Returning to The Lord Our God (Hosea 14:1-3)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
8 November 2020
God called his people Israel to return to him. This call was not just to Israel of old but to everyone today. God is our Creator and we are alienated from him.
The reason why Israel and people in general need to return to God is that we have stumbled in life because of iniquities. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No-one is perfect.
Returning to the Lord means confessing your iniquities. The prophet tells people they must "say to the Lord" that is, they must confess. Confess your faults to God. He will take and deal with them. Returning to the Lord means praying.
First, pray that the Lord will take away our iniquity. Someone must remove them. From the New Testament we learn that Jesus is that someone. He died on behalf of sinners. Sinners cannot take away their own sins. Jesus died on their behalf. John the Baptist spoke of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus is the one who takes away iniquity.
Note that the one who takes away iniquity takes away all iniquity, not just some of it, but all of it. Jesus has taken all our sins upon himself. Like the Old Testament scapegoat (Lev. 16:21,22) all our sins are laid on the Lamb of God who takes every sin upon himself and sets us free. There is no condemnation upon believers.
Secondly, pray that the Lord will receive us graciously. This he will do when once our sins have been dealt with. Because Jesus has taken all our sins our creator is gracious toward us. He favours us. He is gracious in dealing with us. If God is for you who can be against you? What a blessed assurance to hear Jesus say “Peace to you".
Our prayers lead to the worship and praise of God. The prophet Hosea puts it this way, “We will offer the sacrifices of our lips.” The same sentiment is expressed in the New Testament for the writer of Hebrews speaks of the sacrifice of praise to God — the giving of thanks with our lips (Heb. 13:15). Believers in the Old and New Testament have the same deliverance (iniquities taken away) and the same outcome (the worship of God).
Finally, the prophet reveals his understanding of what happens when iniquities are taken away. He disowns any dependence on earthly power (Assyria). The world cannot save you. Our iniquities are taken away by Christ and not by human might, wisdom, or philosophy. He disowns any dependence on idols which are the mere work of human hands. Our iniquities are removed by Christ and not by anyone else be it an idol or a false saviour. Christ alone takes away iniquity. Christ alone is our Saviour.
In conclusion, heed the prophet’s call. Return now to your creator. He has made provision for your return through Jesus Christ who by his sacrificial offering up of himself has taken away all the iniquities of those who trust in him.