Title The Only God/Mic 7:18-20
Contents Main text: Mi 7:18-20
Subject: The Only God
Introduction
1. The Prophet Micah made every effort to restore the homeland of Israel. He had a vision that his country would be destroyed, but he did not give up hope until the very end. I was sure there were any possibilities.
2. So the conclusion of Micah is a suggestion of hope. Today we need hope. The reality of today is that people seem to be focusing on despair rather than hope, even though the new year has arrived.
3. How did Micah view the only God?
I. He is the redeeming God (18).
A. He cares for the rest of the people.
1. Micah was convinced that God was the one who took the place of mankind's sins. It was a surprising discovery of the ransom.
2. He was also certain about the scope of sins that could be forgiven by God. He believed that he was a God who forgives even the sins of rebellion against God.
1) In fact, although Israel was the most loved by God, they not only rejected God, but also harbored hostility toward God.
2) Therefore, Israel was an unforgivable sinner. The evidence was the suffering through the Gentiles. Still, Micah saw hope.
B. Our hope begins with God's redeeming grace.
1. Redemption refers to God's grace given to those who have no ability at all.
2. There are only a few people with excellent abilities in the world. There are few who enjoy the privilege as there is only one ultimate ruler.
3. However, the reason we can live with such pride as being of the middle class today is because of the atonement grace the Lord has bestowed upon us.
4. Those who have received the grace of redemption do not live by their own virtue, but by grace. Actually, let's take a look at ourselves. Do you really deserve such a blessing? It is just the overflowing grace of God.
II. It is the God who gives the opportunity of recovery (19).
A. Once again, I have pity on you.
1. The word pity is the love of “Hesed”. Chesed's love means unchanging love.
2. The basis of encouragement and hope for the Israelites is the word of Hesedah. Under the circumstances of the corrupt society at that time, there was no hope of salvation.
3. Not only the grace of Hesed, but also the grace of “Lehem” was given here. It is a grace that not only loves, but also overshadows mercy. Lehem refers to the interest felt deep in the heart.
B. God's love for us is the love of revival.
1. God gave Jonah one more chance to refuse the command. And he cared for him to experience a great harvest.
2. The God who loved David gave the grace of recovery through Nathan.
3. If our forgiveness is only once, none of us will be saved.
4. Even if our sins are as red as scarlet, God gives the grace of forgiveness to those who repent.
5. When God forgives our sins, He completely forgives us by treading on our sins and throwing them into the sea. That said, I will never remember it again.
6. The words for the three sins in the Old Testament are 1) sin, 2) transgression, and 3) sin.
III. He is a God who fulfills His promises (20).
A. It is a promise to the descendants of Abraham and Jacob.
1. It was not their merit, but the fulfillment of the promise with Abraham that God gave Israel the grace of the Exodus.
2. The continuing call to repentance through the prophets was also due to the promise made with their ancestors.
B. We are people who believe in promises.
1. Our faith is faith in God's promises.
2. Therefore, to have faith means to believe in a promise.
3. How many promises do we really know and believe?
4. There are these and these promises in the Bible, do you believe them?
conclusion
1. Micah's society was extremely corrupt. It was a society that had no basis for hope.
2. Nevertheless, Micah was not discouraged. It was because he knew Hesed and Lehem, and because he believed in the God of promise.
3. Now we have work to do. It is to present a new hope for this nation. Let's spread hope and the gospel. Let us preach the hope of salvation, not judgment.