Sermon #782
Title: A Portrait of Sovereign Grace
Text: Hosea 1:2-3; 2:5 - 3:3
Reading:
Subject: Hosea
and Gomer: An illustration of God’s Grace.
Date: Sunday morning - April 10, 1988[1]
Tape
#
Introduction:
Hosea
1:2-3 "The beginning of
the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a
wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great
whoredom, departing from the LORD. (3) So he went and took Gomer the
daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son."
Hosea
2:5 "For their mother
hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she
said, I will go after my lovers, that give me
my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink."
Hosea
3:3 "And I said unto
her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and
thou shalt not be for another man: so
will I also be for thee."
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in
the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in
unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright
designs
And works His sovereign
will.
Ye fearful saints fresh
courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and
shall break
In blessing on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble
sense,
But trust Him for His grace,
Behind the frowning
providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen
fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter
taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to
err,
And scan His work in vain:
God is His own Interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
The
title of my message today is A Portrait
of Sovereign Grace. Our Lord, by his own example, taught us that one of the
best ways to teach the doctrine of the gospel is to illustrate it. After all,
“One picture is worth a thousand words.” So today, I want to give you a
picture, a portrait of God’s sovereign, saving grace in Christ Jesus. We have
many pictures of grace in the scriptures. And this message could be preached
from any of them.
·
The
Lost Sheep
·
The
Lost Coin
·
The
Lost Son
·
The
Woman at the Well
·
Lazarus
·
Zachaeus
·
Ruth
and Boaz
·
Isaac
and Rebecca
·
Onesimus
·
Daniel
in the Lion’s Den
·
Lydia
·
The
Philippian Jailer
The list could go on and on.
But if I had to choose one Bible story or parable from which to preach about
and illustrate the whole message of the gospel, I believe it would be the story
of God’s prophet Hosea and his chosen, loved, harlot wife, Gomer, which I have
read in your hearing.
Without question, the Word of God plainly teaches us that
salvation is altogether, from start to finish, the work of God’s free,
sovereign, unconditional, effectual and irresistible grace in Christ. The works
of the sinner and the will of the sinner have absolute nothing to do with the
accomplishment of salvation.
·
Psalm
65:4
·
Psalm
110:3
·
John
1:12-13 (Rom. 9.16).
·
John
6:63
·
Romans
3:23-24
·
Romans
6:23
·
Romans
11:6
·
Ephesians
2:5, 8, 9
·
2
Timothy 1:9
·
Titus
3:4-8
All God’s saints freely and
gladly confess, with the apostle Paul, “By
the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10). But what do we mean when
we say that we are saved by grace alone? What does God mean when he declares
that salvation is by grace? This story of Hosea and Gomer will give us the
meaning of grace.
Proposition:
Grace is the boundless, free, effectual
goodness of God toward fallen sinners, by which he has elected and redeemed, by
which he regenerates, calls, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies the objects
of his everlasting love for the glory of his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Someone
made this distinction between the mercy of God and the grace of God: “Mercy is
God not giving us what we deserve. Grace is God giving us what we do not
deserve.” We all deserve to be in hell right now. It is the mercy of God that
allows us to live upon his earth. Life is mercy. But eternal life is grace.
None of us deserve eternal life. That is the free gift of God’s grace. Anything
short of hell is mercy. Salvation and eternal life in Christ is grace. We
deserve wrath. But God has saved us by his grace.
Divisions:
This portrait of sovereign grace plainly sets
before us seven characteristics of the grace of God by which we are saved. The
grace of God is...
1.
Sovereign,
electing grace.
2.
Undeserved,
undesired, unconditional grace.
3.
Prevenient,
preparatory grace.
4.
Distinguishing,
effectual grace.
5.
Costly,
redeeming, sin-atoning grace.
6.
Preserving,
persevering grace.
7.
Immutable,
covenant grace.
