God had chosen the Israelites as a chosen people and through Him they were safe and protected. It did not take long for idolatry to overcome them. They forgot God and worshiped images made by their hands. Those worthless images that they believe in transferred the power of God in their lives to corruptible man. They exchanged the truth of God for the lies of satan.
Romans 1:20-23 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knewGod, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. NKJ
Mankind without God is without hope. Christ within us is our only hope. Without Him nothing is possible but In Him all things are possible. He is the Creator and His love for His creation offers salvation to all who believe in Him.
Romans 5:1 -5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
The Apostle Paul taught the revelation given to him by the Lord Jesus Christ, that the Gospel of Grace, was to all who believe in Him. The power of God resides in us in the person of Holy Spirit as soon as we believe. He opens up the Word of God and takes the teachings of Jesus, giving them life, so that we can understand them. Paul’s apostleship was confirmed with the same signs and wonders that were given to the 12 apostles. The power and wisdom of God by faith are offered to us in Jesus Christ. He can do what we cannot.
Galatians 4:1-7 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
It is only by grace that we are saved…not by the Law but by God’s mercy. The law made us aware of sin but it had no power to keep it. Faith without the law gives us salvation. Faith in Jesus who takes away the sins of the world and His gift of Holy Spirt within us is our hope. We remain a slave until we live in the freedom that the Father gives us in Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Salvation is the underserved and unmerited gift of God to all who believe.
John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
We are His workmanship created for good works to bring honor and glory to His name. Wherever we go we carry Holy Spirit and through His fruit in our lives we show God’s love. We reflect the light of Jesus to the world through our actions. Carla
What may be known of God are divine attributes clearly seen in humanity, but they can be seen in the material universe as well (verse 20; 10:18; Psalms 19:1–4). Nature itself speaks eloquently of its Creator. From the intricate design of the human cell to the majestic strength of the Rocky Mountains, all of God’s works testify to His wisdom and power. God’s invisible attributes, such as His eternal power and Godhead, meaning His divine nature, can be clearly seen by contemplating His awesome works in all of creation. The NKJV Study Bible
The Greek word used here for deity, theiotēs, is found only here in the New Testament. It is used to summarize God’s divine attributes, especially those that can be observed through creation. Since God made such attributes discernable, people have no excuse for rejecting Him. The universal revelation of God’s power and deity in creation means that no one can claim ignorance for failing to honor God as God (verses 21–23). God’s wrath is therefore just (verse 18).
Knowledge of God typically includes recognition of His sovereignty, which results in worship (Joshua 4:24; 1 Kings 8:43; 2 Kings 19:19; Psalm 100:3). Here, people fail to worship God or acknowledge Him as Creator despite their knowledge of Him.
Claiming to be wise they became fools is not merely someone who is ignorant or lacks intelligence. The term has moral connotations that include a rejection of God (Psalm 14:1; Jeremiah 10:14). By refusing to acknowledge God, people reveal their foolishness. The Greek term for glory used here, doxa, indicates God’s honor and majesty. Faithlife Study Bible
Ephesians 4:17–20 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…
Deuteronomy 4:15–19 “Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female…
Psalm 106:20
Thus they changed their glory
Into the image of an ox that eats grass.
Jeremiah 2:11
Has a nation changed its gods,
Which are not gods?
But My people have changed their Glory
For what does not profit.
Acts 17:29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.
In our world, suffering and heartbreak are real. Yes, linked to real people. With names and faces. But what can we do?
It begins here: Faithfulness—I choose. Skin in the game. This moment matters.Sabbath Moments
Before the Israelites entered the promised land, where pagan worship was rampant, Moses had exhorted them to worship only God and to stay faithful to His commandments, warning that God would test them to see if they truly loved Him with all their heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3-4).
By Hosea's lifetime, the people had failed the test. Blatantly disregarding the first two of God's Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-5), they turned their devotion to the pagan god Baal, which was often associated with a bull image.Paying homage to Baal, Israel bowed to cow statues and kissed their feet, a common gesture of respect in the ancient world. But as they "kiss[ed] calves" to honor Baal, they also "offer[ed] human sacrifice" (Hosea 13:2), dishonoring the one true God and people made in His image (Genesis 1:27).
Like the Israelites, sometimes we become forgetful in our faith. But if we forget that God has created us to glorify Him (Romans 15:6), we waste our talents trying to bring glory to ourselves. If we forget that Jesus commands us to love God and our neighbors (Mark 12:30-31), we fall into unrighteous living. If we forget the ways in which God has moved powerfully in the past (Ephesians 1:19-21), we fail to depend on His power in the present.
The key to long-lasting, meaningful faith is a long memory of our purpose in Christ, His law of love, and His history of unfailing faithfulness to us. First5
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