Sunday, September 27, 2015

Today´s Sermon Notes September 27th 2015



2015.09.27                       Ephesians 1: 1-14
                                 In Christ
Good morning! I´m glad that you are here today because I have good news for you…. His name is Jesus….
Here at Calvary Chapel we teach through the Bible verse by verse…. We want to see the big picture…. We want to know and understand our great God.....
We just finished the Book of Acts…. We have witnessed the birth of the church… The last many weeks we have been walking with Paul as he taught and encouraged and discipled the Believers….. He planted churches and he appointed Elders in many places…..
Now You will remember…. Paul spent more time in Ephesus than in any other place… At the time of Paul´s ministry Ephesus was the second most important city in the Roman Empire… The church was greatly blessed by his ministry there…
Indeed Down through the centuries the entire church has benefitted from Paul´s example and teaching… Near the end of the book of Acts…
Paul knew that his time on the earth was very short... He was determined to finish his race with joy…. That´s exactly what he told the Ephesian Elders when he called them to him to say goodbye… Let´s remind ourselves of the last time Paul saw the leaders of Ephesus in person…  Acts 20: 22…
Acts 20: 22-24                        NKJV
22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20: 22-24                        slt 2000
22 Und siehe, jetzt reise ich gebunden im Geist nach Jerusalem, ohne zu wissen, was mir dort begegnen wird,
23 außer daß der Heilige Geist von Stadt zu Stadt Zeugnis gibt und sagt, daß Fesseln und Bedrängnisse auf mich warten.
24 Aber auf das alles nehme ich keine Rücksicht; mein Leben ist mir auch selbst nicht teuer, wenn es gilt, meinen Lauf mit Freuden zu vollenden und den Dienst, den ich von dem Herrn Jesus empfangen habe, nämlich das Evangelium der Gnade Gottes zu bezeugen.
His hope was solid ...... his eyes were on the promises of God... It helped him survive each day... He was able to endure because he trusted God and his unfailing love... His trust sustained him in the dark and difficult times… Everywhere he went he proclaimed the Good News of the Gospel to those who were willing to listen…  Even in prison Paul refused to give up… He taught and encouraged the believers at every opportunity… It has been about 10 years since Paul first ministered in Ephesus… The church was born and grew…. He spent more time there than in any other church…. As he sits in prison… His heart is drawn to them and he writes this wonderful letter to the Church at Ephesus… We are going to have a wonderful time studying this letter together…
Ephesians is composed of six chapters…. Paul uses the first three chapters to tell us....... what God has already done for us… The first three are full of doctrine… Powerful heavy truth…  Strong meat to grow on…
And the last three chapters are practical truth…. We learn what the church is supposed to look like… We learn how the church should function… let´s read the first section… ch1… v1…
In the scriptures we can see a pattern...... the pattern is all over the scriptures.....before we are asked to do anything for God .... we are reminded of all that God has already done for us......
The Christian life.... What´s it about.....???
It´s not about what we should be doing for God..... It´s about what He has already done for us...... And so Paul tells us what The Father has already done for us…
Let`s look the first section… Eph 1: 1- 2
Eph 1: 1-2                    NLT
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Eph 1: 1-2                  Neues Leben
1 Diesen Brief schreibt Paulus, ein von Gott berufener Apostel von Christus Jesus, an alle in Ephesus1, die an Christus Jesus glauben und zu Gott gehören.
2 Ich wünsche euch Gnade und Frieden von Gott, unserem Vater, und von Jesus Christus, unserem Herrn.
v 1-2..... chosen by the will of God... apostle... God´s holy people.... faithful followers... may God our father........
2… give you grace and peace... Paul uses this expression often… The order is important because  you cannot know the peace of God... the peace that passes understanding….
Until you have repented of your sins and been forgiven….  and so receive the Grace of God in His wonderful forgiveness…
Let`s  read Eph 1: 3-6….      
Eph 1: 3-6                         NLT
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
Eph 1: 3-6      Neues Leben
3 Wir loben Gott, den Vater von Jesus Christus, unserem Herrn, der uns durch Christus mit dem geistlichen Segen in der himmlischen Welt reich beschenkt hat.
4 Schon vor Erschaffung der Welt hat Gott uns aus Liebe dazu bestimmt, vor ihm heilig zu sein und befreit von Schuld.
5 Von Anfang an war es sein unveränderlicher Plan, uns durch Jesus Christus als seine Kinder aufzunehmen, und an diesem Beschluss hatte er viel Freude.
