Let me say I'm just delighted,
most delighted to be here. Turn in your Bible to Isaiah,
the gospel according to Isaiah 35. Isaiah 35. Isaiah chapter
35. I'm going to read some verses
here in the beginning, but I want to take a look just quickly at
verse 8. And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall
be called the way of holiness. The way of holiness. The unclean
shall not pass over it. Now the title of this message
is The Highway of Grace. The Highway of Grace. Let's go back to verse 1. I'll
just read these verses quickly, but I think it'll help us to
understand what's being said here. This is talking about the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, just like Isaiah 53, talking
about those blessed gospel promises and those spiritual blessings
that God has promised and given to His people in Christ Jesus. The wilderness and the solitary
place shall be glad for them, the desert And the desert shall
rejoice and blossom as a rose. It shall blossom abundantly and
rejoice even with joy and singing. And the glory of Lebanon shall
be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall
see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God. And we
see that in Christ Jesus, don't we? His beauty, His glory, His
excellency. Strengthen ye the weak. Strengthen
ye the weak hands. Confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful
heart, Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come. Talking
about God our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, your God
will come. and He will come with vengeance,
even God with a recompense. He will come and He will save
you. Call His name Jesus. He shall
save His people from their sin. Then, then the eyes of the blind
shall be opened. Then the ears of the deaf shall
be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap
as a heart as a deer, and the tongue, then, then the tongue
of the dumb, saying, for in the wilderness shall waters break
out, and streams in the desert, and the parched ground shall
become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water, and the
habitation of dragons among the wicked, where each leg shall
be grass, with reeds and rushes, and a highway." Now, this is
a highway. This is not a low way. This is
a high way. This is God's way. This is an
elevated way. This is a way that is the way
of grace, the way of mercy in Christ Jesus. It's a high way. And a high way shall, not maybe,
not perhaps, not if you will, God will. It says a high way
shall be there and a way. And it shall be called the way
of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over
it, but it shall be for those." You see, it's a select way. It
shall be for those, though wayfaring men, pilgrims and strangers,
though fools, shall not err therein. Never make a mistake trusting
the Lord Jesus Christ. shall not err, trusting him,
resting in him." Verse 9, no lion. You see, this is a safe
way. It's a holy way. It's a highway. It's a select way. It's a safe
way, the way of grace. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast. No enemy's on this way, but there
is a lion there, but the lion is a lion of the tribe of Judah. The enemy has been defeated. No lion, no enemy will be there. No ravenous beast shall go up
thereon. It shall not be found there,
but the redeemed, the redeemed, they shall walk there. And the
ransomed, the ransomed, that the Lord shall return and come
to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads. You see,
it's a joyous way. It's a joyous way. We rejoice.
It's everlasting joy upon their head. They shall obtain joy and
gladness. Sorrow and sighing shall flee
away this highway of grace. Now, this chapter is much like
that of Isaiah 53. It's loaded. with blessed gospel
promises given to God's covenant people through the righteous
merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. We say with the Apostle Paul,
blessed be the God and Father by Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy. without blame before
Him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will,
to the praise of the glory of His grace wherein He hath made
us accepted, accepted in, in the Beloved." All those blessed
gospel promises and the promises of the gospel of our blessed
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. All those gospel promises shall
never fail. You know why? God can't fail. The gospel can't fail. The Lord
Jesus Christ knows nothing of failure. He is victorious, conquering,
king, exalted, reigning over all things. And His Word cannot
fail. His promises cannot fail. Forgiveness
in whom we have redemption, that promise shall not fail. Salvation,
He gives His people eternal life and they shall never perish. I believe Him. These promises
shall not fail because He does not fail. Righteousness given
to us freely and fully in the Lord Jesus Christ. Regeneration,
being made a new creature in Christ Jesus. These gospel promises
shall not and cannot fail. because of our Lord, His successful
work, His glorious priestly work for us, His mediation for us. Resurrection, reconciliation,
regeneration, all the promises of God we have in Christ Jesus
are yes and amen and in Him and to the glory of God by Jesus
Christ. And He has established these
promises. They're in Him. and their yes
and their amen in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our blessed Lord knows
nothing of agony, of defeat. Now, He knows a lot about agony,
doesn't He? Man of sorrow is acquainted with
grief, but He knows nothing about defeat. He's a conquering King. He's a conquering, victorious
Lord. Now, I like what it says over in Isaiah 42, that He cannot
fail. He cannot This verse in Revelation
chapter 6 says this, I saw and beheld a white horse and he that
sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him and he went
forth conquering to conquer. Our Lord is a mighty king who
knows nothing of defeat. All that he has promised, mark
it down, shall come to pass. All that he has said will be
done. He said, I've spoken it, I've
purposed it, I'll bring it to pass, and I will do it. I will do it. I have found at
least three times, and I'm sure there's more than this, but I've
found several times it's recorded in the Word of God in Joshua. His last words, the last words
of this man Joshua is recorded in Joshua 23, 14. He says this. His last words, behold this day.
