DIVORCING GOD: ADULTERY OR CHEATING ON GOD!

 ISSUES OF ADULTERY OR APOSTASY

“…They ABANDONED the Lord… they turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT). “… [MY PEOPLE]… FORGOT all about ME,” says the Lord…” (Hosea 2:13 NLT). “…For years on end my people have FORGOTten ME…” (Jeremiah 2:32 NLT).“…. Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their [own] ...sin. Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love…” (Psalms 106:42-48 NLT).

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 The MARRIAGE between God, the Holy Spirit and the REDEEMED is a blood covenant relationship that ISN’T meant to be broken UNLESS one or both parties DIE.

There is physical death and there is spiritual death. The book of HOSEA is a detailed account of how God’s people were “IN” a loving, covenant relationship with HIM, but TURNED to other gods, which is APOSTASY or the same as committing ADULTERY. “….They ABANDONED the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods …” (Judges 2:12 NLT).

Apostasy caused a spiritual death that separated God, the Holy Spirit, from  his covenant people“…Your INIQUITIES (sin) have separated between you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

God’s commitment to the covenant relationship, with his people, NEVER changes or wavers in spite of their chronic APOSTASIES against HIM. “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).  “...He remembered his covenant with them ...because of his unfailing love…” (Psalms 106:42-48 NLT). “…he remains faithful…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).

God’s LOVE is longsuffering toward his UNFAITHFUL covenant companions. God “….is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance…” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

Hosea’s MARRIAGE to Gomer became a symbolic example of God’s love for his UNFAITHFUL people. “... the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord...” (Hosea 1:2 KJV).

God’s LOVE stays RELENTLESS from the PLAN of SALVATION through the TRANSFORMATION of his people to the MARRIAGE phase of the covenant relationship and BEYOND. “…Who will separate [the redeemed]... from the love of Christ? … [Nothing]…will be able to separate [them]... from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…”(Romans 8:31-39 NASB).

 “ ... Return ... to the Lord ... [YOUR] ... God... [AND GOD] ... will heal [YOUR] ... apostasy ... [AND] ... will love [you] freely..” (Hosea 14:1-4 NLT).

At this point in the covenant relationship, God has SENT his SON to die for their crimes, he has freed them from ALL sin,  he has pursued mankind, he has chosen them to be his own, he has drawn and kept them through his spiritual love, he has betrothed them, and he has loved them into marital or covenant bliss, yet,  HIS PEOPLE (the redeemed, his bride, etc.) have STILL chosen to be unfaithful to HIM.“…[The GROOM] ...loved [HIS PEOPLE] ...with an everlasting love ...” (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV).

God is WONDERFULLY good and gracious to his people. He is an AWESOME God.  “…[God, the Holy Spirit, is]…[their] rock and [their] fortress, [their] deliverer, [their] GOD, [their] rock, in whom [the redeemed can] … take refuge; [their] shield and the horn of [their] salvation, [their] stronghold.…" (Psalms 18:3 NASB).

“…God is...[their covenant]... LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “… [Nothing]…will be able to separate ...[the REDEEMED]... from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…” (Romans 8:31-39 NASB).

God says: “… “I AM WHO I AM …” (Exodus 3:14-15 NASB).  “…I am  the Lord, the God of all flesh…” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). "… I am the Alpha and the Omega…" (Revelation 1:8 NASB). “… I..[AM]… the first, and with the last...'" (Isaiah 41:4 NASB).  “...[I AM]... GOOD…there is none good but one, that is, God[, THE HOLY SPIRIT]...” (Nahum 1:7 & Mark 10:18 KJV).

“…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “...[GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT]...careth for you...” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV). “...God is faithful...” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV). “… he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).

 “…  I ...am your healer…” (Exodus 15:26). GOD HELPS THE REDEEMED. “…He helps me …” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). GOD IS A COMFORTER to the REDEEMED. “…they shall be comforted. ….” (Matthew 5:3-11 KJV).

“… I AM HOLY…” (1 Peter 1:14-16 KJV).  And, “...There is none holy as the Lord…” (1 Samuel 2:2 KJV). “…God is the one who provides (for the REDEEMED)…” (2 Corinthians 9:10-13 KJV). “… God will supply all [the needs of the REDEEMED]…” (Philippians 4:19 NASB).

