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DECEMBER 6
from becoming the unbroken pattern of their lives (John 8:31,34–36; Rom. 6:11; 2 John 9). God
builds a certain growing awareness about sin that provides 4 effective reasons why true Christians
cannot habitually practice sin:
1. Genuine Christians cannot practice sin because sin is incompatible with the law of God,
which they love (3:4;Ps.119:34,77,97;Rom.7:12,22);whereas habitual sin betrays the ultimate sense
of rebellion—living as if there were no law or ignoring what laws exist (James 4:17)—in short, law-
lessness.
2. Genuine Christians cannot practice sin because sin is incompatible with the work of Christ
(3:5). Christ died to sanctify (make holy) the believer (2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 5:25–27). Habitual sin contra-
dicts Christ’s work of breaking the dominion of sin in the believer’s life (Rom. 6:1–15).
3. Genuine Christians cannot practice sin because Christ came to destroy the works of the
arch-sinner, Satan (3:8). The devil is still operating, but he has been defeated, and in Christ we
escape his tyranny.The day will come when all of Satan’s activity will cease in the universe, and he
will be sent to hell forever (Rev. 20:10).
4. Genuine Christians cannot practice sin because sin is incompatible with the ministry of the
Holy Spirit, who has imparted a new nature to the believer (3:9; John 3:5–8).This new nature shuns
sin and exhibits the habitual character of righteousness produced by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22–24).

4 For the children of Israel shall abide many
December 6 days without king or prince, without sacrifice
or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim.
5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return
and seek the LORD their God and David their
Hosea 3:1–4:19
king. They shall fear the LORD and His good-
Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a ness in the latter days.
3 woman who is loved by a lover and is com- Hear the word of the LORD,
mitting adultery, just like the love of the LORD 4
You children of Israel,
for the children of Israel, who look to other For the LORD brings a charge against
gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”
2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels the inhabitants of the land:
of silver, and one and one-half homers of bar- “There is no truth or mercy
ley. And I said to her, “You shall stay with me Or knowledge of God in the land.
3
many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor 2 By swearing and lying,
shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward Killing and stealing and committing
you.” adultery,
They break all restraint,
With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
3
Therefore the land will mourn;
And everyone who dwells there will
3:1 Go again, love. Having been previously
separated, Hosea was commanded to pursue waste away
his estranged wife, Gomer, thereby illustrating With the beasts of the field
God’s unquenchable love for faithless Israel. And the birds of the air;
raisin cakes. Eaten as a part of special occa- Even the fish of the sea will be taken
sions (2 Sam. 6:19), they may have been used away.
in idolatrous ceremonies,possibly as an aphro- 4
disiac (Song 2:5). “Now let no man contend, or rebuke
another;
For your people are like those who
3:2 bought her. Probably from a slave auc-
tion,Hosea purchased Gomer for 15 shekels of contend with the priest.
5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day;
silver and 1 1/2 homers of barley.Together,the
total may have equaled 30 pieces of silver, the The prophet also shall stumble with
price paid for a common slave (Ex. 21:32). you in the night;
Barley was the offering of one accused of And I will destroy your mother.
adultery (Num. 5:15). 6 My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge.

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