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Sunday, July 2, 2017

The Lamb of God Who Paid for Our Sins

The Lamb of God Who Takes Away Our Sin

Book of Isaiah Chapter 53


When we read the prophets in the Word of God today, we still read of things that have not taken place but if we compare those things to the amount of Bible prophecy that has been fulfilled, we should have no doubt about those remaining prophecies being fulfilled.

So much of Bible prophecy is now "history" so it is hard to imagine that so many would deny the truth of God!

It is hard to imagine that this chapter of Isaiah can be denied as the truth. These prophecies are given in such detail that it is heartbreaking to learn of so many things that our Savior has done for each and every one of us. Especially since we were all His enemies when He came to provide a means that we all could be saved.

Jesus Christ did not die for the few that believed Him. Jesus Christ came and died for His enemies, all non-believers!

We know that the wages of sin are death, the eternal separation from a loving God. This was a debt that we did not have the ability to pay because it would take our own life. So, the Lord Jesus Christ substituted Himself for each of us!

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Jesus Christ died in our place and we cannot be saved unless we realize this truth!

In reality, the Lord has purchased every believer out of the slave market of sin to be set free from sin's bondage.

The only purchase price acceptable to a Holy God was for He Himself to pay the penalty for our sin!

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

There should be no doubt that as believers, we belong to the Lord, who came to present all those who believe back to His Father in Heaven to live with Him for eternity.

All it takes to be saved is "faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, so why are there so many who reject this truth?

So, God ask who will believe this report given to Isaiah, by the Holy Spirit?

As we go through these words we should notice the prophecies that have been fulfilled.

*****Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

When we look at this passage we should see that word "our" as Isaiah who was the writer and the one who preached these words, plus the Triune God, led here by the Holy Spirit.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We have already said many times that the Messiah, The Lord Jesus Christ, is truly the "Arm of God"!

Isa 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Why would this report be so rejected? Why would a Holy God come to this earth in the form of man, as the Messiah and then be beaten to an inch of His life and displayed on a cross until He died a physical death?

A report is a statement made to the facts existing, or of events that occurred, at some distance of time or place in which we ourselves were not witnesses to!

In fact, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a report of the activities and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to provide for the salvation for every human being who has lived upon this earth!

In this report, we begin to get the picture of what God will do to deliver us from the bondage and condemnation of sin!

It is also a fact that no other report has ever had so much documentation and that was then authenticated as this one from eye witnesses.

Some were friends for sure.

Some were Jews.
Some were Gentiles.
Some of them were even enemies.

The first preachers of the "Gospel" of Christ were even backed up by great signs and unexplainable miracles.

And by the way, those of Islam, Jesus Christ was much more than just a Prophet, He was and is God in the flesh so do not ever say we worship the same God!

Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Yet with all this proof the "Gospel" is rejected as the truth by most of those who hear it.

Joh 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

But who will be the blessed of the Lord?

Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: "blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed".

No one would ever believe that a Holy and very Powerful God could ever be a Servant to His own creation but just read some more!

And how does the truth of the Messiah at His first coming begin?

*****Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before "him" as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

To grow up then He would have to be born. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of the virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit!

Most of us have seen children tender and innocent all over the world but especially in third world countries that are poor and abandoned and live in conditions that they have no control over.

This is the picture we get of the Messiah as He was raised by a very poor family in remote and threatening conditions.

Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luk 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

That "Him" in this Scripture of course is our Heavenly Father as He has His eyes on all His children but especially His Own Son!

Our Messiah was born a helpless babe in very meager surroundings.
Even as an infant, He was in great danger of Herod. Not in His death but in changing the prophecy of His first coming.
(The Word of God must remain true at all costs)
Our Messiah was not save from Herod by a great army nor the heavenly angels but He escaped to a foreign land.
As a child, this Babe of God, spent His days in a carpenter's shop not in doing what a child gets to do. He had to help support His earthly family.
The Messiah was gentle and harmless as a Lamb!

As the Messiah, to the world it seemed that Christianity would die along with Christ on that cross but, it was just the beginning as in a few days the Holy Spirit came upon the Church.

There is no church without the Holy Spirit involved! Just foolish people gathering together in man-made fellowship!

We must clearly understand that once false teaching takes place, it is very hard to get people back on the right track!

It is the Holy Spirit who is the means of "all" Biblical inspiration!

It is obvious that it was not the person of the Messiah that was so important at His first coming, "it was His message" He came to give to this lost world!

The Messiah came as a servant and gave that example with His life.
The Messiah came to bring the New Covenant of God and He showed that with His "grace".
The Messiah came to begin the message of the Church, which message was to remain, "unaltered" until He returns.
The Messiah also remained the "arm of God" and we should never be misinformed, even as a babe in Bethlehem, He possessed all the power of a Holy God!

The Messiah concealed, but did not hide, His true self in the body of a man named Jesus who became our Savior!