I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your
hearts and all your souls that not one thing hath failed of
all the good things which the Lord hath spoke concerning you.
All are come to pass, not one thing hath failed of all that
God hath said." It is so. Another time we read in 1 Kings
chapter 8 when Solomon prayed that the dedication of He said,
Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people Israel
according to all that he hath promised. There hath not failed
one word of all his good promise which he promised by the hand
of Moses his servant. Every promise came to pass. Now seeing it is true concerning
those physical blessings given to the natural seed of Abraham,
how much more all the gospel promises given to the spiritual
seed of Abraham in Christ Jesus. We read this in Galatians chapter
3. He said, for you're all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ, then you're
Abraham's seed and heirs according to his promise. The promise of
grace. The promise of salvation in him. You see, we have a good hope.
We have a good hope. It's not a flimsy hope. You know,
our hope The reason we have a good hope through grace is because
the Lord Jesus Christ, He is our hope. All of it. Now for
a moment or two, let's focus our attention on these verses
here in Isaiah 35. And see the blessedness of our
salvation in Christ Jesus. Salvation in Christ throughout
the book of Isaiah described by various names. In Isaiah 28. We read about the foundation
stone. Behold, I lay in Zion for a stone,
a trident stone, a precious cornerstone. So He is the foundation. We read
in Isaiah 32 about the great rock in a weary land. Isaiah 61 talks about the trees
of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. And here in our text, The Lord
Jesus Christ and salvation in him is called a highway. A highway. This highway is a king's way. A free and sovereign grace. And
you know what? It's a freeway. A freeway. It's not a toll road. It's a
freeway. A freeway. Not paid by man's
doing. Not paid by man's will. But by
God's free will. Sovereign grace. It's the King's
highway. Now here's, I've got five points.
Here's the first one. There is only one certain way
of salvation that's revealed in the Word of God. And that
way is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He is the way. Jesus Christ Himself. Remember
the question that Thomas asked. Thomas said to the Lord, we know,
not whether thou knowest. How can we know the way? And
the Lord Jesus Christ said, Thomas, I'm the way, I'm the truth, and I am the life. And then he said, no man comes
unto the Father but by me. The Lord Jesus Christ not only
made the way, planned the way, purposed the way, paved the way,
he is the way. He is the way. He not only spoke
the truth and speaks the truth, but He is the truth. He not only
gives life and is salvation, but my friend, salvation is in
a person, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. We read of this scripture,
this is a record that God hath given to us eternal life, and
this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son The Lord Jesus Christ, He is
the way. He not only shows us the way,
He is the way. Now there are many roads that
lead to destruction we read about in scripture. In Proverbs 16,
there is a way that seems right unto man, but the end of that
way is death. Death. Our Lord's encouragement
to us is this, Matthew 7, enter ye into a straight gate. For
wide is a gate, and broad is a way that leads to destruction.
And many there be which go in thereat, because straight is
a gate, narrow is the way that leads unto life, and few there
be that find it. There is no other way of salvation
except and through and in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. There's no other. There is no
other. We read in Acts 4, neither is
there salvation in any other, for there's no other name under
heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. There is no other. There's one
way. It's a highway, and He is the
way. He is the way. Other foundation
can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Christ the
Lord. Now any who direct to another way, mark it down. They're false
prophets. Any who attempt to bring some
additions to the way, such as their works, good deeds, or religious
ceremony, reveal they're on the broad way, not in the narrow
way. They've embraced another gospel,
a false gospel. If righteousness comes by the
law, the Apostle said, then Christ is dead in vain. The highway
of grace in Christ Jesus never changes. Why doesn't it change? Because God never changes. He
said, I am the Lord. I change not. God does not change. His grace does not change. The
way of salvation cannot change. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday, today, and forever. Forever. We cannot be redeemed
but one way. There's not many ways of redemption.