6 Deshalb loben wir Gott für die herrliche Gnade, mit der er uns durch Jesus Christus so reich beschenkt hat.
Paul is reminding this church that they are In Christ…. The Lord Himself has given them this great Blessing…
These verse clearly Show us the work of God the Father.... v3… He Blessed us…
v4… He loved us…
v4… He chose us… to be holy and without blame…
v5… He adopted us….
We can rejoice because of all that God has done for us....
That´s the emphasis of the scriptures...... The  great things that the LORD has already done for us.... Blessing… election .... redemption.... forgiveness.... adoption.... It should move us to grateful service…
Many pastors beat their sheep.... reminding them that their not doing enough for God...week after week... they get beat up out in the world.... then they get beat up in Church..... That´s wrong...... it´s not the emphasis of the Word of God....
The Father is not standing over us saying ...... be more.....do more..... The Bible doesn´t emphasis that..... Ephesians  emphasizes what God Has done for us.... Ephesians has been called the Alps of the Scriptures… Just like the view from the top of the Alps…. The view of the Heavenlies in Ephesians is breathtaking and inspiring… Because we see ourselves in Christ….
God the Father has placed us In Christ… It is because we are in Him that we receive all of these blessings…In Him… We see these words over and over in this text… Because The Father has blessed us and placed us In Christ we have every spiritual Blessing…
He´s saying .......I chose you from before the creation of the world.... My son will pay for your sins and He will redeem you... Paul writes the first three chapters in this letter about all of the things that God the Father has done for us...........before he tells us what we should do...
let`s look closer at some things in these verses....


3a… Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... Paul called for a blessing upon the Father..... recognizing His glory and honor and goodness........ because the Father has already blessed the believer with every spiritual blessing …
3b… Who has blessed us...This blessing is ours..... God’s resources are there for us always...... This speaks of an attitude of certainty and assurance......
The “us” includes both Jews and Gentiles in the church at Ephesus and beyond....... It was important to point out that these blessings are for both Jewish and Gentile believers...... First century Jews had a strong sense of being blessed..... called and predestined......Paul shows that these things are now given to all Christians.... Jews and  Gentiles......The idea that God..... the one true God..... loves and cares for and blesses the Gentiles was radical... and wonderful....
3c… With every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…  because we are in Christ..... These are spiritual blessings..... which are far better than material blessings....These blessings are ours in the heavenly places in Christ... they are higher, better, and eternal…
As believers we should not waste our time seeking the things that the world offers… We are made in the image of God and He has something much better for us....  God wants us know every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.....
This means that every blessing we receive, we receive in Christ… This means that God wants to bless us with every blessing available to us…
4a… Just as He chose us in Him.... Our possession of every spiritual blessing is as certain as our being chosen by Him..... and chosen before the foundation of the world........the blessings are ours because The Father has said it .... period...
 Believers are chosen by God..... and they are chosen before they have done anything for God...
God’s selection gives us assurance to the permanence of His plan and His love towards us......
The reasons for God’s choosing are not  random...... Though they are past our finding out.... we know that they are altogether wise and good…. but the reasons are all in Him, not in us.... His choosing is according to the good pleasure of His will… Ephesians 1:5…
We are chosen in Him.......
John Calvin wrote… Since we are chosen in Christ... it is outside ourselves...... It is not because of our deserving to be chosen....... but because our heavenly Father has engrafted us, through the blessing of adoption, into the Body of Christ...... In short, the name of Christ excludes all merit..... we deserve nothing...... 
4b… That we should be holy and without fault… We are chosen not only for salvation...... but also for holiness.......  We are commanded to be Holy...... The Good news about that is that God has promised to finish this work of sanctification.... a work that He began when we were saved... PHIL 2...
"holy and without fault" are descriptions of  the perfect and spotless sacrifices which the law required the people to bring to the altar of God......
4c… without blame before Him in love... 1 John 4: 17…
1 John 4: 17-19    NKJV   slt 2000
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
17 Darin ist die Liebe bei uns vollkommen geworden, daß wir Freimütigkeit haben am Tag des Gerichts, denn gleichwie Er ist, so sind auch wir in dieser Welt.