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

He may not have had a physical beauty that was the desire of others but He certainly had a beauty in His warmth for His creation.

God loved what He was doing for us and it showed!

1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
1Jn 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1Jn 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

But the truth is, the true Messiah was despised by His own people and by most of the world then and today!

Shame on all those who reject the truth claiming they know the truth!

*****Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Just as Jehovah God was despised by the nation of Israel, He presented Himself in that manner for all the world to see.

Isa 49:7 Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

Most men paid no attention to the words of Jesus showing contempt for the "Gospel" message.

They also showed contempt for the Lord on the night and day of His Crucifixion.

All the world of that day held themselves to be greater than the Messiah!

We can see that not much has changed in the nearly 2000 thousand years since our new life came by His cross!

The Lord at no time had a great following and even some that did follow turned back at the truth of the "Gospel". Those that stayed, stayed because they accepted the Word of God as the truth.

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? "thou hast the words of eternal life".

Our Lord was a man of sorrows because this is the way He felt about those who rejected His message. The Lord so wanted this world to understand His message to miss out on His wrath when He returns!

Eze_18:32 For "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth", saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

It truly wounds the heart of God to be rejected! We have this example but there are many others.

Jer 10:18 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
Jer 10:19 "Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it".

We have the wrong impression of the Messiah when we think people flocked to Him, that only happened when He was performing miracles such as the miracle of healing or the feeding of the 5000.

In most cases if Jesus was seen walking down the street most people would move to the other side rather than be near to Him.

A servant was not welcomed by the average person and treated as a slave in most cases! Somewhat like a leper.

The Jews and the world of that day rejected any thought that the true Messiah would suffer to save humanity and it was the downfall of that generation and many generations since that time.

First: This world denies that they need a Savior to make them acceptable to God. They think they can do this on their own (wrong).

Second: This world dismisses the idea that God would send His Son to die for the sins of this world. (The world is wrong again)

We know that the Messiah was 100% man yet 100% God but it is very possible that all these things weighed so heavy on the flesh side of Christ that He actually looked older than His flesh side was.

Joh 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (We know that Christ was no more than about 33 when He died)
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (His age is eternal)

We already know that when the Messiah came to this earth, He set aside all His Heavenly Glory which He always had. This had to be done for Christ to bear all the temptations and trials of the human flesh as well as the mockery and His rejection.

Talk about miracles, maybe the greatest miracle of all was the fact that the Lord God did not go ahead and destroy this world.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you it would have been better to not ever have existed because nothing, "NOTHING" is greater that having the opportunity to spend eternity with Jehovah God in Heavenly surroundings.

In coming to this earth, Christ Jesus took the sins of the entire human race upon Himself and died so He could bury all those sins.

*****Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

The Son then had to suffer the rejection of His Heavenly Father and then feel the "Judgment" of God upon His person!

Mat_27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

We may think we have had grief in our life time but the Lord felt grief more intensely than any other human being as He witnessed the only salvation plan acceptable to His Heavenly Father being rejected by this world and it is still rejected today.

This does not make the message of Jesus untrue. It only makes this world to be foolish!

These things were written some 700 years before the Messiah first came to this earth and He said Himself that He would come again. We can still see that the prophet has written these things as if they had already taken place in which each one was completed in the day of Christ!

The Messiah came and He paid the ultimate price for all our sin because He had no sin in Himself! (Jesus Christ was "innocent" of any wrong doing)

Had He been a sinner, He would be just like Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius and any other false god, their bones still lying in their graves!

The Messiah will certainly return!

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him "shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation".

It is by the death of the Messiah at His first coming that showed the world the power of Holy God!

*****Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

What is the truth?

1) The Lord Jesus Christ suffered because He paid the penalty for "our" transgressions.

2) The suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ "was the only remedy" by which we have been restored to spiritual health.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The "chastisement" of God, is the pain He would have inflicted on each of us but the greatest of all our "chastisement", the Father inflicted upon His Son who came to be our substitute!

Jesus Christ died in "my" place and Jesus Christ died in "your" place because we were unable to survive this chastening of our Father in Heaven!

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Jesus Christ bore "all" our sins with His human body!

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in "his own body" on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Jesus Christ suffered once to bear the sins of all others! (there will be no second time)

Heb 9:28 So Christ was "once offered" to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The death of Jesus Christ was the most horrible of deaths as we see in these words of Isaiah.

In truth, it was only by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ that the "demands" of a righteous God could be met!

The death of Jesus Christ was a legal transaction in which Christ dealt with the sin problem "for the entire human race".

Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Therefore, only through the Lord Jesus Christ can we ever get to God's Heaven!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, "ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him".

We must never be intimidated over this truth, by those who believe otherwise, or our politicians, our any other human being!

Our answer should always be "that this is not what we say, this is what God says", and "we believe what God says"!

How did God see each of us in this world?

Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

God saw each of us as the worst of all lepers. Those who reject the salvation of the Lord are still seen in this manner!

Those who have accepted that God "is who He says He is" and trust in the salvation work of the Lord Jesus Christ, then, "we are healed"!

We as humans could never be healed by our own suffering!
We as human beings could never be healed by our own works!
We as human beings do not possess the power to save ourselves, in any way, in any form, or in any fashion!

There are in this world some very precious people but no one is good enough to get to Heaven with their own goodness.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

These are the reasons God made a way for us to be reunited with Him!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The truth is, most of this world would rather remain in darkness from this truth!

Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

*****Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Sheep require a shepherd! The shepherd is so close to his flock that he knows each of his sheep at a glance especially in the days of Isaiah. The truth of the sheep is that they will wander away from the flock. This is the nature of the sheep and they will get lost not able to find their way back to the flock!

We as human beings have strayed for our Holy God. Because sin is natural to us because it has been passed down from generation to generation because to the sin of Adam!

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

To return to our Holy God then we must obey the true Shepherd:

Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

It is by our nature to lusts after the things of others. Our flesh constantly lusts for more and more!

A second helping.
A larger house.
More riches.
More power.
More recognition.
Greater desires.
Then there is the lust of the flesh. Fornication, adultery, or some form of abnormal or illicit sex.

God warns us:

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

There was no sinless man upon this earth. There was no man who could even carry such a burden as was required. God in His wisdom did the only thing that was available to Him.

God came Himself to die for our sin!

We need to trust God in all things but if we miss this most important thing, it will all be for nought!

1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Faith must always be distinguished from "human wisdom"

Our intellect has nothing to do with our "faith"!
Our "faith" must stand on the "power of God" to do as He says He will do!
Our proof is this Love letter He has given to us, we call the Bible. There is no more sure proof than the Word of God!

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Jesus Christ is the only method for us to be free from our sin nature!

*****Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Christ, the Servant of God suffered unjustly for our sin but He willingly did this thing!

Jesus Christ, as the Son of God came to die for our sins but the things that He suffered were uncalled for!

He suffered a false judgment. (uncalled for)

He suffered from harsh and cruel treatment not thought humane enough for mankind. (uncalled for)

Yet He humbled Himself and submitted to this treatment and He committed Himself to the work that our Heavenly Father had sent Him to do.

1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

He was brought as a lamb because He was the Lamb, the Lamb of God.

Joh_1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh_1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

We should notice this one thing. This is the way that Christ has always been treated by "unbelievers"!

I can somewhat understand rejecting the message of Jesus Christ. What I have never understood is the anger and the hatred of those who reject Him. (Why all the hatred) Even the atheist who say there is no God show hatred! (what cause do they have)

Why can they not just go about their business and leave the Christians alone!

Sometimes the atheist and the unbelievers who say there is no God at all, are the worst. Makes no sense, if there is not a Holy God then why do they worry about our message and try every way possible to destroy Christianity. Just makes no sense!

The Christ, the Messiah willingly gave His life for His enemies even those with all that hatred!

*****Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

What did we see in the short time Christ the Messiah walked upon this earth? The unbelievers and the atheist of that day allowed and the super religious of that day allowed, the Lord Jesus Christ to be unjustly seized and arrested illegally by a violence that concealed itself as the formalities of the legal process.

As far was the Jews were concerned, this innocent man called Jesus needed to be removed from the face of the earth!

It was the prophet Isaiah that wrote about these things hundreds of years before they happened.

It should be no astonishment today that these same types are trying their best to remove all Christians from the face of the earth or at least silence the truth of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".

This world has never changed for the better in all these years and it never will because this world will only get worse.

2Ti_3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

We must know this is true and continue to spread the "Gospel" in any way that we can.

Remember that our Father in Heaven may call us home early but if not, we will be removed from this earth just as Jesus was.

Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Everyone else may be content to wait on the "Rapture" but I am ready to go home whenever my Redeemer calls me home.

It truly bothers me that there is so much hate in this world "that is camouflaged as good"!

Everything about the trial of the Lord Jesus Christ was illegal by all the laws of that day, the Jews and Rome.

There was a false trial, with false witnesses, with a guaranteed outcome!

The truth is, the ministry of the Lord had been misunderstood just as it is today!

Even greater than this, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ was misunderstood!

The Lord Jesus Christ had come to die! The Lord Jesus, the Son of God was stricken by His Father for He carried the sins of this entire world and the wages of sin are death!

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Lord Jesus Christ had volunteered to do this for us!

"He was cut off out of the land of the living"

"for the transgressions of My people was He stricken"

The death of Jesus Christ was a test of His love for us! Had the Lord Jesus said no, we would all burn in Hell!

Joh_15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The Lord Jesus Christ was treated as if He had no rights at all by the world that He had created!

We should be able to see that our world has never improved at all and has truly only gotten worse.