“… [God] … will keep in perfect peace all (the redeemed) who trust in … [him] … all (the redeemed) whose thoughts are fixed on … [him!]...” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). “…The Lord is “my” shepherd  (the shepherd of the redeemed)...” (PSALM 23:1-3 NLT). “… “Never will I leave you (the redeemed, his bride); never will I forsake you…” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).

“… “I AM WHO I AM …” (Exodus 3:14-15 NASB).  “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).  ^“Jesus Christ (god’s word) is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).

“… I the LORD am ...[the]...Saviour ...[of the REDEEMED]…” (Isaiah 60:16 KJV). “…there is none like unto thee…” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV).

“….They ABANDONED the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods …” (Judges 2:12 NLT). It DIDN”T matter to HIS PEOPLE how AWESOME God, the Holy Spirit, was to them, they STILL choose APOSTASY.

However, their UNFAITHFULNESS mattered to God, the Holy Spirit, not just because they committed apostasy against him, but also because it meant their condemnation “... you have been unfaithful to your God ... The time of Israel’s punishment has come; the day of payment is here. Soon Israel will know this all too well. Because of your great sin and hostility, you say, “The prophets are crazy and the inspired men are fools!” The prophet is a watchman over Israel for my God, yet traps are laid for him wherever he goes. He faces hostility even in the house of God. The things my people do are as depraved as what they did in Gibeah long ago. God will not forget. He will surely punish them for their sins...” (Hosea 9:1, 7-9 NLT). “…They ABANDONED the Lord… they turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT).

“...And now, O our God, what can we say after all of this? For ONCE AGAIN we have ABANDONED your commands!” (Ezra 9:10 NLT).

After, a beautiful, uniquely intimate, covenant relationship, HIS BRIDE decides to return to a life without the GROOM. The BRIDE chooses to turn their backs on God and chase after other gods. “... You have been unfaithful to your God ... The time of Israel’s punishment has come; the day of payment is here....” (Hosea 9:1, 7-9 NLT).

“... ONCE AGAIN we have ABANDONED your commands!” (Ezra 9:10 NLT).

The APOSTASY is the catalyst for the denunciation of God’s people. It is the proclamation of their judgement and punishment for their adulteries against God, the Holy Spirit. “...The time of Israel’s punishment has come; the day of payment is here....” (Hosea 9:1, 7-9 NLT).

HOWEVER, God says: “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “…If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “… The … FAITHFUL love of the Lord, [for the redeemed], NEVER ENDS...!”(Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT).

In spite of their UNFAITHFULNESS God’s persistent LOVE, since before the foundation of the world, is like OPEN ARMS to HIS PEOPLE. “…the Lord...[God] ... loves His people …” (2 Chronicles 2:11 NASB). “… [Because of] ...his love and ... His mercy He redeemed them…” (Isaiah 63:9 NASB). “...[So]... what is man[kind] that [God, the Holy Spirit takes]... thought of [them] ...” (Psalm 8:4 NASB). “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).

 “... God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose...” (Romans 9:15 NLT).

God, the Holy Spirit, generously, CHOOSES to SHOW his MERCY to mankind. “The Lord is ...of great mercy…” (Number 14:18 KJV). “… because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV). “…[His]...Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).

“…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).

 “..O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is GOOD; for his mercy endureth for ever” (1 Chronicles…” 16:34 KJV). “…It is of the Lord's MERCIES that we are not CONSUMED, because his compassions FAIL NOT. They are NEW EVERY MORNING: great is thy faithfulness…” (Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV).

 “…. Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their [own] ...sin. Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love…” (Psalms 106:42-48 NLT).

“…the Lord...[God] ... loves His people …” (2 Chronicles 2:11 NASB).

Yet, “... ONCE AGAIN we have ABANDONED your commands!” (Ezra 9:10 NLT).

The covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit is SECURE, for the REDEEMED, not because of their faithfulness, but because of HIS.“…If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “… The … FAITHFUL love of the Lord, [for the redeemed], NEVER ENDS...!”(Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT).

“... [Nothing]…will be able to separate [the redeemed].. from the love of God (THEY ARE SECURE IN HIS LOVE), which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…” (Romans 8:31-39 NASB). “…[God’s] ... love .... is the perfect BOND of unity...” (Colossians 3:14 NASB).

“…He [ALSO]… remains faithful (THEY ARE SECURE IN “HIS” FAITHFULNESS TO THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP)…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “…I am with you always, to the very end…"(Matthew 28:20 NIV). “...He remembered his covenant with them ...because of his unfailing love…” (Psalms 106:42-48 NLT).

