Have reverence for the Grace of God.

How often do we stop and really look into what the Bible tells us about why God became flesh, and gave his (monogenes) “only begotten” Son to die for us on the cross. There are many that get stuck here, some try to deny that Jesus is God, or that Jesus is indeed even the Son of God. I compare these people up to the Baal worshipers of the OT.

Take a short look at Hosea 6:1-2. “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up that we may live before him.

I believe this can only be taken one way. As the Prophet Hosea speaking to Israel. Now, I think it is important to have a little background on Hosea, and what life may have been like for him. Hosea lived during the last twenty five years of Israel's existence as a nation. During this time he saw six different Kings and a period of almost anarchy, and many many of his fellow countryman died in barbaric ways. Israel was being oppressed by the Assyrians. Hosea prophesied against the unfaithfulness of Israel and the impending judgment of God through the Assyrians.

The spiritual condition of Israel as we see throughout the entire Bible caused the Judgment of God to fall upon them. They were moving further into pagan worship, and this sort of worship included ritual drunkenness and temple prostitution. This is how the Canaanite fertility God's were worshiped. I do not necessarily believe that this happened overnight, or was even a conscious decision by the Israelites. I think that the Canaanite's pagan rituals were slowly integrated into the worship of Yahweh until after time the people had forgotten who Yahweh really is. Holiness and faith in Yahweh to be the lover of their souls had been replaced by idolatry, adultery and drunkenness. I think that today this same thing is happening. People do not change God's name they change who God is. If you change who God is you are like the Israelites, slowly losing your understanding the soft and severe nature of God.

I understand this is not the most popular subject to preach on, but the fact of the matter is this; God calls us to be holy, to lay down our sinful nature in such a way as is compared to death. Our old nature needs to die so it is no longer us who live but Christ who lives in us. This is part of what our Salvation looks like and we must also remember he has promised to raise us up that we may live before him. How do we know this? God broke the Israelites off of the Tree, according to the book of Roman's and he grafted in the gentiles, you and I, in order to make the Jews jealous so that some of them may return. Romans 11:19-22 Then you will say branches where broken off so that I might be grafted in. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches neither will he spare you. Note then, the kindness and severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but kindness to you provided that you continue in his kindness, otherwise you too will be cut off. The most amazing thing has happened, instead of being like the Canaanites and worshiping pagan Gods, God came in the flesh as Jesus Christ, and was beaten, torn up, crucified died and was buried, and on the third day he rose again and all those who believe on him are now citizens of heaven. But do not be to proud, and do not be like the Canaanites we must know who God is. God, is merciful to those who draw near to him. We now have a choice. Do you lay down the old sinful self as we are called to do, and put on the new self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness? We are saved by Grace as part of a plan to bring others to salvation as well. The God who saved us is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three in one. Our Father created the heavens and the Earth. He chose Abraham to bless the all nations. Knowing our sinful nature long before hand elected us the gentiles to this Salvation, for the purpose of keeping his promise to Abraham, and offering his Grace and love to the entire world. We are called to live righteous lives, denying our sinful nature, and becoming new creations in Christ Jesus. He sent his Holy Spirit as our counselor to convict us of our sin, testify to Christ, and to intercede for us. If, in fact you have heard the calling of this God, than lay down your sinful nature, and be made anew. Die to your old life and allow him to raise you a new creation whiter than snow, and suitable to live in commune with God. This is the God we worship, the one true God, his name is not as important as his desires for us, his elect, whom he foreknew and will not reject according to his word.

Our other choice is to change the nature of God to suit ourselves. But this cannot be the way. God did not rectify himself to us he justified us to him. If you believe you can live out your Christian life in sin, not seeking righteousness, you are not worshiping the same God, and like the Canaanites and the Israelites who lived with them you are slowly but surely losing your touch on who God is as well, until one day you will be living a life and worshiping a God who does not even closely resemble Yahweh, and you are becoming corrupted by your desires to be lied to. A god that tolerates adultery, and other filthiness is not a god who saves, because he is a god who does not exist. A god who is not three in one Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is not a God who saves, he cannot, because he does not exist. This perversion will slowly tear you further and further away from God until one day you will look upon him and he will say to you, I never knew you.

In Jesus Name seek the death of your old self and the new birth of Christ. Seleh.