When we think about it, we must agree that Paul was right about human attitudes and actions when he wrote to the church in Rome.
It is written:
“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;
there is no one who has understanding;
there is no one who seeks God.
“All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
there is no one who shows kindness;
there is not even one.” (Romans 3.10-12)
He summarizes the human condition by saying, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3.23).
Praise God! The story does not end with human sin but with God’s grace. God’s grace overcomes our guilt and sets condemned humans free from the guilt of wrongdoing.
They are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed;
It was to demonstrate at the present time his own righteousness, so that he is righteous and he justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus (Romans 3.24-26).
Consider a time where a judge, having a good day, decides to release an obviously guilty defendant, remarking, “I’m in a good mood today, so I’m going to let you go.”
This decision wouldn’t earn him the titles of ‘just’ or ‘righteous.’ Instead, he would be labeled as corrupt.
God is righteous, fair, and just, but He is also the one who justifies us. How does He do that?
He does so by pronouncing a guilty verdict, but then by taking our punishment through Jesus on the cross. In this way, sinners can be forgiven and set free.
Human Guilt – God’s Grace
Humans fail to realize their need for God’s grace until they fully understand the depth of their sin.
Hosea addresses his audience by referring to the individual who gave Israel its name. Originally known as Jacob, he was later renamed by God, “Israel.”
The name ‘Jacob’ translates to ‘heel holder’ or ‘supplanter,’ which I interpret as ‘con-man.’ This man, Jacob, was the father of the nation of Israel.
The Lord has an indictment against Judah
and will punish Jacob according to his ways
and repay him according to his deeds.
In the womb he tried to supplant his brother,
and in his manhood he strove with God. (Hosea 12.2-3)
The story of Jacob reads like a soap opera, filled with drama and deception, with Jacob frequently playing a central role. Despite this, he was allowed to know God and form a nation, a profound testament to the power of grace.
He strove with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought his favor;
he met him at Bethel,
and there he spoke with him.
The Lord the God of hosts,
the Lord is his name! (Hosea 12.4-5)
Verses 4 and 5 summarize a life filled with deception and sin but overcome by God’s grace. I don’t particularly like the story of Jacob and the way he lived his life.
Possibly, I don’t like Jacob’s story because it looks so much like my own.
Paul is correct in stating that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s expectations for our lives.
Thankfully, God does more than just pronounce us guilty from the judgment seat. He steps out, removes his judge’s robe, and takes on our punishment, granting us forgiveness and transformation.
Repentance Required
The false prophets would have us believe that God’s kindness can be received without any transformation of our character. They would have us think that we can sin and still live at peace with God because of His kindness.
Paul says something different, and so does Hosea.
Paul wrote, “Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2.4).
Hosea describes three key aspects related to genuine repentance.
But as for you, return to your God;
hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God. (Hosea 12.6)
If sin is walking away from God, repentance involves stopping, turning, and returning to a relationship with God. That’s the first aspect of repentance.
The second involves behavior, holding fast to love and to justice. I read a quote about love yesterday that speaks to the repentance of love.
Anne Lamott wrote, “You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates the same people you do.”
Repentance involves turning to God, walking with Him, and being filled with His love.
The third aspect of repentance involves waiting for God, distinct from being double-minded. A double-minded individual holds two plans: Plan A, trusting in God, and Plan B, relying on human resourcefulness if God’s response isn’t what we want.
In contrast, waiting for God means declaring, ‘God is my only plan, and I have no alternative to His will.’
While we praise God for His love, grace, and kindness, we must also remember not to take His grace for granted. Rather, we should let it transform us into the one he has proposed for us.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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