I. First, I want you to see
that the grace of God in Christ, by which we are saved, is SOVEREIGN, ELECTING GRACE (1:2-3).
Hosea 1:2-3 "The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the
LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of
whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. (3) So
he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a
son."
God
told Hosea to go love a woman, not just any woman, but a fallen woman, a
harlot, not just any harlot, but a particular harlot. “So he went and took Gomer.” Why did he do that? What was the
purpose of this? It was to show us a picture of God’s grace toward us. Hosea
loved Gomer, “According to the love of
the Lord toward the children of Israel” (3:1).
A. There are many in this world to whom God is not gracious.
I know that men talk about “common grace” and
“special grace.” But there is nothing common about the grace of God. God’s
grace is always special and particular. He sovereignly bestows his grace upon
some and refuses to be gracious to others (Matt. 11:20-27). God will be
gracious to whom he will be gracious. And whom he will he hardens.
Illustration: Israel and Egypt - For four
thousand years
Israel alone had the light of Divine
Revelation.
1.
Most
of the people who live in this world have never heard a man preach the gospel.
2.
Most
of those who hear the gospel are not called to life and faith by the Spirit of
God. “Many are called; but few are
chosen.”
3.
Most
of those who profess faith in Christ do not persevere in the faith. Some who
seek him find him, but not others: Esau, The Ruler.
There
are few to whom the strait gate is revealed, fewer still who enter it, fewer
still who walk in the narrow way, and fewer still who walk in that way unto the
end. There are many in this world to whom God is not gracious.
B. But, blessed be God, he has chosen to be gracious to some!
There are some men and women in this world
who are loved and chosen of God, whom he is determined to save. To them he is
gracious, always gracious, gracious in all that he does. For those elect
sinners, whom God has chosen to save, there is a sovereign, unchangeable,
eternal purpose of grace, by which he rules the world (Eph. 1:3-6).
1.
We
were chosen in Christ and predestinated to be like Christ before the world
began.
2.
The
basis and cause of our eternal election was and is the everlasting love of God
toward us.
3.
Our
election in Christ gave us an eternal, immutable acceptance with God. God said,
from eternity, “I will love them freely;
for mine anger is turned away from him” (14:4).
The
only person who does not love and rejoice in God’s sovereign, electing grace is
the one who has not received grace (John 10:26). Every saved sinner gladly
acknowledges...
`Tis not that I did choose
Thee,
For, Lord, that could not
be;
This heart would still
refuse Thee,
But Thou hast chosen me.
II. Secondly, the grace of God,
by which we are saved, is UNDESERVED,
UNDESIRED, UNCONDITIONAL GRACE.
Gomer was a common whore, a prostitute, a
hooker, a street walker. She was not looking for a husband. She did not want a
husband. And she did not deserve a husband. But Hosea chose her. Hosea loved
her. Hosea wanted her. And his heart could not be satisfied until he had her.
That is the picture of God’s grace toward us.
A. God’s grace toward us in Christ is
altogether undeserved.
B. The grace of God in Christ was
totally undesired.
C. And that grace by which we are
saved is absolutely free and unconditional.
·
We
were chosen unconditionally.
·
We
were redeemed unconditionally.
·
We
were called unconditionally.
·
We
are kept unconditionally.
III. Thirdly,
the grace of God by which fallen, ruined, helpless sinners are saved, always
begins with what we might call PREVENIENT,
PREPARATORY GRACE.
It is impossible to tell
when the grace of God begins to operate upon the hearts of his elect. Sometimes
we can tell when the quickening, regenerating converting grace comes, but not
the grace itself. We cannot tell when God begins to work for his elect. Grace
always works for us. God’s grace is exercised for his elect long before we are
aware of it. Let me show you what I mean.
A. Prevenient grace
precedes God’s saving grace, following, providing for and protecting God’s
elect until the time of their calling (Jude 1; Hosea 2:5-8).
