THE MEANS AND PURPOSE OF OUR SALVATION

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Richard Summers
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1 THEMEANSANDPURPOSEOFOURSALVATION 48Listentothis,OhouseofJacob,youwhohavebeennamedIsraelandcomefromthe lineage of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of Jehovah and invoke the God of Israel butnotintruthorrighteousness 2 (theycallthemselves[citizens]oftheholy cityanddependuponthegodofisrael,jehovahofhostsishisname): 3 Iforetoldthe former things long ago; indeed, I announced them with my mouth and made them known.[then]suddenlyiactedandbroughtthemtofulfillment.4[ididso]becausei know that you are obstinate and the sinews of your neck are made of iron and your forehead is like bronze. 5 That is why I told you these things long ago; before they happenediannouncedthemtoyou,sothatyoucouldnotsay,myidolhasdonethese things;mycarvedimageandmymoltenimagehaveordainedthem. 6 Youhaveheard [about these things]; take note, [you have heard] all this; will you not acknowledge this? From now on I will show you new things, hidden things that you did not know. 7 They are newly created and did not exist in the past; you have not heard of them before today, so that you cannot say, Yes, I knew about them. 8 Indeed, you had not [previously]heard[aboutthesethings];indeed,youdidnot[previously]know[about them];indeed,ididnotopenyourearlongago[andtellyouaboutthesethings.idid notdoso]becauseiknewthatyouareverytreacherous;fromthetimeofyourbirth youwerecalledarebel. 9 Formy[own]name ssakeiwilldefermyanger,andfor[thesakeof]mypraisei refrain[fromexpressingmywrath]againstyou,sothatidonotcutyouoff. 10 Look!I haverefinedyou,but[youhavenotprovenyourself]tobelikesilver;ihavetestedyou inthefurnaceofaffliction. 11 Formyownsake,formyownsake,Iwilldoit [Iwill restrainmyanger,]forhowcaniallowmynametobeprofaned?iwillnotgivemy glorytoanyoneelse! 12 Listentome,OJacob,andIsrael,theonewhomIhavecalled:I amhe;iamthefirstandiamalsothelast. 13 My[own]handlaidthefoundationofthe earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens. When I summon[the starry host], theyallstanduptogether. 14 Cometogether,allofyou,andlisten.Whichof[theidols] has foretold these things? The one whom Jehovah loves will carry out his purpose against Babylon; his arm will be against the Chaldeans. 15 I, I have spoken. Indeed, I havecalledhim.ihavebroughthim,andhewillsucceedinhismission. 16 Come near to me and listen to this: From the beginning [of these events] I have spoken [about them publicly], not secretly; from the time that they occurred, I was there.nowthelordjehovahhassentmewithhisspirit. 17 ThisiswhatJehovah,your Redeemer,theHolyOneofIsrael,says,IamJehovahyourGod,whoinstructsyoufor yourbenefit,wholeadsyouinthewayyoushouldgo. 18 Ifonlyyouhadpaidattention tomycommandments,yourpeacewouldhavebeenlikeariverandyourrighteousness [wouldhavebeen]likethewavesofthesea. 19 Furthermore,yourdescendantswould have been like the sand, and your children like its [countless] grains; his name will neverbecutofffrommypresencenordestroyed. 20 ComeoutofBabylon,fleefromthe Chaldeans!Announcethiswithshoutsofjoy,proclaimit,declareittotheendsofthe earth,say,jehovahhasredeemedhisservantjacob! 21 Theydidnotsufferthirstwhen heledthemthroughthedeserts;hecausedwatertoflowoutoftherockforthem he split the rock and the waters gushed out. 22 [But] there is no peace for the wicked, declaresjehovah.(isa.48:1 22)