There's one way of redemption. We cannot be redeemed but by
His precious blood. Our Lord Jesus Christ as our
great high priest, our great high priest, did bring that typical
animal sacrifice, did He? What did He bring? By Himself. Not with the blood of bulls and
goats, but with His own blood. He entered in once into the holy
place. And what did He do? Well, He
tried. No, He obtained for us eternal
redemption. There is just one way of redemption,
and that is through the blood sacrifice, the effectual, particular
blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ that puts away all the
sin of God's covenant people. We cannot be redeemed but by
His blood. This is the highway of God. We cannot be saved but
by His purpose and grace. There's just one way. One way,
not by our works. But by His own purpose and grace,
God saved us. Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us. We cannot be saved but by His
purpose and His grace. He marries the two together.
His purpose and His grace in Christ Jesus. We cannot be made
righteous but by His righteousness alone. No wonder the apostle
said that he counted all things but loss and ruin and dumb, that
he might win Christ and be found in him. Not having my own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faithfulness,
not my faithfulness, his. His faithfulness. His faithfulness. Though he cannot be made righteous,
but by his righteousness alone. This is that highway of grace
that we love, that we rejoice in, that we rest in in Christ
Jesus. There's one way. He's the way. He's the highway. Secondly is
this. Notice this highway of grace is called the way of holiness. The way of holiness. The way of holiness. Now notice
what it says there also. It says there, The unclean shall
not pass over this way. Now here, I've got a problem.
You've got a problem too. God is holy. Absolutely holy. And I know this. Turn over to
Isaiah 64. I know this about myself to some
extent and some degree. I'm a sinner. I'm unclean. Born
that way. Born in sin. Shaken in iniquity. Did you ever notice this? Isaiah
64, verse 6, that we are all as an
unclean thing. We all are as an unclean thing. All our righteousnesses are as
filthy rags, and we do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities like
the wind have taken us away. Now, don't stop reading there.
Read on. And there is none that calleth
upon thy name. that stirreth up himself to take
hold of thee, for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed
us because of our iniquity." No man stirs up himself to take
hold of him. No man can come unto me except
the Father which sent me draw him. The unclean shall not pass
over this way. It's the holy way. We are sinful
by birth, by practice, choice. I'm a sinner. born in sin, shapen
in iniquity. We've all sinned and come short
of the glory of God. Now be sure you get this. God's
way of salvation is a holy way. It's a holy way. It's founded
upon holy truth. God's word is truth. It's founded
upon his holy law and justice, which must be honored, must be
satisfied. It's based upon His holy love
and His holy grace. God will not and cannot lower
His standard of holiness, not even in the salvation of His
covenant people. He must save us in a way whereby
He does not compromise His holy character. And that's the mystery
of the gospel, is it not? How God can be a just God and
Savior in Christ Jesus. Those who walk on this highway
must be made as holy as God himself. Thank God for the gospel. We
read in Psalm 24, who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord? Who
shall stand in his holy place? Who shall stand, abide, remain,
rest in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and
a pure heart. who hath not lifted up his soul into vanity, nor
sworn deceitfully, he, this one, shall receive the blessing from
the Lord, and the righteousness from the God of his salvation."
Now, that's a description of the Lord Jesus Christ. He shall
ascend. He hath clean hands. He hath
a pure heart. And, my friends, that's those
in Him. He is the Lord of Hosts. Now, here's the all-important
question. How can God be a just God? How
can God be just and justify the ungodly? How can He be a just
God and Savior? How can our holy God justly save
us and not compromise His character? Now, that's the mystery of the
gospel, and that's the beauty of the gospel. The only way that
our wise God has established and revealed is through the all-sufficient
all-satisfying, all-meritorious blood atonement of the Lord Jesus
Christ. We read this blessed gospel promise. God had made Him to be sin for
us. God had made Him sin for us who
knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God
in Him. We read of this blessed promise.