18 Furcht ist nicht in der Liebe, sondern die vollkommene Liebe treibt die Furcht aus, denn die Furcht hat mit Strafe zu tun; wer sich nun fürchtet, ist nicht vollkommen geworden in der Liebe.
19 Wir lieben ihn,4 weil er uns zuerst geliebt hat.
5… Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself... God’s unfolding plan for us not only includes salvation.... and personal transformation... We are adopted into His family… we become His sons and daughters…. All because we are in Christ… We are completely accepted… Just like Jesus…
Jesus was completely accepted by the Father...... All His character.... all His words.... all His work was acceptable to God the Father..... And now we are accepted in the Beloved.....
Paul realized this plan gave glory to the grace of God....The LAW gave glory and honor to  GOD`S justice and holiness....The GOSPEL makes GOD`S GRACE AND MERCY that much more Glorious...... 
God’s plan in the gospel is often rejected by man..... the scribes and Pharisees rejected it..... because it glorifies God and His grace..... not the effort or achievement of man......
And all legalistic Super Christians...... even today....... are much more interested in their great holiness and mighty works... than in the grace of GOD...
Lets read farther... v7,8…
Eph 1 : 7-8            NKJV
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
Ephesians 1: 7,8   slt 2000
7 In ihm haben wir die Erlösung durch sein Blut, die Vergebung der Übertretungen nach dem Reichtum seiner Gnade,
8 die er uns überströmend widerfahren ließ in aller Weisheit und Einsicht.
7a…  In Him we have redemption through His blood..... The Him is the Beloved of Ephesians 1:6..... It is  In Him that we have redemption and nowhere else..... There is no possible redemption outside of Jesus and His redeeming blood.......
Redemption always implies a price being paid for the freedom that is purchased....... It uses the ancient Greek word "lootruo".....which means, “to liberate on the receipt of a ransom.”...... Here the price is His blood...... showing that the blessing from the Father and the Son comes not only from a divine decree..... but it also comes according to His righteousness and holiness......
7b… According to the riches of His grace..... The redemption and forgiveness given to us comes because of the riches of His grace........ Our Salvation is no little thing… Our redemption and forgiveness was accomplished by Jesus on the cross..... It is immense... total…  complete..... forever.... v9…
Eph 1: 9-12    NKJV
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Eph 1: 9-12              slt 2000        
9 Er hat uns das Geheimnis seines Willens bekanntgemacht, entsprechend dem [Ratschluß], den er nach seinem Wohlgefallen gefaßt hat in ihm,
10 zur Ausführung in der Fülle der Zeiten: alles unter einem Haupt zusammenzufassen in dem Christus, sowohl was im Himmel als auch was auf Erden ist
11 — in ihm, in welchem wir auch ein Erbteil erlangt haben, die wir vorherbestimmt sind nach dem Vorsatz dessen, der alles wirkt nach dem Ratschluß seines Willens,
12 damit wir zum Lob seiner Herrlichkeit dienten, die wir zuvor auf den Christus gehofft haben.
v9,10a… God has now revealed to  us His mysterious plan..... Part of what belongs to us under the riches of His grace..... is the knowledge of the mystery of His will......God’s great plan and purpose which was once hidden .......but is now revealed to us in Jesus...
God’s ultimate plan is to bring together…. Jews and Gentiles into one body….. The Church…. The Body of Christ… God wants to unify all things in our lives under Him.... everything..... our work....our families..... everything "in Christ"......
This is the great resolution and deliverance that even the creation groans for (Romans 8:18-22)..... That great day when every wrong will be righted..... and every matter resolved..... according to God’s unfailing love..... and justice.....
v11… For believers..... Jesus is the One in whom we have an inheritance...... Believers are predestined for this according to the counsel of His will…
He Chose.....He decided to bless us…. Love us… adopt us…. He placed us in Christ… All of the reasons for His choosing are in Him, not in us......
v 12… That we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory…. God’s purpose in all this is so that those who have trusted Christ will exist to the praise of His glory… The goal of God’s ultimate plan is to glorify Himself..... Note takers Ezekiel 36… Back to Ephesians 1… We will close with these 2 verses… v13,14…
Ephesians 1: 13,14                      NKJV    
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1: 13,14               slt 2000
13 In ihm seid auch ihr, nachdem ihr das Wort der Wahrheit, das Evangelium eurer Errettung, gehört habt — in ihm seid auch ihr, als ihr gläubig wurdet, versiegelt worden mit dem Heiligen Geist der Verheißung,
14 der das Unterpfand unseres Erbes ist bis zur Erlösung des Eigentums, zum Lob seiner Herrlichkeit.