Grace separated me from my mother’s womb, followed me and
directed me throughout the days of my rebellion, and then brought me to the
place where Christ was revealed in me.
Illustration: Onesimus!
The Prodigal!
1. God’s grace begins in our earliest years as Formative Grace.
·
He
sovereignly puts us in our homes.
·
He
molds our dispositions.
·
He
forms our thoughts.
2. Grace follows us through life, and, following us, it
secretly orders our steps as Protective
Grace.
·
God
provided for our needs, even when we despised his goodness (Hos. 2:8).
·
God
protected us, even when we hated him (Heb. 1:14).
3. In later years, God’s grace was upon us as Preventive Grace.
He has graciously kept many
of you from the depths of open profligacy and sin. The evil that other men do
is in your heart. But God has mercifully prevented you from doing the evil
things you have imagined, plotted, dreamed about and secretly cherished.
·
Not
all women are harlots in deed, but all are harlots at heart.
·
Not
all men are whoremongers in deed, but all are whoremongers at heart.
·
Not
all are murderers in deed, but all are murderers at heart.
·
Not
all are blasphemers in deed, but all are murderers at heart (Matt. 15:19).
NOTE: If God has prevented you
from any form of outward evil, give him thanks. But do not glory in personal
goodness. You have none.
4. For others grace is evident as the marvelous Restraining Grace of our Heavenly
Father.
He allows many to walk in the paths of open sin and run the
course of profligate rebellion, only that he might bring them down to be
gracious to them. Yet, even with us, he restrained the evil we would have done.
How I rejoice in those words of my God - “Hitherto
shalt thou go, and no further!” (Read Psalm 107:1-31). Parents: God may be
bringing them down!
B. Then, this same
grace prepares the hearts of God’s elect for his saving grace (Matt.
13:3-9).
Grace prepares the heart and makes a way for grace. This
preparatory work of grace is beautifully illustrated by the story of Hosea and
Gomer.
1. Gomer was a harlot, but Hosea loved her.
The godly prophet brought this harlot into his house and
made her his wife. Hosea lavished his affections on Gomer. He gave her
everything her heart could desire. He gave her three children: Jezreel,
Loruhaman, and Loammi. It would seem that Gomer would be very happy and grateful.
But she was not.
Hosea had taken Gomer out of the Red Light District. But he
had not taken the Red Light District out of Gomer. She was still a harlot at
heart! She lusted for her old companions. She was religious, but not redeemed.
Correct, but not chaste. Dutiful, but not devoted.
One day she looked out her window and saw one of her old
lovers. He winked at her. She called him to the door. And there they made their
desires known to one another.
NOTE: Young
people, hear me now. Keep far away from temptation. “Flee youthful lusts!” A permissive word, or unguarded moment may
bring you into the misery of hell itself. “Blessed
is the man that walketh not inthe counsel of the ungodly, nor sitteth in the
seat of the scorners, nor standeth in the way of sinners.”
Gomer’s stupidity was great.
She had hearkened to the counsel of the ungodly, for she hearkened to the
counsel of her own heart. While she slept in the arms of her loving husband,
she thought only of her lovers.
2. One day Hosea came home, and Gomer was gone.
·
Gomer
had gotten into the gutter again.
·
Though
she was fallen, by willful and malicious transgression, Hosea loved her!
·
And
he sought for her everywhere. Gomer saw Hosea and heard his voice. But she hid
from him. Finally, Hosea found his beloved Gomer. He went to her room every
night and secretly provided for her. He wanted her more than life itself. He
loved that worthless woman. He had every right to take her by force. But he
would not bring her home again, until she was willing to come. And he was
determined to make her willing! (Psa. 65:4; Hos. 2:9-17).
3. God graciously prepares his people to receive his grace
and makes each one willing to come to Christ in the day of his power.
He creates in us, by one means or another, a
dissatisfaction with ourselves. He strips away our joy. He destroys our peace.
