Wrestling With God's Forgiving Love

Summary

1. Israel was not seeking the Lord during Hosea's time
2. God was sick with how they acted but with patience He was encouraging and
   showing love and compassion
3. In spite of Israel's unfaithfulness, God is ALWAYS faithful and His love
   unconditional.
4. MacArthur in Forgiveness - "Nothing is more foreign to sinful human nature. And nothing is more characteristic of divine grace"

Three Attributes of God's Love

1. His love is Forgiving - Gal 2:20/1 John 4:9-11
   a.Anchored in a covenant - .....even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel.
   b.The covenant of God are relationship based - Christ died to fulfill the
   covenantal relationship started with Adam.

2. His love is independent of the circumstances - or independent of our own merit
   a.God's love is based on a decision He has made - Ephesians 2:1-4
   b.Biblical love is a consciousness choice. There is no falling in or out of love.

3. His is a redeeming love - 1 Corinthian 6:20/10:31
   a. Carries the idea of a slave standing on the trader's auction block sold to a compassionate new owner, who then gives the slave his unconditional freedom; but
   the slave, out of gratitude, offers himself back as a loving bond servant for
   life to his redeemer.
   b. Redeeming love is Costly (v2) - Ezekiel 18:4/Psalm 49:7-9
   c. Redeeming love causes change - (v3) - 2 Corinthian 5:17/Galatians 2:20/Romans 6:6/1 John 3:9-10