Therefore, Jesus gave us this commandment:

Mat_10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, "is not worthy of me".

And this is not all!

*****Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Even though Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, was innocent of all charges brought against Him, His grave was to be in the place of convicts.

The Jews considered it a disgrace to be buried amongst the common people and not placed in the family sepulcher.

We should observe that Joseph the earthly step dad of Jesus had already been buried and to the Jew this should also be the place of His burial.

There was probably a place where the convicted, the criminals, and such were buried and this is where the body of Jesus would have ended if not for a believer.

This thing did not come to pass because a man of wealth Joseph of Arimathea a secret believer, gave the Lord his own tomb he had prepared for himself.

Mat 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

So, we can see that the prophet Isaiah even had these things right!

All these things were to take place although Jesus had been innocent of all charges and everyone knew this to be true.

Jesus in all His years had done no violence.
Jesus in all His years had never had a deceitful word for anyone.
Jesus in all His years had only spoken the truth.

We see that the truth, can bring rejection or can even be ignored, will bring hatred when it points out sin in someone's lifestyle.

So, we see even the Son of God, the Messiah, had a purpose when He first came to this earth!

The Messiah came to die!

*****Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

We should clearly understand that though evil men were following their own design and were stirred and acted by the Devil, it was our Holy God that did govern and overrule the sufferings of the Messiah!

Jesus said: No one had the power to overcome Him unless it was given to them by Jehovah God!

Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And we see that it was Judas who had the greatest sin! Judas knew the Lord was innocent of all charges.

It was the devil that had placed in the heart of Judas to betray the Lord and Judas lacked the faith to stand firm with the Lord!

Jas_4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We must clearly understand, God does not need any help for His plan of salvation to work! God just gives us an opportunity to be a part of His plan. It must remain a privilege that we are given the opportunity to serve our Holy God!

The Messiah was delivered to the cross by God who was determined to provide a means for the fulfillment of the Law!

Act 2:23 Him, "being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God", ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Luk_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, "that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me".

The Messiah came to die in order to have the victory over sin and it pleased His Father in Heaven to do this thing!

It is because our Father in Heaven was pleased with this sin offering that the pleasure of Jehovah will prosper in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Father united with the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit to provide our only means of salvation!

The Messiah had to die in our place, yours and mine, so that we could be saved from the destruction of this world.

Jesus Christ was the "Substitute" as the Lamb of God.

Jesus Christ was not a martyr put to death for His beliefs. Jesus did not die just so He could be our example of following Him with our own cross.

Jesus was offered up as the only sacrifice, acceptable to God for the sin of this world since the time of Adam!

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

No other sacrifice will ever be needed.

*****Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Most of this entire world is aware that sin demands punishment!

There are thousands in this world devoted to the eradication of sin but the prisons just stay full and increasing.

The Jews had a better idea of what Jehovah was saying but they never took the next step and have still not today.

God by providing His own sacrifice for all sin was then an act of "Grace".

"God's Riches At Christ Expense".

The work of Christ was complete and God requires our "faith" in this work of Jesus Christ to be saved!

It is by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross that we can be justified!

Justified= (Just as if I had never sinned)

Rom 5:1 Therefore "being justified by faith", we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also "we have access by faith" into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The sacrifice of the Lamb of God was the fulfillment of the law of God which is above all man-made laws and the only law by which sinners can be saved!

The righteous demands of our Holy God were met completely through Christ's complete payment for our sin! This is the meaning of propitiation.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

God was satisfied with Christ and if we cannot be satisfied with Christ, we cannot be saved!

The death of Christ resulted in forgiveness for all sinners which includes all humans in this world from the time of Adam!

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

It is a sad thing that the work of Christ on that cross does not satisfy our world today! It's too late to remember the past, it is gone!

The "Gospel" is still the only power of salvation today!

*****Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

The Messiah is back in Heaven today patiently waiting until He returns but just as this Scripture gracefully says, "the Lord Jesus is the greatest human to have ever walked on the face of this earth"!

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Because the Lord Jesus poured out His soul unto death, He is still working to carry out God's work on this earth!

Because we have been filled with the Holy Spirit of God then Jesus Christ will help each of us that believe to be witnesses of the salvation plan of God.

We can draw comfort in knowing that we have peace with God because of the work that our Savior has done, so that there is no work for us to do, "except to believe"!

We can draw comfort in knowing we have God's guarantee of eternal security because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can draw comfort in knowing we have our Intercessor sitting at the right hand of God.

We can draw comfort in knowing that we will never see the wrath of God!

Our wonderful Lord has made a way for every believer and He even prays for our success!

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Joh 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Joh 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Amen

Sunday, June 25, 2017

The Day of Salvation

The Day of Salvation

Book of Isaiah Chapter 49


Salvation in the Scriptures is the "Gracious" deliverance from sin by our Holy God. Salvation in truth is the release from all that is evil and an introduction into all that is good and an introduction into the knowledge of true life that is also eternal!