God, the Holy Spirit REMAINS FAITHFUL to the covenant he MAKES with the REDEEMED, but the REDEEMED, through human will, chooses to keep or NOT keep the covenant with HIM. “…You (the redeemed) have left your first love (God, the Holy Spirit)…”  ... you (the redeemed) have been cut off from Christ!  ...You have fallen away from God’s GRACE…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT & revelation 2:4 NASB).

In the book of Hosea, God’s PEOPLE, chose NOT to keep the covenant with HIM. “... they turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT).

They CHOSE to dishonor him, to be unfaithful to him, to treat the holy covenant with disrespect, to forsake him, to abandoned his instructions, and went after other gods. “... You have been unfaithful to your God ...” (Hosea 9:1, 7-9 NLT).

“….They ABANDONED the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods …” (Judges 2:12 NLT). “… [THEY]… FORGOT all about ME,” says the Lord…” (Hosea 2:13 NLT). “…For years on end my people have FORGOTten ME…” (Jeremiah 2:32 NLT).

God was ANGRY with HIS PEOPLE’S apostasies and the time had come for their punishment. “…They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the Lord’s sight. That is why the Lord’s anger burned against his people, and he abhorred his own special possession.  …” (Psalm 106:39-43 NLT).“...The time of Israel’s punishment has come; the day of payment is here....” (Hosea 9:1, 7-9 NLT).

God is a JUST God and he could not withhold the judgement and punishment upon his PEOPLE, which was the consequences of their OWN choices.“…my people would not listen to me...” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). .“… They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts...” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

“... They went backward instead of forward...” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “...the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).

 His people had committed chronic apostasies and were therefore guilty of violating the HOLY covenant. “…They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the Lord’s sight...He handed them over to pagan nations, and they were ruled by those who hated them. Their enemies crushed them and brought them under their cruel power ...they were finally destroyed by their sin…” (Psalm 106:39-43 NLT).

 “….they chose to rebel against him...” (Psalms 106:42-48 NLT).

“…They ABANDONED the Lord… they turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT). “…They went after other gods …” (Judges 2:12 NLT). “… [THEY]… FORGOT all about ME,” says the Lord…” (Hosea 2:13 NLT).

HIS PEOPLE had seriously VIOLATED the covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit. They forsook him and turned their backs on him to follow their MANY apostasies. “...The time of Israel’s punishment has come; the day of payment is here....” (Hosea 9:1, 7-9 NLT).

In human marriages, apostasies, can come through the husband or the wife. In the covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, the apostasies can ONLY come through the BRIDE (the REDEEMED).

Apostasies are a REAL issue for the covenant relationship. But, God won’t put you away, force you to leave him, stop loving you, reduce his covenant commitment toward you, or leave the covenant relationship. YOU (the redeemed) have “CHOSEN,” not God, to discontinue the covenant relationship and leave HIM. APOSTASY destroys any covenant relationship.  “…Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving…” (Proverbs 4:14-17 NLT). “…The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who CHOOSE that way. …” (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT). “…THE WAY is narrow that LEADS TO LIFE, and there are few who find it…” (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB).

Nonetheless, God still says to the unfaithful that even though you chose to discontinue in the covenant relationship and betray me; if you want another chance ‘...I will heal your unfaithfulness ...’ (Hosea 14:4). “ ... Return ... to the Lord ... [YOUR] ... God... [AND GOD] ... will heal [YOUR] ... apostasy ... [AND] ... will love [you] freely..” (Hosea 14:1-4 NLT).

Struggling to OVERCoME sin is NOT the same as willFULLY practicing a SINFUL lifestyle by turning your back on god and going after other gods. “... Whoever [struggles to overcome sin]... in the body is done with sin...” (1 Peter 4:1 NLT). However, “... EVERYONE who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB). “… They turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT). “…They went after other gods …” (Judges 2:12 NLT). “… [THEY]… FORGOT all about ME…” (Hosea 2:13 NLT).

An ongoing lifestyle of sin, during the covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, is APOSTASY (spiritual adultery). Apostasy, of any kind, is “PRACTICING” sin!!! “... EVERYONE (NO EXCEPTIONS) who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him (ABIDE WITH HIM) will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him ... [or] ...who he is. Dear children, DON'T LET "ANYONE" DECEIVE YOU ABOUT THIS:..” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).

“...When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).

“...But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil....” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).

“...Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s [SPIRITUAL] ... LIFE is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).

“..So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).