We as genuine believers have trusted in Christ as our Lord and Savior….. We heard the Word of truth…. The Good News of the Gospel…
And since we have believed and trusted the Lord Jesus Christ…. He has sealed us and redeemed us…. It is all to the praise of His Glory!...
Communion
Warning! Danger!  Search your hearts….
1 Corinthians 11: 27-32                           NKJV
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11: 27-32   slt 2000
27 Wer also unwürdig dieses Brot ißt oder den Kelch des Herrn trinkt, der ist schuldig am Leib und Blut des Herrn.
28 Der Mensch prüfe aber sich selbst, und so soll er von dem Brot essen und aus dem Kelch trinken;
29 denn wer unwürdig ißt und trinkt, der ißt und trinkt sich selbst ein Gericht, weil er den Leib des Herrn nicht unterscheidet.
30 Deshalb sind unter euch viele Schwache und Kranke, und eine beträchtliche Zahl sind entschlafen.
31 Denn wenn wir uns selbst richteten, würden wir nicht gerichtet werden;
32 wenn wir aber gerichtet werden, so werden wir vom Herrn gezüchtigt, damit wir nicht samt der Welt verurteilt werden.

Every time that we take communion…. We take in our hands the proof that God loves us….. We see hIs unfailing love in Jesus sacrifice for our sins….. Jesus purchased our redemption…

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26                      NKJV
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26                                 slt 2000
23 Denn ich habe von dem Herrn empfangen, was ich auch euch überliefert habe, nämlich daß der Herr Jesus in der Nacht, als er verraten wurde, Brot nahm,
24 und dankte, es brach und sprach: Nehmt, eßt! Das ist mein Leib, der für euch gebrochen wird; dies tut zu meinem Gedächtnis!
25 Desgleichen auch den Kelch, nach dem Mahl, indem er sprach: Dieser Kelch ist der neue Bund in meinem Blut; dies tut, so oft ihr ihn trinkt, zu meinem Gedächtnis!
26 Denn so oft ihr dieses Brot eßt und diesen Kelch trinkt, verkündigt ihr den Tod des Herrn, bis er kommt.
The Lord´s Supper has a past reference to The Passover and of course….. Jesus´ sacrificial death on the cross….
It has a present reference to the fact that we belong to one another here in the Body of Christ… It also has a future reference…. Because it points us to our future Gathering together at the end of time… He will return for us….. We will be with the Lord forever…..  We will celebrate with Him….
Let´s pray….

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

God´s unfailing Love



2015.09.22                                Hosea 11
God´s unfailing love is the basis of our Redemption
This book is God´s self-revelation….. We know God because He has revealed himself to us…. First in His Word…. And then ultimately in the person of work of the Lord Jesus Christ…. He is the incarnate God…  As we study the Prophesies of Hosea… We see God´s unfailing love for a wicked and rebellious people…. As Hosea tells of coming judgment and pleads for genuine repentance…. We could outline Hosea by looking at God´s revelation of Himself as he pleads for repentence and reconciliation.…The first 10 chapters focus on disobedience and coming Judgment… They display three aspects of His character….
1 God is Sovereign… Ch 1-3
2 God is Holy… Ch 4-7
3 Just… Ch 8-10
4 Loving….. Ch 11-14
The last 4 chapters focus on God´s Love….
Review:   Chapters 11-14
The LORD`s self-disclosure in this chapter has caused many scholars to say that chapter 11 is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible….
That´s where we find ourselves tonight….
Hosea 11: 1,2                       KJV
1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
Hosea 11: 1,2                       slt 2000
1 Als Israel jung war, liebte ich ihn, und aus Ägypten habe ich meinen Sohn gerufen.
2 Aber sobald man sie rief, wandten sie sich vom Angesicht [der Rufenden] ab.1 Den Baalen opferten sie, und den Götzenbildern räucherten sie.
1… child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.… Here God remembers His tender love for Israel… The Hebrew is excellent….. God says I loved and I called my son….. That is what we saw when more than 500 years before the time of Hosea He brought them out of slavery in Egypt… Here we see the wonderful truth of the Fatherhood of God…. It is a picture of unconditional love and sacrifice… This is a perfect place to remember John 3: 16….