2 Introduction InthepassageofScripturepresentlybeforeus,theLORDannouncesHisintentionto redeem Israel out of their bondage and bring them back to the Promised Land of Canaan.ButbeforeHedoesso,theLORDwantsHispeopletocometogripswithtwo fundamentaltruths:1)theirredemptionisduetohisgraceandmercy,itisnotdue totheirmerit;and2)theirredemptionisforhisgloryandservice,inwhichalone theywillfindtrueblessing. LiketheOldTestamentpeopleofIsrael,we,too,arepronetolosesightofthedivine cause of our salvation (the grace of God), as well as the divine purpose of that salvation(servicetogodasobedientsonsforhisglory),withtheresultbeingaselfglorifying and self gratifying existence. The incarnation is perversely seen as the evidencethatgodishonoredtobecomeonewithus.thecrucifixionisperversely seenastheevidencethatgodstandsreadytoserveusatanycost. Thispassageservestoconfrontuswiththosesamefundamentaltruthswithwhich thelordconfrontedisrael:1)ourredemptionisduetohisdivinegraceandmercy, itisnotduetoourownmerit;and2)ourredemptionisforhisserviceandglory,in whichalonewewillfindtrueblessing. I.WeHaveBeenSavedbytheLORD sgrace(isa.48:1 11) Inverses1 2theLORDconfrontsIsraelwiththefactthattheyhavenotbeentrue totheirhighspiritualcalling.theyhavebeennamed Israel theyareidentified with the Old Testament patriarch as his descendants and they are numbered among that body of people who are designated as God s own possession. They have comefromthelineageofjudah theyareofthenationofjudah,thatpart ofisraelthatwaspreservedfromtheassyrianonslaughtthatsweptawaytheten northern tribes thus they might view themselves as special objects of God s favor, uniquely and divinely protected and preserved. They take oaths in the nameofjehovahandinvokethegodofisrael theyacknowledgethatthelordis God, and they confess Him to be their God; and they engage in public acts of worship addressed to Him. They call themselves [citizens] of the holy city and depend upon the God of Israel they view themselves as members of the kingdomofgod thekingdomcharacterizedbyholiness andtheypresumethat the LORD will take care of them and identify them as His own cherished possession. But not in truth or righteousness their state of heart and mind doesnotconformtogod sstandard,itdoesnotconformtothenametheybear,it does not conform to the religion they profess and the identify they assume to possess. In verses 3 8 the LORD declares that these people have been obstinate and stiffnecked they have been stubbornly resistant to God. The LORD reminds these people of His former words of prophecy (vs. 3): long ago He foretold what He would do, and then suddenly He fulfilled His word. He explains that He

3 announcedhisworksfarinadvancebecauseoftheobstinacyandstubbornness ofthepeople Hedescribesthemashavingneckslikeironsinewsandforeheads of bronze (vs. 4.) Had the LORD not sent His prophets to foretell what He was about to do, when His work was actually performed these people would have attributedittotheiridolsratherthanacknowledgingittobeanactofthelord theirgod(vs.5.) NowtheLORDdeclaresthatHeisgoingtoshowthesepeoplenewthings:things that have been hidden, unknown, newly created, unheard of before(vs. 6b 7a.) TheLORDhasdeterminedtomakethesenewthingsknowntothepeopleatthis presenttimeratherthanrevealingtheminthepastsothattheycannotsay, Yes,I knewaboutthem (vs.7b.)ifthelordhadforetoldthesethingsinadvance,when the events actually came to pass the people would have been unaffected and unimpressed. Rather than stand in awe at the work of God, they would have congratulated themselves on their ability to know these acts long before they occurred,willfullyfailingtorememberthatitwasthelordwhoforetoldwhathe wasgoingtodo. TheLORDdeclares, Iknewthatyouareverytreacherous (vs.8b.)thereiswithin the human heart a terrible prejudice against God: a sinful lust to deny Him and His work in spite of the evidence, a sinful tendency to be completely biased againstgod.theapostlepauladdressesthisinromans1:18, ThewrathofGodis beingrevealedfromheavenagainstallthegodlessnessandwickednessofmenwho suppressthetruthbytheirwickedness. Inverse10theLORDinformsIsraelthatwhentheyweresubjectedtotestingthey didnotcomeforthlikepuresilver.thelordsubjectedhispeopletotherefining process,asonewouldtestpreciousmetals.hesubjectedthemto thefurnaceof affliction. Thatistosay,Hesubjectedthemtovarioustrialsandtestingstosee how they would react Would they give their allegiance to Him and remain faithfultotheirgodandtohiscommandments?theoutcomeofthisprocessof testing has regretfully demonstrated that they are not like silver. They are not the spiritual equivalent of precious metal; rather, they show themselves to be spiritualdrosswithmanyimpurealloys. Against this background of holy accusation supported by the hard evidence of spiritualapostasy,isseenthewonderofthelord stestimonyinverses9and11. For my own name s sake I will defer my anger, and for the sake of my praise I refrain[fromexpressingmywrath]againstyou,sothatidonotcutyouoff (vs.9.) Sinfullives,characterizedbysuperficialityofworship,stubbornnessofheart,and absenceofobedience,provokethelordtorighteousanger anangerthatwould move the LORD to cut His people off from the covenant and consign us to the judgmentofeverlastingpunishment.butinhismercyhedefersthatholyanger (literally, He makes his anger long, He restrains Himself from inflicting the sentence of everlasting judgment) and this He does for His own Name s sake.