Those who are "lost", are all those who have lost their way and are not seeking the Lord. By Salvation that lost soul is brought out of a bondage to sin, out of the shadow of death that haunts everyone, and brought into a true life of eternal liberty of the sons of God, truly free from the evil of this world!

The truth is, how could we know salvation, if we neglect the salvation plan of God?

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Salvation shows the love that God has for His creation, we who had no means to save themselves!

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Here we see the love of God and the prophecy of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who first came to provide the only means of salvation for this lost world!

*****Isa 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

Isaiah has spent a lot of time addressing the Jews and many times those same words can be applied to all people but here we see that Jehovah is addressing everyone in this world in every age.

All the nations of the world are addressed because this announcement the Jehovah should concern all nations and all people. It will also be obvious that this Servant who is doing the speaking, is too great to be any private individual on this earth, whether prophet, teacher, or anyone else!

We should also notice that the Lord is speaking to all nations because He knows these Jews will continue to reject His doctrines and His salvation plan and they have, even to the day we live in now. This does not mean that there are no saved Jews for there are many but in the Old Testament God deals with nations and in the New Testament God deals with individuals because it is individuals who can change nations.

The Lord says to "hearken" which means just to listen as He presents the truth. The trouble with our world today is they have been taught to reject the message of Jehovah without taking the time to listen to what God has to say. Sad very sad!

Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

The truth is, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is referred to in this Scripture and fulfilling the prophecy of the Virgin birth, and His name was to be Jesus:

Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Luk 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

God also told Joseph the truth of Mary who had not yet become his wife:

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Mat 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

No one can fulfill the prophesies, the Scriptures and the Old Mosaic laws, as did the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah.

*****Isa 49:2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
Isa 49:3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

It is a fact if the Lord had come in this time of today, He would not be allowed into the Church that He had started because He spoke like a sharp sword and in most places today they only want someone to tickle their ears and the young generation of today cannot stand someone who speaks with authority!

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

We know that Jesus was prophesied but not revealed in the Old Testament.
God had set aside a time to reveal His Son and His plan of salvation!

Gal_4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ was God's weapon, smoothed and polished, perfect so He could pierce deeper but He was kept in God's quiver until the time would come that God would reveal Him!

In verse three we should understand that Israel as a nation is not intended.
Israel in fact was the chosen nation of God to bring to the world the truth of the Word of God and the message of salvation and they had failed in this task.

This servant, the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ would replace Israel and bring that message Himself and is addressed here as Israel. We can also be assured that this Servant would Himself be a Jew.

The Messiah was a Jew and when the Messiah returns He will still be a Jew!

Our Savior would be glorified in this work that He came to do. He came to do the work that that we could not possibly do! Again, prophecy fulfilled.

Joh 13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Joh 13:32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who could be the "Brightness of His Father's Glory"

Then the Lord admits that all the work that had been done in Israel, had been in vain.

*****Isa 49:4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.

We should remember the Messiah was 100% human and 100% God at the same time.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

So how did the human side of the Lord feel, when Israel rejected Him. "Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain:"

But notice the Lord did not linger in sadness very long, because He knew where His strength came from And God's Plans Never Fail!

What is the truth of the human side of the Messiah?

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

How humble was the Messiah?

Joh 11:35 Jesus wept.

How did Jesus feel when He had taken the all the of the world upon Himself? All the sin from the past, from the time of Adam and all the future to a time that only He knows which is what he came to do.

Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

The truth is, the Lord gives us the greatest example of what we should do when we are overcome by the things of this world.

We must realize that we must lean more heavily upon God the Father!

*****Isa 49:5 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

Despite this failure of Israel, God still loved this world enough to send His Son the Messiah.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

So, we know that the Messiah was called to do God's will. Israel had failed to proclaim the salvation of the Lord, so the Lord Himself came to this earth and proclaimed the "Gospel" the "Good News" of salvation and the future of this world we live in now.

The Messiah will fulfill every purpose that He has had, since the beginning of Creation!

Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

The Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, came to be His Father's Servant and He has been faithful to His calling.

Each Christian is now called to be like Christ and be a Servant to our Heavenly Father!

Where Israel failed, the Messiah succeeded.

We must also realize the even though the Messiah first gave His time to Israel, who rejected Him, God had greater plans than this and the Messiah was sent to take the salvation message throughout this world.

The salvation plan of God cannot be stopped!

Christ established the Church and it is now the job of the Church to carry the message of God to this lost and dying world.

Upon salvation, we are to be witnesses to the goodness of God.

We must follow the example the Christ Jesus has put in place to have the greatest success and we will realize that most of this world will reject this message of God but we are never to allow this to hinder us in our mission even if it leads to our death as it did Christ.

Luk_9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Our Savior, the Messiah was called to live a life of total trust in God.