This prophesy was fulfilled in the life of Jesus…. Matthew 2:13- 15 shows how the words “out of Egypt I called My son” were fulfilled when the child Jesus return from Egypt after escaping from Herod's massacre of the young boys of Bethlehem..…..  5th fact about God…
5 God is our Father…. Romans 8: 12-17 turn please…
Romans 8: 12-17   NKJV    
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8: 12-17      slt 2000
12 So sind wir also, ihr Brüder, dem Fleisch nicht verpflichtet, gemäß dem Fleisch zu leben!
13 Denn wenn ihr gemäß dem Fleisch lebt, so müßt ihr sterben; wenn ihr aber durch den Geist die Taten des Leibes tötet, so werdet ihr leben.
14 Denn alle, die durch den Geist Gottes geleitet werden, die sind Söhne Gottes.
15 Denn ihr habt nicht einen Geist der Knechtschaft empfangen, daß ihr euch wiederum fürchten müßtet, sondern ihr habt den Geist der Sohnschaft empfangen, in dem wir rufen: Abba, Vater!
16 Der Geist selbst gibt Zeugnis zusammen mit unserem Geist, daß wir Gottes Kinder sind.
17 Wenn wir aber Kinder sind, so sind wir auch Erben, nämlich Erben Gottes und Miterben des Christus; wenn wir wirklich mit ihm leiden, damit wir auch mit ihm verherrlicht werden.
What wonderful news…. Because of His unfailing love and mercy…. Not only are we not destroyed…. God provides a substitute….. His only Begotten Son….The Lord Jesus Christ… But we are adopted into His family…
Back to Hosea 11…
2… As they called them, so they went from them… God called Israel out of bondage in Egypt….. He delivered them from the idolatry of the Egyptians…. but the idolatry of the Canaanites corrupted Israel…… and they forsook the LORD and followed the Baals…… Look at the tender love of the Lord for these rebels…
Hosea 11: 3,4             KJV
3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
Hosea 11:3,4                    slt 2000
3 Und ich war es doch, der Ephraim gehen lehrte, der sie auf seine Arme nahm. Aber sie haben nicht erkannt, daß ich sie heilte.
4 Mit menschlichen Banden zog ich sie, mit Seilen der Liebe; ich hob ihnen gleichsam das Joch auf vom Kinn und neigte mich zu ihnen, um ihnen Nahrung zu geben.
3a… I taught Ephraim to walk… but they did not know that I healed them: God does so much for His people that we are unaware of….. Often we attribute blessings that come directly from the hand of God to some other source…. This is exactly what the Children of Israel were doing when they credited their prosperity and wellbeing the false gods of the pagans around them….
3b… Taking them by their arms… The picture is of a parent teaching a child how to walk by holding the child's arms and supporting the child as they make their awkward steps.
4… I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love… When God draws His people to Himself…  it is with gentle cords of love… not with harsh manipulation…. God wants to win us over, but not will brute force….
"Understand, then, it is true that no man comes to God except he is drawn; but it is equally true that God draweth no man contrary to the constitution of man, but his methods of drawing are in strict accordance with ordinary mental operations. He finds the human mind what it is, and he acts upon it, not as upon matter, but as upon mind. The compulsions, the constraints, the cords that he uses, are 'cords of a man.' The bands he employs are 'bands of love.'" (Spurgeon)

4a… as they that take off the yoke on their jaws … refers to relaxing and loosening the yoke-collar of a plowing animal, giving the animal rest and the freedom to breathe.
4b… I laid meat unto them … God humbled Himself to minister to His needy people….. One might almost think it is beneath the dignity and honor of God to stoop so for His people, but He never thinks so….. This is the heart of God perfectly reflected in the servant nature of Jesus…. (Philippians 2).

Hosea 11: 5-7   KJV
5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent.
6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them , because of their own counsels.
7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him .
Hosea 11: 5-7         slt 2000
5 Er soll nicht nach dem Land Ägypten zurückkehren, sondern der Assyrer soll ihr König werden, weil sie nicht umkehren wollen!