4 Thatistosay,infaithfulnesstoHispromisethatAbrahamshallhaveanationof descendants,asrecordedingenesis15:5, And[Jehovah]broughthimout[tothe openfield]andsaid, Looktowardheavenandnumberthestars,ifyouareableto numberthem. Thenhesaidtohim, Soshallyouroffspringbe. Muchmoreso,in faithfulness to Christ, so that He shall, indeed, have spiritual fruit for His labor: Andagainhesays, HereamI,andthechildrenGodhasgivenme (Heb.2:13b.) ThewriterofHebrewsappliesthewordsofIsaiah8:18toChristandHisspiritual children allthosewhoreceivehimastheirsavior.thelordisenabledtodefer His anger and show mercy to His people because His justice has been executed uponthepersonofthemessiah,aswillberevealedinisaiah53, Buthewaspiercedforourtransgressions,hewascrushedforouriniquities;the punishmentwaslaiduponhimforourpeace,andbyhiswoundswearehealed. 6 Weall,likesheep,havegoneastray,eachofushasturnedtohisownway;but Jehovahhaslaiduponhimtheiniquityofusall.(Isa.53:5 6) In Romans 3:25 26, the Apostle Paul further elaborates upon the redemptive workofjesusthemessiah, Godpresentedhimasasacrificeofatonement 26 He didittodemonstratehisjustice soastobejustandtheonewhojustifiestheman whohasfaithinjesus. InIsaiah48:11theLORDgoesontodeclare, Formyownsake,formyownsake,I willdoit [Iwillrestrainmyanger,]forhowcanIallowmynametobeprofaned?I willnotgivemyglorytoanyoneelse! IftheLORDwerenottosaveHispeopleHe wouldbeseenasbeingpowerlesstosaveandaccusedofbeingunfaithfultohis covenantalpromises.mosespresentsthisargumentuntothelordasthereason forhimtosavehisrebelliouspeopleatthetimetheymadethegoldencalf: Ihaveseenthesepeople, JehovahsaidtoMoses, andtheyareastiff necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and thatimaydestroythem.theniwillmakeyouintoagreatnation. 11 ButMoses sought the favor of Jehovah his God. O Jehovah, he said, why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe themoffthefaceoftheearth?turnfromyourfierceanger;relentanddonot bringdisasteronyourpeople. 13 RememberyourservantsAbraham,Isaacand Israel,towhomyousworebyyourownself: Iwillmakeyourdescendantsas numerousasthestarsintheskyandiwillgiveyourdescendantsallthislandi promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever. 14 Then Jehovah relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.(ex. 32:9 14) IftheLORDhadnotdeliveredHispeoplefromtheircaptivity,thedevil thegodof this world would have deprived the LORD of the glory of gaining the ultimate

5 victory,victoryoversinanditseternalconsequences thevictoryofredeeming Hissinfulhell deservingpeople. LetusrecognizethatwehavebeensavedbytheLORD sgrace andnotbecause of any merit found in us. Remember the teaching of the Apostle Paul, when we werestillpowerless,christdiedfortheungodly 8 Goddemonstrateshisown loveforusinthis:whilewewerestillsinners,christdiedforus (Rom.5:6,8.)As thehymnwriter,horatiusbonar,expressesit: Chosennotforgoodinme, Wakenedupfromwrathtoflee, HiddenintheSavior sside, BytheSpiritsanctified. Teachme,Lord,onearthtoshow, Bymylove,howmuchIowe. II.WeHaveBeenSavedfortheLORD sglory(isa.48:17 22) TheLORDwhoidentifiesHimselfasour Redeemer; atthesametimeinformsus that He is the Holy One of Israel (vs. 17a.) He then goes on to declare, I am JehovahyourGod HeistheGodtowhomwebelongandwithwhomwehave been brought into covenant; note 1 Corinthians 6:19 20, You do not belong to yourself; 20 youwereboughtwithaprice.therefore,glorifygodwithyourbody. AsourGodHeteachesusandleadsusinthewayweshouldgo(vs.17c.)The Psalmistpresentsthesamethemewhenhedeclares, TheLORDismyshepherd 3 Heguidesmeinthepathsofrighteousnessforhisname ssake (Psl.23:1a,3.)As Isaiah 48:17 goes on to indicate, the LORD our God leads us in the way of righteousnessforhisname ssakeandforourprofit.whenhefirstestablished the covenant nation of Israel, the LORD expressed His desire that His people would be devoted to Him so that they might perpetually experience His covenantalblessing: Oh,thattheirheartswouldbeinclinedtofearmeandkeep all my commandments always, so that it might go well with them and their childrenforever! (Deut.5:29.) NowtheLORDexpressesremorsethatHispeoplehavefailedtowalkinHisways, Ifonlyyouhadpaidattentiontomycommandments! (vs.18a.)iftheyhaddone so,theywouldhaveexperiencedtheblessingshehereenumerates. Yourpeace wouldhavebeenlikeariver theblessingofpeacewithgodiscomparedtothe idyllic scene of a peacefully meandering river. Your righteousness[would have been]likethewavesofthesea thelifeoftheindividualandthepeopleofgod collectively would overflow with the fruit of righteousness just as the waves coverthesea. Yourdescendantswouldhavebeenlikethesand,andyourchildren likeits[countless]grains;hisnamewouldneverbecutofffrommypresencenor destroyed obediencewouldbringthefulfillmentofthecovenantalpromiseof an abundance of offspring altogether enjoying the blessing of dwelling in the presenceofthelordforever.