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Joh 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

God rewards all His servants according to the work they do after salvation and we should be able to see that there is no certain group that should be included in the Church. The Church is sent to the world because that was the real mission of the Messiah.

Rom_10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

*****Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

One of the greatest things we should see in these Scriptures is that the work of salvation is the work of the Messiah, Christ Jesus!

Jehovah said it was His work but Salvation can only come by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Psa 98:2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
Psa 98:3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

The salvation of this world and everyone else, can only come by the Lord's plan!

This is His plan and He just wants us all to be a part of His plan!

We also know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the arm of God and salvation can only come by Jesus Christ.

Isa 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Jesus put it this way in plain words easy to understand.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

No matter how much the world hates this truth and no matter who penalizes the Christian for clinging to this truth, this truth cannot be changed.

The truth is the truth even if the whole world denies it!

The world also denies that this person sent by God, is Himself the Savior but this is still the truth!

If people wish to be saved to a life eternal, they must approach God through the person of Jesus Christ, this is the complete truth!

This Person sent by God, ("God Himself") was given the awesome task of providing a means of salvation for all those who live upon this earth, this is also the truth!

Because this message is so important and requires "faith" and "repentance", this message must be taken to every human being so they will get an opportunity to make a choice to believe the truth or to accept the world's false message.

So, it is the proclaiming of this message of God that cannot fail.

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

This is the truth of God and the only truth this world needs to understand!

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

This is the truth!

Those that despise the truth of God will see the shame of that decision in the not too distant future!

*****Isa 49:7 Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

At the Second Coming of the Messiah this world will see the truth of the Lord again!

The nation of Israel will be raised from degradation to the highest honor. The world absolutely rejects this truth also but it is still the truth!

We can see that the Lord, the Messiah, was despised when He preached His message of salvation on this earth and He is despised today because that message has not changed and all those that trust in the Lord and are called by His name, ("Christian") are despised today.

Jehovah God gave these words to Isaiah so we would all know this truth and we are not to yield to this world but continue with the message of God being even more determined!

We are to be "faithful" in the work the Lord has given us to do because the Lord will be faithful in the things He has promised to those that trust Him!

Psa 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

When our Lord was on this earth He allowed Himself to be ridiculed, beaten, and even death but to the surprise of this world, He raised up out of that tomb and allowed the world to see His resurrected body near 50 days and He was exalted by Jehovah and called home for a time that only God knows.

What else is the truth? There is coming a day when those kings and rulers who are left will lay down before the Lord and who will then be convinced that He is truly Jehovah God, who has held true to the all the promises He has made by His prophets!

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This day has not come yet but it is still the truth whether this world believes it or not!

When the Lord, the Messiah returns, He will fulfill the promised covenant He made to Israel!

*****Isa 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
Isa 49:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

Even though we know that Cyrus was a tool in the hand of God and was used to bring freedom to the Jews who were captivity because of King Nebuchadnezzar, we should understand this Scripture applies to God's servant as the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was Jesus Christ who was called to be God's covenant for all people!

The Lord Jesus did not make a New Covenant because the Lord Jesus Christ was in His person that New Covenant!

The life of Jesus Christ is still the Christians greatest asset!

Joh_14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; "but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also".

It is through the Lord Jesus Christ that God pledges to fulfill all His promises being first the God of comfort!

2Co_1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Some of these promises to the Jews were, raising up their land that had been destroyed, the liberation of the captives, and to supply the food and drink and the other needs that were required. This included the protection from the elements, "the Sun", and to provide a smooth highway for their journey!

These are "in type" like the spiritual blessings the Lord provides to all the people of Jehovah!

It is through the Lord Jesus Christ, "Our Savior", that God promises to set His people free from captivity!

The deliverance of Israel from Babylon is a clear picture "in type" of our Savior delivering God's people from the bondage of sin!

The only time the Lord will not redeem and set free all those who place their trust in Him, is after their death!

Not only will the Lord set free all those bound and in captivity to Satan, He promises to guide these redeemed to a safe place and provide for them and protect them from all evil "forever", which means in His own time and not time as we know it!

No matter where God sends His children, they are never out of reach of His long arm of provision and protection!

We also know that before any of these things take place, Christ had to suffer and die. It is through the suffering of Christ and that false trial and on that cross where He learned deliverance.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

So, to give freely is then act of God's "Grace"!

*****Isa 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
Isa 49:11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

We all face many obstacles in our Christian life and have many mountains to climb, with most all of them seeming to be impossible!

There are always those people and things that threaten our progress in our Christian life!

Notice, that the Lord does not say He will remove the mountains that we face daily. God says that He will make us a way.

Notice also that this passage is in the future tense.

No obstacles are too great for God's people because no obstacle is too great for our Lord!

There would be no obstacle great enough to keep these Jews, who would be freed from Babylon, from getting back to Jerusalem.