6 Und das Schwert soll in ihren Städten umgehen und ihre Riegel vernichten und sie wegen ihrer Ratschläge verzehren.
7 Mein Volk hält am Abfall von mir fest2; ruft man es nach oben, so erhebt sich gar niemand!
5… Because they refused to repent… In this sense, it wasn't so much the sin of Israel that got them into trouble…. It was their stubborn refusal to repent after their sin….. Because they refused to repent…. God would make sure that war and exile waited for them….
7… My people are bent on backsliding from Me… Though they call to the Most High, none at all exalt Him… Backsliding means that at one time…. Israel had a close…. genuine walk with God…. Now that is in the past, and their profession of faith is simply empty…. They call to the Most High in a formal religious way….. but they do not obey Him from their hearts or exalt Him with their lives….
Even now the Lord is deeply grieved at their rebellion and stubbornness… They are causing  their own punishment…. Even as the Lord is offering them mercy….
Jonah understood this very well…Turn with me to Jonah ch 2…v8…
Jonah 2: 8,9                              NKJV    slt 2000
8“Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.”
The Lord did not give up on Jonah…. He does not want to give up on the Children of Israel either… His Father´s heart is broken…. Back to Hosea 11…v 8…
Hosea 11: 8,9                       KJV  slt 2000
8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
8 Wie könnte ich dich dahingeben, Ephraim, wie könnte ich dich preisgeben, Israel? Wie könnte ich dich behandeln wie Adama, dich machen wie Zeboim? Mein Herz sträubt sich dagegen, mein ganzes Mitleid ist erregt!
9 Ich will nicht handeln nach der Glut meines Zorns, will Ephraim nicht wiederum verderben; denn ich bin Gott und nicht ein Mensch, als der Heilige bin ich in deiner Mitte und will nicht in grimmigem Zorn kommen.
8a… How can I give you up, Ephraim?... Though the dark clouds of judgment are on the horizon…. God takes no pleasure in the chastening about to come upon Israel…. Instead He says, "My love and compassion is stirred." (Chesed)
Even when we are in sin… and guilty before God…. Yet He says, How can I give you up? Justice demands that He punish the sin and rebellion…  Yet even now He is determined to make a way of salvation…. God the Father sends the Lord Jesus Christ…. and on the cross Jesus was "given up"… He took our place…
Turn to Ezekiel 18…v30…
Ezekiel 18: 30-32                       NLT  Neues Leben
30 “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! 31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? 32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!
Ezekiel 18: 30-32                       NLT  Neues Leben
30 Deshalb werde ich jeden Einzelnen von euch nach seinem Verhalten richten, Volk der Israeliten´, spricht Gott, der Herr. `Kehrt um und hört auf zu sündigen! Lasst nicht zu, dass ihr Schuld auf euch ladet!
31 Trennt euch von euren Verfehlungen, die ihr begangen habt, und erneuert eure Herzen und euren Geist. Denn warum wollt ihr sterben, Volk der Israeliten?
32 Ich freue mich nicht über den Tod eines Menschen, der sterben muss, spricht Gott, der Herr. Kehrt also um, damit ihr am Leben bleibt!´
Find (get) yourselves a new heart and a new spirit…. This phrase reminds us of that great promise of the new birth given through the mouth of Ezekiel… turn to Ezek 36…v23…
Ezekiel 36: 23-27                       NLT  Neues Leben
23 I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord. 24 For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my commands.
Ezekiel 36: 23-27   Neues Leben
23 So werde ich meinem großen Namen, den ihr bei den Völkern entweiht habt, seine Heiligkeit zurückgeben. Und wenn ich vor ihren Augen meine Heiligkeit an euch offenbare, spricht Gott, der Herr, dann werden die Völker erkennen, dass ich der Herr bin.
24 Denn ich hole euch aus den Völkern und sammle euch aus allen Ländern und bringe euch in euer Land zurück.
25 Dann gieße ich reines Wasser über euch aus, und ihr werdet rein sein. Von allen euren Unreinheiten und von allen euren Götzen werde ich euch reinigen.
26 Und ich werde euch ein neues Herz geben und euch einen neuen Geist schenken. Ich werde das Herz aus Stein aus eurem Körper nehmen und euch ein Herz aus Fleisch geben.
27 Und ich werde euch meinen Geist geben, damit ihr nach meinem Gesetz lebt und meine Gebote bewahrt und euch danach richtet.