Christ also once suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust,
that He might, do what? Bring us unto God. How does He
bring us? Holy, justified in Christ Jesus. Listen to this promise. Colossians
chapter 1. We are pleased, O Father, that
in Him should all fullness dwell, having made peace through the
blood of His cross. By Him to reconcile all things
unto Himself. By Him, I say, whether they be
things in earth or things in heaven. And you that were sometimes
alienated, enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath
He reconciled in the body to His flesh through death to present
you," what does it say? Holy, unblameable, unreprovable
in His sight. In His sight. I may look pretty
ugly to you and pretty sinful to you, but in Christ Jesus,
made one with Him and having that vital union with Him, God
sees me in Christ and He sees me as always as His blessed Son. Listen to this promise. Now unto
Him that is able, He is able. Look that word up sometime. Able. Able to save to the othermost. Now unto Him that is able to
keep you from falling and to present you faultless. You. You. Believer resting in Christ. Faultless before the presence
of His glory with exceeding joy. Not ashamed to call us brothers. Oh, I tell you what a blessing
we have. To the only wise God our Savior
be glory and majesty and dominion and power both now and forever. Everything, now listen to me,
everything this sinner needs to stand eternally justified
and perfectly holy before God right now and forever is fully,
freely supplied to us in Christ Jesus. And I know this, and I'm
not real smart, but the Lord has taught me a few things. And
I know this, only that which God provides will God accept. We are accepted in the blood
that He has called Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will provide, and He
has. But my God shall supply all your
need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. But of Him are you in crime. who of God is made unto us wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification. He is my holiness and redemption.
You see, everything I need to stand in this highway, this holy
way of grace, to stand before God Almighty, perfect and justified,
is freely given in Christ Jesus. And I find great delight to rest
in Him. Not only is that so, The ungodly
are justified in Christ, but also in regeneration. The Lord
by His sovereign will and sovereign grace and power implants within
the believer a new holy nature, the nature of God that can not
sin. We are still plagued with this
old Adam nature, but thank God we also have a new holy nature. It's the nature of Christ in
us. Christ in you, the hope of glory.
That which is born of the flesh, it's flesh. I have that old Adam
rotten nature that I drag around. I say with Paul, old wretched
man that I am. That which is born of the flesh
is just what it is. Just what it will remain until
you carry this body and put it in the ground. But that which
is born of the Spirit, my friend, is Spirit. It's holy. God is given in regeneration. Now, you listen to this promise.
Ephesians chapter 4. Paul said, put off concerning
the former conversation, the old, the old conduct of the old
man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful light, that
it be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on
the new man which after God has created. in righteousness and
through holiness. Peter put it this way, whereby
are given to us exceeding great and precious promises that by
these you might be partakers of a divine nature, having escaped
the corruption that is in the world through lust. You see,
it's a highway. It is a holy way. This highway of grace is a select
way. Look at the text again. It's
a select way. It shall be for those, the wayfaring
men, though fools shall not err therein. Who are these people?
Who are these people who never make a mistake? Though fools
shall not err trusting Him. Well, look at verse 9. It says
here, the redeemed, but the redeemed shall walk there. That's who
these people are. It's for those who are redeemed,
redeemed with His precious blood. Those chosen by His sovereign
grace in election and those bought with His precious blood for as
much as you know. You know this, you were not bought
redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ. You know that. This way is a
select way for those bought with His blood. We read this, for
you're bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your
body and in your spirit, which are His. It's for the redeemed
of the Lord. Take heed, therefore, of yourselves,
and to the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseer,
to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood, this way, the select way, this particular way, for his
covenant people." He said, I'm the good shepherd. I lay down
my life for the redeemed, for the sheep, for his people. And then in verse 10, also we
have their description called here, the ransomed of the Lord
shall return. Who are these people? They're
redeemed with His precious blood. They're justified with His blood.
They're made holy in Christ and they're ransomed. They're delivered
when the ransom price is paid. What happens when the ransom
price is paid? The captive goes free and we're set free. We have Christ Jesus. You shall
know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Stand fast,
therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. These are the ransoms of the
Lord. They'll be in that select way. It's a select way. And here's a fourth thing. This
highway of grace and holiness is a select way, but it's also
A secure way. A secure way. Look at what he
says in verse 9. No lion, no enemy shall be there. No ravenous beast shall go up
upon this way, but it shall not be found there, but the redeemed,
they shall walk on this way. My friend, this is a safe way.
This is a secure way, young Christ Jesus. Notice a marginal reference
here. It says there, for he shall be
with them. It's a safe way. You know why?