There will be no obstacles that can keep all the Jews from going home today and certainly not at the return of Christ!

*****Isa 49:12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

No doubt Isaiah completely understood this message he was trying to convey to these Jews caught up in Babylon but we can see how this passage has a more important bearing on the return of the Messiah!

The truth is when the Messiah returns the Second Time, the remnant of Israel will be saved but it is obvious that there will be many Gentiles also that will be saved!

Psa 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
Psa 22:28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.

What had God told Jacob?

Gen 28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Gen 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

What message had God given to Isaiah?

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

We must realize that we are in these last days and we need to get busy serving the Lord while we still have an opportunity and more than the opportunity, a privilege!

God says people will come from far! God will remove every obstacle in the path of anyone, no matter where they are, if they decide to give their life to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom_10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It is then a time to rejoice when your name is written down in the Lamb's Book of Life!

There is no other way to enter in to God's New Heaven!

Rev_21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

*****Isa 49:13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

We will sing because of the eternal blessings that come with salvation!
We will sing because of the promises fulfilled in respect to Israel!
Even all the Heavens will sing.

Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

In fact, the entire earth will have reason to break forth in song!

Isa 14:7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.

And the reason for all this rejoicing is simple, "for God has comforted His people"!

This earth will then be pure enough for the Lord to reign as King!

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

For the Jewish captives in Babylon, freedom still meant going home to Jerusalem which had been destroyed and it was not yet possible for them to worship in the Temple.

*****Isa 49:14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

Many of God's people feel the same today because politics are keeping the Jewish Temple from being rebuilt again.

Also, today, these things could be said about the Church, the condition of God's church is desperate now but we seem to forget the truth of the Scriptures.

2Th_2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

We should remember that when the nation of Israel went into captivity it was because of idol worship but we also know that there were still many of these Jews who had remained solid with the Lord and had not submitted to false worship.

Many of these then felt abandoned and felt that the Lord had abandoned them.

It could be said that this same thing happens to the Church in places where wars and terrorist cause God's people so much pain and suffering.

It is hard to sit here in America where these things do not go on and understand the misery of the persecuted Christian but this thing increases every day!

The persecution of the Church and the Jews is increasing worldwide and even many so-called Jews and so-called Christians have become our greatest enemies!

For these Jews, God had made plans for Cyrus to provide the finances to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.
Jeremiah had said that this captivity would only last 70 years.

We must always realize that the plan of God requires patience, because He is waiting until that last soul will be saved and He will then quickly come with His vengeance.

It is easy to blame the Lord when we are suffering but we always seem to forget the many times we have forsaken the Lord.
We seem to forget that we do not know what tomorrow will bring but the Lord does and He has said we are on the winning side.
We seem to forget that even in our peril we are still in the hands of a loving God and cannot be removed from His hands!
We should realize that sometimes we cling too much to this world we live in and it is not even our home!

How does God answer these accusations?

*****Isa 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Isa 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

It could be said that no one loves a child more than that mother who gave birth to that child but there is One who does and it is the Lord!

It would be contrary to the nature of God to ever abandon His children but to become a child of God we must be born into the family of God!

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

God has a love that will never let His children go at any time!

Psa 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Why are these things so true? It is because God is the true meaning of love!

Most of our world today has true love mixed up with carnal lust!

1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; "for God is love".

1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, "but that he loved us", and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God is love in His essence. His love is deeper, tenderer, truer, than any human love can be!

Here again we see that every believer is a work of the hands of God. Hands that never forgotten each and every vessel that He has ever created!

Even a vessel as stubborn as I am, God has chiseled into the palms of His hands!

These Jews knew that they would have no protection in Jerusalem because even the walls had been destroyed. Not many of them realized that God was already taking care of that problem.

God had sent Nehemiah to solve this issue.

God had sent Zerubbabel to build a new Temple.

Isa 26:1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
Isa 26:2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

To the believer we must always remember, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our wall of protection.

God promises our safety!

*****Isa 49:17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
Isa 49:18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

God made a guarantee to these exiles. The descendants, still in captivity would return to Jerusalem and their return would be spectacular! Their destroyers and those who would stop the rebuilding process would leave them alone.

It is because those who have faith in the promises of God, are the jewels in God's coffers.

Mal_3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

But what about the Church the bride of Christ?

Isa_61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

God looks at the true Jew and the true Christian to be as one!

And now Isaiah returns to the things of the future Millennial Kingdom.

*****Isa 49:19 For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.

The truth is, after Jerusalem was rebuilt it was never at any time over populated. When Gentiles were converted to Christianity, they did not seek to make Jerusalem their home.

After Christ Jesus ascended into Heaven there was a vast growth of the Church that would spread far beyond the limits of Palestine and during the Millennial Kingdom, God's people will habitat the entire earth with an explosion of the population.

At this time, the sinners will have perished!

