Hosea 13:9 O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in me is your help. Self-destruction is a crime of awful and unparalleled turpitude. A few facts will make this clear beyond a peradventure. I. NO MAN IS DESTROYED IN HELL FOR EVER SIMPLY BECAUSE HE IS A SINNER. All have sinned, and all would inevitably perish had not Omnipotent Love intervened to prevent it. The sinner that dies at last, dies not because he is a sinner, but because being a sinner he refused the pardon and grace offered. II. A FREE AND FULL SALVATION HAS BEEN WROUGHT OUT AND IS PROFFERED TO EVERY SINNER. The physician is at hand. There is "balm in Gilead" to heal sin's dreadful malady. III. GOD WANTS LONG AND GRACIOUSLY TO WELCOME THE SINNER BACK TO LIFE. He restrains His anger. He affords every opportunity. He sends forth His messenger. IV. GOD PUTS NO HINDRANCES IN THE SINNER'S WAY, IMPOSES NO RESTRAINT ON THE FREE EXERCISE OF HIS WILL. V. EVERY IMPOSSIBLE INDUCEMENT IS HELD OUT, AN AMAZING SYSTEM OF MEANS AND AGENCIES IS PUT IN FORCE, to morally constrain him to obey and live; so that, if he destroys his soul at last, it can only be by personally resisting and overcoming the combined efforts of God and man to prevent it! (J. M. Sherwood, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.WEB: You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help. |
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