“Sons of the Living God” (Hos 1:10)

Now when she had weaned Lo–Ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. Then God said: "Call his name Lo–Ammi, {Literally Not–My–People} For you are not My people, And I will not be your God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There it shall be said to them, ‘You are sons of the living God.’ (vs8-10)

Sovereign mercy is the reason that we are saved. It is NOT because of us.

Israel was rejected, and “yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered”, so that spiritual Israel, God's elect from every nation, comprises the REAL Israel of God (vs8-10). We Gentiles are saved because He rejected national Israel for unbelief. Our election, both Jew and Gentile, is not determined by bloodlines, but simply by grace. We all make up the kingdom of God (Romans 11).

We are not in because we are better. We are in because God chose to save us when Israel rejected Him, giving salvation to people they despise, even to people who'd never heard of the covenants, Israel, and who worshiped stones, totem poles, and devils, posing as God (1 Cor 10:21-22).

Secondly, mercy saves us, not because we are worthy, but because God is MERCIFUL and compassionate. He says, “Say to your brethren, My people, and to your sisters, Mercy is shown” (Hos 2:1). He looks upon sinners, hell-worthy, heading to damnation, and in pity, He suffers away our sins, giving us life to ease our misery, and bringing us to heaven's bliss (Acts 7:34). We didn't seek, call, and we are no different from those who perish. We are not better, wiser by nature, or more strong willed. Scripture says unarguably, “As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one (Rom 3:10-12)." Thus, when we WILLINGLY followed lies and lived for self, when we followed the devil's guidance as blind and dumb, God gave us conviction of sin, showed us the Risen Savior, and promised us victory by the grace that made Christ our Savior and secured salvation by His blood. You and I didn't put ourselves in the covenant, didn't choose or die for ourselves, and we didn't call ourselves by the Spirit, differentiating ourselves. It was God's merciful gift to save sinners from what we deserve.

Thirdly, we admit that we are unworthy of mercy, if we obtain it (Hos 2:2-4). In response to our unwillingness to be saved, He says, “I will not have mercy on her children, for they are the children of harlotry”. Mercy isn't given to anyone who trusts in themselves, looks to themselves, or believes in themselves, even a bit. Mercy is for sinners so low that we deserve God's judgments, confess ourselves rightfully condemned, and bow to God's salvation. He won't have mercy on us any way but Christ, and yet He teaches us this. He rejects our efforts, refuses our proud abilities, and destroys our vain attempts to hide in sin. He gives us REAL mercy, when He's humbled the pride of man, so that mercy, and not human religion, can produce the fruits of peace. Look upon God's mercy. If you don't deserve it, then you may have it.