He's with us. He shall be with them. The Lord
Himself, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lord Himself has
defeated all our enemies. We are more than conquerors through
Him that hath loved us. He loved us and washed us with
His own blood. He keeps us safe in this way
by his presence and by his power. He keeps us safe in this way. Turn over to Colossians chapter
2. I like this verse because it tells about the Lord defeating
our enemies. Colossians chapter 2, verse 15. Having spoiled principalities
and powers. He made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them Himself. The Lord Himself has defeated
all our enemies. And He keeps us safe in this
way by His very presence. Turn over to Isaiah 43 and look
at this with me. See, this is a safe way. It's
a select way. It's a highway. It's a holy way. It's a safe way. The Lord is with us. He said,
I'll never leave you. No, never will I leave you. Isaiah 43, look at verse 1. But
now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he
that formed thee, O Israel, fear not, for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name,
thy work mine. When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you. Through the rivers, they shall
not overflow thee. When you walk through the fire,
thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia, and Saba." You see, it's a safe way. Why? I'm with
you. I'm with you. Turn back to Isaiah
41, look at verse 10. We're kept by His power. Isaiah
41.10, fear thou not. Fear thou not. Why? I'm with
you. Be not dismayed for I am thy
God. I will strengthen thee. Yea, I will hold thee with the
right hand of my righteousness. I'm with you. I'm with you. Oh,
I tell you, it's a safe way. It's a secure way. He will keep
us in the way. This Scripture over here will
be read. Brother Todd quoted earlier,
I believe, in Romans chapter 8. If God be for us, who can
be against us? 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? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who
is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather than is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also makes intercession for us. If God be for us, and
He is in Christ Jesus, tell me, tell me, who can be against that? You see, it's a safe way. It's
a safe way. You're safe putting all your
salvation depending upon all your salvation, dependent upon
Christ. None of it rests on me. Not one inch. Not one thousandth of an inch. All on Christ. Well, lastly is
this. This highway of grace is a joyous
way. It's a joyous way. Look at verse
10. Isaiah 35, verse 10. The ransom of the Lord shall
return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy." Not
temporary. We come with songs of deliverance
unto Him who loved us and washed us from our sin in His own blood.
We come with songs of deliverance and everlasting joy upon their
heads. And they shall, they shall obtain
joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall. The highway of grace in Christ,
my friend, is a joyous way. Did you remember verse 2 in this
text? It shall blossom abundantly and
rejoice even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be
given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall
see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God. Looking
upon Him, I look in here, and I tell you, I don't see much
to rejoice in at all. But I look to Him, and I find
many reasons to find comfort and joy in Christ Jesus. Rejoice in the Lord always. Always,
and again I say, rejoice in the Lord. We are the true Israel
which worship God in the Spirit. We do rejoice in Christ Jesus,
and we have no confidence, no confidence in the flesh. Turn
over here to Isaiah 61.10. Look at this just a minute. Rejoicing in the Lord. Oh, I
tell you, rejoicing in the Lord. Isaiah 61, 10, I will greatly
rejoice in the Lord, for my soul shall be joyful in my God, for
He hath clothed me the garments of salvation. He hath covered
me the robe of righteousness. as a bridegroom decketh himself
with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels.
For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causes
the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord
God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before
all nations." My friend, it's a joyous way, resting in Christ
Jesus, salvation totally dependent upon Him. In Him dwells all the
fullness of a Godhead bodily, and we stand complete in Christ
Jesus. God's people are a blessed people,
and they're a happy people. They're a happy people in Christ.
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are
covered. Blessed is the man whom the Lord
will not impute sin. That's a happy man. I believe
I'm looking at some people tonight that are happy, happy in Christ
Jesus and resting in Him. Well, I pray the Lord will bless
these words to your heart and cause you to seek salvation and
mercy where it is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ and cause
you to rest in Him and cause you to rejoice in Him and cause
you to find all of salvation and comfort in the Lord Jesus
Christ. And I pray God will bless you
in the days to come here. I pray God will bless his word
as you preach to the people here. And I pray God will bless his
gospel abundantly and use this preaching of the gospel here.
The preaching of the gospel here to call out his people, to call
out his sheep and to bless those and to edify those and to feed
those. You're commanded to feed the
sheep. And I know He will by His grace. And God help us. God help us
all to contend for the faith that was once delivered unto
the saints. Help us to contend. Stand fast,
brethren. Stand fast. Well, I pray the
Lord will bless that Scripture to your heart. And as you look
back over those things and find I trust comfort and joy in the
Gospel in Christ Jesus.