6 WhereasOldTestamentIsraelfailedtoheedtheLORD sadmonitionandpurpose for their lives as expressed in verse 18a, the passage indicates that the divine purposeshallyetbefulfilledthroughthemessiah,thelordjesuschrist.thefact thatthelordcallsuponhispeopletocomeforthfrombabylon(vs.20)indicates that,althoughtheyhadbeengivenovertojudgmentbecauseoftheirfailureto heedtheirlord sadmonition,thereisacallforrepentance,andthepromiseof restoration and the assurance that the LORD shall yet accomplish His divine purposeinthosewhomhehasredeemedforhimself: Iwilltakeyououtofthenations;Iwillgatheryoufromallthecountriesand bringyoubackintoyourownland. 25 Iwillsprinklecleanwateronyou,andyou willbeclean;iwillcleanseyoufromallyourimpuritiesandfromallyouridols. 26 Iwillgiveyouanewheartandputanewspiritinyou;Iwillremovefromyou yourheartofstoneandgiveyouaheartofflesh. 27 AndIwillputmySpiritin youandcauseyoutofollowmydecreesandbecarefultokeepmylaws. 28 You willliveinthelandigaveyourforefathers;youwillbemypeople,andiwillbe yourgod.(ezek.36:24 28) Theuseofthesingularpronouninverse19b( hisname )aswellasthefuture tense( hisnamewillneverbecutofffrommypresence )remindsusthatthereis only One who was truly obedient to the LORD the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Redeemer and it is by faith in Him that we enter into His righteous life and God s purpose with regard to us is realized. Note 2 Corinthians 5:21, Him [Christ]whoknewnosinhe[GodtheFather]madetobesinonourbehalf;sothat wemightbecometherighteousnessofgodinhim. Thepassageabruptlycloseswithastartlingandsoberreminderthatifthereis norighteousnesstherecanbenopeace eitherinthisworldorintheworldto come: [But] there is no peace for the wicked, declares Jehovah (vs. 22.) The kingdom of God is populated not by those who merely come to Jesus; but by thosewho,havingcometojesus,becomelikejesus,notetitus2:14, oursavior JesusChrist gavehimselfforus,sothathemightredeemusfromalliniquity,and purifytohimselfapeopleforhisownpossession,zealousforgoodworks. Let us recognize that we have been saved for the LORD s glory the glory of having His righteous character reproduced in us and radiate from us for all of eternity. In Romans 8:29 30, the Apostle Paul expresses the purpose of God s savingworkandliststhevariousaspectsofthatworkinthepasttenseinorder toemphasizethecertaintythatthatworkwill,indeed,befinallyrealizedinthe livesofthelord sredeemedtothegloryofhisname: thosegodforeknewhealsopredestinedtobeconformedtothelikenessofhis Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined,healsocalled;thosehecalled,healsojustified;thosehejustified, healsoglorified.(rom.8:29 30)

7 Conclusion LiketheOldTestamentpeopleofIsrael,we,too,arepronetolosesightofthedivine causeofoursalvation,aswellasthedivinepurposeofthatsalvation.whenthatis allowedtohappentheresultisaself glorifyingandself gratifyingexistence. ButhereinIsaiah48weareconfrontedwithandremindedofboththemeansofour salvation(namely,thegraceandmercyofthelordourgod)aswellasthepurpose of that salvation (namely, the glory of the LORD in having His righteous character reproducedinhisredeemedpeople).inoneofmanynewtestamentpassagesthese greattruthsarestatedasfollows: It is by grace that you have been saved through faith and this is not of yourselves,itisthegiftofgod 9 itisnotofworks,thereforenoonecanboast. 10 We are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God preparedinadvanceinorderforustowalkinthem.(eph.2:8 10)

The Road to Jesus: The Gospel According to Isaiah Israel s Release and Exaltation - Part 1 Isaiah 48 & 49 January 6, 2016

The Road to Jesus: The Gospel According to Isaiah Israel s Release and Exaltation - Part 1 Isaiah 48 & 49 January 6, 2016 INTRODUCTION: We have spent four months on Isaiah, so far. We have two months to