel's song of praise in Exodus 15:1-19).  In yet another parallel to scripture elsewhere, Israel's repentance and return to love of God mirrors the return of the prodigal son to his father (Luke 15:11-32). 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid remaining in sin by returning to Him who forgives. Claim the promise of forgiveness and eternal life offered by Christ.  Follow the example of the prodigal son.  Confess, repent, believe, and be saved. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your rich mercy and for saving me - for declaring me not guilty of my sin and showering me with incredible mercies that never cease and are new every morning.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.