He turns our pride into corruption. He brings us into misery. Oh, may God do
that for you! Like Gomer, we have to be brought down. Gomer sank into the
dunghill of iniquity and learned by bitter experience that “the way of the transgressor is hard.”
·
She
came to poverty.
·
She
grew old.
·
She
was an outcast of society. The “good” folk despised her and the other harlots
mocked her. She was helpless and worthless.
·
At
last, when she was no good for prostitution, she came to the slave market to
sell herself into bondage and servitude, if anyone would have her. Nobody loved
Gomer. Nobody wanted Gomer. Nobody but Hosea! Now, she was ready for his love,
mercy, and grace.
That’s the grace of God! Even when we were in the arms of
another, we belonged to Christ. He loved us. And he was, even then, preparing
us for grace!
·
Grace
gave us a tender conscience at last.
·
Grace
made us willing to hear the gospel.
·
Grace
wrought conviction within us.
·
Grace
brought us down!
IV. Here
is a fourth characteristic of God’s saving grace: It is DISTINGUISHING, EFFECTUAL GRACE (2:19).
The grace of God brings salvation. It is always
distinguishing, effectual, and irresistible. Everything Hosea did, he did for
Gomer alone, that he might have Gomer. And he got her (Rom. 9:16). God the Holy
Spirit turns the eyes of the prodigal to his Father’s house, seeks the lost
sheep and calls the adulterous wife.
One day Hosea was walking in the streets. When he came to
the slave market, he stopped. There were many slaves, who were sold for many
purposes. But, among the most derelict and abominable of those slaves, Hosea
saw Gomer! He called her, “Gomer.” She hung her head in shame. He called her
again, “Gomer.”
Down in the human heart,
crushed by the Tempter,
Feelings lie buried that
grace can restore.
Touched by the loving hand,
wakened by kindness,
Cords that were broken can
vibrate once more.
Hosea bought Gomer (3:2). He went over to the slave block,
kissed her, embraced her, took her hand and tucked it under his arm. And he
walked proudly down the streets with Gomer at his side. He was not ashamed of
her. And she certainly was not ashamed of him.
Children of God, this is what our Lord has done for us by
his matchless grace.
A. He came to us
when we would not and could not come to him (Ezek. 16:6-8).
B. He called us and
brought us to Christ.
C. He brought us into
his house and owned us as his bride. “He brought me
to his banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”
V. Be
sure you see that the grace of God is COSTLY,
REDEEMING, SIN-ATONING GRACE (3:2).
Before Hosea could have Gomer, he had to redeem her. He did
not buy all the slaves. He did not want them all. He loved Gomer. He wanted
Gomer. He bought Gomer. And having bought her, by lawful ransom price, he could
not lose her.
This is what our Savior says to us: “I have bought you with the silver of my sweat and the gold of my
blood. And you are mine” (3:3).
·
Christ
redeemed us by costly, but legal price.
·
Christ
redeemed us particularly.
·
Christ
redeemed us effectually.
·
Now
we belong to Christ (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Illustration: The two black birds.
VI. Sixthly,
I must make mention of the fact that God’s grace is PRESERVING, PERSEVERING GRACE (2:20-23).
·
Grace
perseveres toward us.
·
Grace
preserves us.
·
And
grace causes us to persevere in grace.
VII. And in the last place, I
want you to see that the grace of God, by which we are saved, his electing
grace, his undeserved grace, his prevenient grace, his effectual grace, his
redeeming grace, his preserving grace, is IMMUTABLE,
COVENANT GRACE ( 2:18).
In
the covenant of grace God not only resolved to save us, but he also made all
things to be instruments of mercy and grace to us (Rom. 8:28).
Application: The
Touch of the Master’s Hand.
1.
What
God has done for us by his grace, he can do for you.
2.
Let
us ever praise God for his grace! (1 Cor. 1:26-31).