What does "they sin more and more" reveal about human nature and sin? Setting the Scene “Now they sin more and more; they make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver...” (Hosea 13:2) Hosea is exposing Israel’s stubborn drift from the LORD. Instead of turning back, the nation piles up fresh layers of rebellion. That short phrase—“they sin more and more”—opens a window on the inner workings of the human heart. What the Phrase Uncovers about Human Nature • A Built-in Bent Toward Rebellion – Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” – From Eden onward, humanity resists God’s rule unless He intervenes. • Sin’s Snowball Effect – James 1:14-15 traces desire → sin → death. The longer sin is indulged, the faster it accelerates. – Hebrews 3:13 warns that sin “hardens” through deceit, dulling conscience and fueling still more sin. • The Illusion of Control – Romans 1:21-23 shows a swap: God’s glory exchanged for images. Humans think they govern their lives; idols end up governing them. – Hosea’s Israelites “skillfully” craft idols, believing creativity will satisfy. It only tightens sin’s grip. How Sin Progresses 1. Attraction: “They make for themselves…” (self-focused, self-authored). 2. Rationalization: Calling evil good; Isaiah 5:20. 3. Captivity: Ephesians 4:18-19 portrays hearts “darkened” and “callous.” 4. Multiplication: The cycle repeats and intensifies—“more and more.” Consequences Seen in Hosea • Broken covenant fellowship (Hosea 13:4). • Social decay and violence (Hosea 4:2). • Inevitable judgment (Hosea 13:7-8). God’s patience is vast (2 Peter 3:9), yet justice is certain. God’s Remedy for the Spiral • New Birth, Not Behavior Tweaks – Ephesians 2:1-5: the dead made alive. – Titus 3:3-6: cleansing “by the washing of rebirth.” • Complete Forgiveness in Christ – Romans 3:23-24: “all have sinned… and are justified freely by His grace.” – 1 John 1:9: confession met with faithful cleansing. • Ongoing Transformation – Romans 6:6-7: the old self crucified. – Galatians 5:16: walk by the Spirit, not the flesh. Practical Takeaways • Treat every sin as urgent; it never stays small. • Expose hidden idols—success, comfort, relationships, screens—before they multiply. • Plant new, daily habits of repentance and Scripture intake; God’s Word realigns the heart (Psalm 119:11). • Pursue accountability in the body of Christ; isolation feeds escalation (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Celebrate grace: the same God who judges sin “redeems from death” (Hosea 13:14) when we turn to Him. Sin grows by nature; grace grows us by rescue. Recognizing the “more and more” cycle drives us to the only One who breaks it and makes us new. |
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