Psa 10:16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: "the heathen are perished out of his land".

Then God teaches of children.

*****Isa 49:20 The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.

We know the Church was called out before the Tribulation period but once the Jews have returned to Mount Zion after the Tribulation period they will see other Gentiles who have made it through the Tribulation period by converting to Christianity.

It was the "Rapture" of the Church that had caused these Jews to become jealous of Jehovah God.

Rom_11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

These Jews had realized that the promises made to David were being fulfilled but they had not realized that the Gentiles would be a part of that also.

Joe_2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

God has always been a "whosoever" God and that will not change, even when God is fulfilling His promises to the Jews.

At that time, it is a fact that Jerusalem will not be able to hold all the people seeking residence in that place.

Then these Jews will say, "Who hath begotten me these".

*****Isa 49:21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
Isa 49:22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

And Zion speaks again:

If we understand the Church as the "Mother", The Bride of Christ, it is her privilege to bring forth the children of the Lord Jesus Christ, "Her Husband".

It is the Church who carried the message of the Lord after the failure of Israel.

Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Lord will fulfill the promises made to the Jews but in the end this remnant of the Jew will be joined by those Gentiles saved during that same period.

There will be great increase to the Church and Zion will be bewildered at finding herself once more filled with children. We should remember Zion was left desolate by the destruction in 70 A D by Titus of Rome.

Lam_1:4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

The Jewish exile was the time of Zion's barreness!

Even the children of Israelites that had grown up in foreign lands were not even considered her children!

It remains a fact that many Jews will not be able to return to Zion without the help of some Gentile Christians!

Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isa 60:4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
Isa 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
Isa 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
Isa 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
Isa 60:8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
Isa 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
Isa 60:10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
Isa 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.

So, it is the Gentiles who will have been the guardians of the children of Israel but only because Jehovah God has caused this to happen!

It is then, that these same Gentiles will kiss the ground where the Lord abides as King of Kings, and Lord of Lord.

This shows their willingness to serve the Lord and the Kingdom of the Lord, in whatever task He will have for them.

Rom_10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

There is no shame in serving the Lord in whatever task He has for us and it should be that way in the Church of today!

We must remain patient and wait on the Lord.

Psa_37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Psa_27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

*****Isa 49:24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

In this time of Isaiah, Babylon was so powerful that the Jews could not believe the prophecy of Jeremiah and this was a great burden upon them!

The truth is, we must always find comfort in the Word of God! That can only happen when we accept every Word to be the truth when we rightly divide the Word of God.

Today the Jews have wondered for many years if they would ever be released from this world who tries its best to keep them in bondage.

The truth is, if they would accept the Word of God as the complete truth, they could take comfort knowing that the Lord will fulfill every promise He has ever made to them!

Even today the Church does not wonder so much about being released from bondage, the Lord Jesus has already taken care of this but the Church still wonders when the Lord will return and take us out of this evil world.

The truth is, if the Church would accept the complete Word of God as the truth, the Church also could find comfort in the Word of God.

1Th_1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Notice this Scripture does not say will deliver it says, "has delivered". In the mind of God, this is something that He will not forget, the Church will not see the "wrath of God".

The one thing we do not know is, the exact time when these things will take place but we should understand the "Rapture" could take place at any time.

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

When we find comfort in the Word of God, then we can be patient and the Lord says while we are being patient, then it is best to be busy and go about the "Work" that the Lord has placed in our hands to do.

If the Jews would find comfort in the entire Word of God and quit listening to Rabbis who search for every excuse to ignore the truth of the Gospel, they also could find comfort.

They would not have to worry about those who are mighty today, trying to cause them harm!

What does the Lord say?

*****Isa 49:25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
Isa 49:26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

What does God say? God says no one is mightier than He is!
If any man on this earth, including Satan refuses to turn God's people loose, then God will simply take them away and leave behind heavy damage or complete destruction!

Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

It would be easy to say, that Isaiah could not know of the weapons in existence today and that is true but the One who gave him these words for us, knows about all the weapons of mankind and also the feeble weapons of Satan.

No weapon can overcome the love of God!

Our God has a love that simply will not let us go!

God simply says, "I Will Save My Children"

Is He talking about the Jews, yes, He is talking about the converted Jews, then and now.

But that is not all!

Gal_3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

At no time is God talking about any other children beyond those of "faith" and that "Faith" in the Living God!

Heb_12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

How terrible will it be when the Lord returns to set His people free.

The Lord says He will feed them with their own flesh.
They will be drunken with their own blood.
Every human being of that day will come to know the Lord, some in a good way but many in a bad way. All the world will be believers!

There will be no one who is not a believer but it will be too late for those who have rejected Him at that time!

What do we know as the children of the Living God?

He is our Lord.
He is our Savior.
He is our Redeemer.
He is the Mighty One of Jacob.

That kinda says it all!

Questions?

Let's Pray!