Back to Hosea v 8b…
8b… Admah and Zeboiim were two cities near Sodom and Gomorrah that were also destroyed (Deuteronomy 29:23). God says, "I can't bear to allow My people to be caught up in the destruction that will come upon all the nations…. as Admah and Zeboiim were caught up on the destruction that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah….
Again we see that God does not rejoice in the death of the wicked… Ezek 18: 30-32…
9a… I will not again destroy Ephraim… Though their sin deserves it… God will not wipe out Israel….. He will leave a remnant….. and will restore the nation…..
9b… For I am God, and not man… The longsuffering, forgiveness, and compassion of the Lord toward His people seems unbelievable until we remember that He is not man…. but God….. Thank God that He is not at all like us…
    - Man cannot hold back his anger very long
    - Man cannot bear with others when he is tired, stressed, or annoyed
    - Man will not reconcile if the person who offended him is a person of bad character
    - Man is often only willing to be reconciled if the offending party craves forgiveness and makes the first move
    - Man is often only willing to be reconciled if the offending party will never again do the wrong
    - Man, when he does reconcile, does not lift the former offender to place of high status and partnership
    - Man, when he is wronged, does not bear all the penalty for the wrong done
    - Man, when he attempts reconciliation, will not continue if he is rejected
    - Man will not restore an offender without a period of probation
    - Man will not love, adopt, honor, and associate with one who has wronged him
    - Man will not trust someone who has formerly wronged them
Spurgeon wrote… What passes for forgiveness among men is nothing like the amazing forgiveness of God….. "Suppose that someone had grievously offended any one of you…. and that he asked your forgiveness…. do you not think that you would probably say to him, 'Well, yes, I forgive you; but I - I - I - cannot forget it'? Ah! dear friends, that is a sort of forgiveness with one leg chopped off, it is a lame forgiveness, and is not worth much."
Verse 10…
Hosea 11: 10- 12               KJV   slt 2000
10 They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
10 Sie werden dem Herrn nachfolgen, der brüllen wird wie ein Löwe; wenn er brüllt, so werden die Söhne zitternd vom Meer herbeieilen;
11 wie Vögel werden sie aus Ägypten zitternd herbeieilen und wie Tauben aus dem Land Assyrien; und ich werde sie in ihren eigenen Häusern wohnen lassen, spricht der Herr.
1 Ephraim hat mich mit Lügen umgeben und das Haus Israel mit Betrug; auch Juda schweift immer noch umher neben Gott, dem Heiligen, der treu ist.
10… When He roars, then His sons shall come trembling from the west…God speaks of the ultimate restoration of Israel…. an expression of His mercy to Ephraim….. He will even now show mercy… He will redeem  and restore Israel…
12… Ephraim has encircled Me with lies… God makes these promises knowing they will not repent…
This is the miracle of the grace of God….. He knows that we don´t love and serve him from our hearts…. He knows that we are stubborn and unwilling to repent… And yet…   As we read in Ezekiel 36…. God says I will act for my great names sake….. Look at those verses again in closing…. Let´s see those wonderful things that he says He will do…
V23..
Ezekiel 36: 23-27                       NLT  Neues Leben
23 I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord. 24 For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my commands.
Ezekiel 36: 23-27   Neues Leben
23 So werde ich meinem großen Namen, den ihr bei den Völkern entweiht habt, seine Heiligkeit zurückgeben. Und wenn ich vor ihren Augen meine Heiligkeit an euch offenbare, spricht Gott, der Herr, dann werden die Völker erkennen, dass ich der Herr bin.
24 Denn ich hole euch aus den Völkern und sammle euch aus allen Ländern und bringe euch in euer Land zurück.
25 Dann gieße ich reines Wasser über euch aus, und ihr werdet rein sein. Von allen euren Unreinheiten und von allen euren Götzen werde ich euch reinigen.
26 Und ich werde euch ein neues Herz geben und euch einen neuen Geist schenken. Ich werde das Herz aus Stein aus eurem Körper nehmen und euch ein Herz aus Fleisch geben.
27 Und ich werde euch meinen Geist geben, damit ihr nach meinem Gesetz lebt und meine Gebote bewahrt und euch danach richtet.

23a I will show how holy my great name is…
23b  I reveal my holiness through you…
24 I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again…
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean…
26a I will give you a new heart…
26b I will put a new spirit in you…
26c I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart…
27 I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my commands.

Jonah was 100% correct… Salvation is of the LORD!