“...Anyone (NO EXCEPTIONS) who does not live righteously and does not love other believers DOES "NOT' BELONG TO GOD...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).

God’s BRIDE (the redeemed) is DEAD to sin and free from sin’s POWER. “... So ...[the redeemed]... should consider [them]selves to be dead to the power of sin...” (Romans 6:5-11 NLT). “…If the Son therefore shall make [the redeemed] free, [they]... SHALL be free indeed…” (John 8:36 KJV). “Jesus saith…I am  (the Word, the GROOM) the way…” (John 14:6 KJV). “…"This is the way; walk in it…" Isaiah 30:21 NIV).“…I will instruct thee  and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will  guide thee with mine eye…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV).. “The steps of a good man (woman) are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way” (Psalms 37:23 KJV). “…he shall direct thy paths...” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “…I will instruct thee (THE GROOM WILL INSTRUCT YOU) and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV). “… I will guide thee with mine eye…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV). “… Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel…” (Psalms 73:74 KJV). “… Teach me the way in which I should walk …” (Psalms 143:8 NASB).

If HIS BRIDE (the redeemed) go back to “practicing” a lifestyle of sin through apostasy, they won’t go back as slave to sin, but as a volunteer who FREELY chose to go.  “…Know ye not, that to whom ye (YOU willfully choose to) yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye (YOU) are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 KJV).

“.... STAND, fast therefore, in the LIBERTY wherewith Christ hath made ...[HIS BRIDE] ...FREE, and BE NOT entangled AGAIN with the yoke of BONDAGE.... [UNLESS] ... Christ (the WORD) become NO EFFECT unto you, (HEAVEN)...” (Galatians 5 KJV).

“...whosoever of you are JUSTIFED by keeping the law [through self-effort]; ye are FALLEN FROM GRACE...” (Galatians 5 KJV).

“...ye DID run well; who did HINDER you that ye should NOT OBEY the TRUTH? This persuasion cometh NOT of him (God, the Holy Spirit) that calleth you...” (Galatians 5 KJV).

“... A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump... the works of the flesh are MANIFEST...” (Galatians 5 KJV).

“...I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things SHALL NOT inherit the kingdom of God (HEAVEN)...” (Galatians 5 KJV).

“…If any man(woman) be in Christ, he(she) is a NEW creature …” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “… [because] … all things are … [MADE] … NEW…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “... The old life is gone...” (2 Corinthians 5:14-18 NLT).

There HIS BRIDE (the redeemed)“.. have all died to our old life...” (2 Corinthians 5:14-18 NLT).

“...[the redeemed are]... crucified with Christ...” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).

“...[their],,,old sinful selves were crucified with Christ  ... [they] died with Christ ...So ,,,[his bride, the redeemed]... should consider [them]selves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus...” (Romans 6:5-11 NLT).

 “... For ...[the redeemed]... to live is Christ, and to die is gain...” (Philippians 1:21 KJV). “...[the redeemed[...are dead to sin...” (Romans 1:2 KJV).

The REDEEMED will STRUGGLE to overcome their mistakes, shortcomings, imperfections, weaknesses, or failures, which is common, because they are TRAINING in HOLINESS and PREPARING for the WEDDING. “... So ...[the redeemed]... should consider [them]selves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus ... [they]... were dead, but now [they] have new life....” (Romans 6:11-16 NLT).

GOD’S BRIDE (the redeemed, the church, etc.) IS no longer dominated by the LIMITATIONS of the sin nature UNLESS “they” CHOOSE to be. “…The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to [the sin nature]. …I don’t really understand myself, for I want to [live free from sin] …but I don’t [choose to depend upon God’s indwelling  SPIRITUAL LIFE]... Instead, I do what I hate. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is [the sinful nature]… living in me that does it.  And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to [live free from sin] … [which]… is right, BUT I CAN’T…Who will free me from this life that is dominated by [the sin nature and its practices]?” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). 

“…The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).  “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you SHALL be free indeed…” (John 8:36 KJV). “….Apart from [the indwelling spiritual life],.. [you]… can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).  

“... You have been unfaithful to your God ...” (Hosea 9:1, 7-9 NLT).

DON’T CHEAT ON GOD THROUGH APOSTASY!

“... I forewarn you ... that those who practice such things(APOSTASY OF ANY KIND) will not inherit the kingdom of God...” (Galatians 5:19-21 NASB).

 “...The time of Israel’s punishment has come; the day of payment is here....” (Hosea 9:1, 7-9 NLT).