“O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein,” Hosea 14:1-9.
I write this on the day of my 82nd birthday. I will be sixty two years a Christian in six months time.
Today, the wonderful love of God toward this unworthy sinner has been brought before me by another portion of God’s Word I read this morning.
The glorious words of psalm 139:13-18 have caused me to marvel afresh at the truly incomprehensible kindness of God toward me — this is something every true believer may say!
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee,” Psalm 139:13-18.
Today I think particularly of one of the innumerable mercies the Lord has bestowed upon me. It was sixty one years ago, in September past, that I first met the one who was to become the love of my life, my dear Ann. She went to be with her Saviour 17 months ago on 8th June 2024.
I have much to consider and rejoice over on this day!
Another of my readings was the last chapter of Hosea. There is stated the purpose of God for Israel in the days following the Saviour’s victorious and glorious return.
“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon,” verses 4-5.
These are verses which the enemies of Israel should consider. They have for a very long time been ‘prophesying’ the doom of Israel and have been striving, unsuccessfully it must be said, to bring it about.
If the Lord were to abandon His promises to His ancient ‘Covenant’ people (as some very foolish Christians believe) then we have no basis for believing that He will keep His promise to Christians!
One of His promises to us is stated in John 14.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also,” verses 1-3.
But if the Lord can set aside, as some would contend, His promise to Israel, in essence, first stated in Genesis 12:7, then what basis have we to believe He may not set aside John 14:1-3?
Genesis 12:7 states: “And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.”
That promise is repeated and enlarged through out the Old Testament until, when we arrive at Hosea 14, it is given us in quite some detail.
Paul the apostle quotes one rendition of His promise to Israel in Hebrews 10. “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more,” verses 15-17.
That promise, like all of God’s promises, will be kept to the letter! This we can be sure of because God is a “God that cannot lie,” Titus 1:2.
I. CHRISTIANITY IS BASED UPON A TRUSTING OF WHAT THE LORD HAS SAID.
The true Christian is one who has embraced by faith the gospel message set forth in Holy Scripture. “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life,” 1 John 2:25.
The question of the ages, was asked by a poor pagan sinner, the Philippian jailer. “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30.
The “sirs” to whom this question was directed, Paul the apostle and Silas, answered: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house,” verse 31.
No ritual, no works, NOTHING but simply taking as absolute truth what God has said in His Word.
What has the Lord said regarding the way of salvation?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” John 3:16.
That is likely the most familiar verse in Scripture and it tells us that the Lord, out of a love for lost sinners, sent forth His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die in the place of guilty souls, and that by simply resting in faith upon what He has done, the sinner shall “not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Faith in God’s Word is the very core and marrow of the gospel message!
II. CHRISTIANITY IS THE ONLY RELIGION IN THE WORLD THAT REQUIRES NO ‘WORKS’ OF THE SINNER SEEKING SALVATION!
Hear these words!
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David,” Isaiah 55:1-3.
Just what were the “sure mercies of David”?
“«A Psalm of David.» The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever,” Psalm 23:1-6.
I have highlighted the words which indicate that “Salvation is of the LORD,” Jonah 2:9, and it is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost,” Titus 3:5.
Millions across the world are engaged in what they believe to be ‘good works’ but which are, in truth, most imperfect and flawed efforts at pleasing an imaginary ‘god’!
The ’Shorter Catechism’ teaches us:
Question 30:
How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
Answer:
The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
Proof
One of the proof texts supplied in the Catechism is : “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8.
‘Gifts’ have only to be ‘received’ to be ours to enjoy and benefit from!
So many times the Saviour bestowed His mercy as a gift and the one blessed had but to accept the touch of His hand to enjoy the benefit.
“And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him,” Luke 5:13.
The leper was healed as he ’submitted’ to the touch of the Saviour. He believed that he would be healed therefore he did not draw back or seek to avoid the Saviour’s touch.
That was faith at work!
Only
Heaven will be gained ONLY by those who reject all hope in works and self-redemption, which are taught by ALL the religions invented by man as the means of salvation, and who simply trust the Saviour’s merciful promises.
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain:
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
That is the very essence of true gospel religion.
III. ONE OF THE CENTRAL ELEMENTS OF GOD’S REVELATION FOR US TO RECEIVE BY FAITH IS HIS FUTURE PURPOSE FOR ISRAEL.
The Bible is filled with references to that future purpose which makes the foolish rejection of this wonderful truth by those who hold to ‘Amillennialism’ , all the more astonishing!
The prophets reveals much regarding God’s purpose. Hear Peter’s word, when he preached to those who gathered in the precincts of the temple, wondering, when the lame was healed!
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities,” Acts 3:19-26.
Here are but a few of the other prophecies.
“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD,” Isaiah 2:1-5.
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (See 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9) And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea,” Isaiah 11:1-9.
“And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands,” Isaiah 65:19-22.
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever,” Daniel 2:44.
“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years,” Revelation 19:19-20:6.
The bitter hatred of Islam and the uniting forces of apostate ‘Christendom’ along with the amalgam of godless nations of the earth and those Christians who presently shamefully reject the plain meanings of the prophecies, will not hamper or in anyway delay the fulfilling of these wonderful forecasts of future events!
They are recorded, as are the histories of past victories, “for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope,” Romans 15:4.
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
8th November 2025