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  GOD'S PROPOSAL TO YOU
  by Erlo Stegen
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Summary: God proposes an everlasting covenant engagement with you,
offering forgiveness and a new life, but requires you to turn to Him
with a whole heart and prepare yourself for Christ.

Topics: "God's Covenant", "Repentance and Renewal"
Scripture References: Hosea 2:19

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DESCRIPTION
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Erlo Stegen emphasizes God's unwavering proposal of love and commitment
to His people, despite their spiritual infidelity and pursuit of worldly
pleasures. He draws parallels between ancient Israel's idolatry and the
modern-day church's tendency to prioritize materialism over a genuine
relationship with God. Stegen warns that living in such a way invites
God's judgment, yet he highlights the hope found in God's mercy and the
invitation to enter into an everlasting covenant with Him. He urges
listeners to respond to Christ's gracious call for repentance and
renewal, preparing themselves as His bride through the cleansing power
of His sacrifice.

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CONTENT
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Hos 2:19-20

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto
me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in
mercies.

20I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know
the LORD.

Israel had many lovers with whom she was immoral against the Lord God.
The people of Israel were physically and spiritually adulterous. They
forsook God and ran after the gods of the nations about them. They
burned incense to Baal and were in love with all the perversions that
Baal worship led them into.

They cared only about their temporal comforts, well-being and pleasures.
God's Word and commandments meant little to them, and they were busy
with their silver, gold, purfumes and sensual clothing. Today, many who
call themselves Christians are living such a life. They are carnal,
sensual and care only about material things and they lose sight of the
One who truly loves them and has called them into a relationship with
Him.

If your life is like the Israelites of that time, God will be your
adversary (see James 4:4). Even if you clothe yourself in hypocrisy,
sooner or later He will reveal you for what your are and judge you as He
judged Israel.

However, in the midst of the judgement God pronounces, He still shows
mercy. He proposes to make an everlasting covenant engagement with you
(3:19, 20), if only you will turn to Him with all your heart. Only a
fool would reject His mercy and continue in sin. Receive this gracious
invitation from Christ Himself who wants to be eternally covenanted to
you, despite your sinful past. Through His forgiveness He makes all
things new.

Christ's bride must prepare herself for Him, by cleansing her garments
and washing them in the Blood of the Lamb (Rev 19:7).

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/erlo-stegen/gods-proposal-to-you/
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