Okay, Isaiah chapter 45. Isaiah chapter 45. Let's read verse 20 and following. Isaiah 45, 20. Assemble yourselves
and come. Draw near together, ye that escaped
the nation. They have no knowledge that set
up wood of their graven image. And pray unto a God, notice that
small g, pray unto an idol, a God that cannot save. Tell ye, bring
them near, yea, let them take counsel together. Who hath declared
this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time?
Have not I the Lord? There is no God else beside me,
a just God and a Savior. There is none beside me." Now,
where would you look for salvation? If there's none else, no God
beside God who is God, and no other Savior, who would you look
to for salvation? What he says in verse 22 now,
look unto me, look unto this one who is God, who is the Savior,
and be saved all the ends of the earth, for I am God, I am
God, God is God over all things, and there is none, there is none
else. Now this chapter, like all scriptures,
plainly declares unto us that God is God, that He is the Absolute. sovereign ruler, disposer, controller
of all things, over all things. Of him, we read in Romans 11,
36, of him and through him and to him are all things. God is
the absolute sovereign in, and we usually talk about three things
when we talk about the sovereignty of God. We talk about God's sovereignty
in creation, and we see that here. God's sovereignty in providence,
and God's sovereignty in salvation. He will have mercy on whom He
will. God is absolute sovereign in creation. Notice, if you will,
these verses. Isaiah 44, verse 24. Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer,
He that formed thee from the womb, I the Lord that maketh
all things. All things are made by Him. He
created all things by the Word of His power. I am the Lord that
maketh all things that stretch forth to heavens, that spreadeth
abroad the earth by myself. He had no help. He created all
things. He said, Let there be light.
And the light appeared. God created all things by the
Word of His power. Notice, if you will, in Isaiah
45, verse 12. I have made the earth. I created
man upon it. I, even I, even my hands have
stretched out to heavens, and all the hosts have I commanded."
He's the commander of all things, the stars, the planets. He's
the controller of all things. He created all things. And by
Him, all things are held together. Why doesn't this universe just
fall apart or fly apart? All things are controlled under
His absolute dominion. It uses that word in Colossians
1, that by Him all things consist. All things are held together
by His power, His will, His determination, His decree. He's the sovereign
over all creation. Again, in verse 18, notice this.
Isaiah 45, verse 18, Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens,
God Himself that formed the earth, He made it. He established it. He created it, not in vain. He
formed it. to be inhabited. I am the Lord. There is no other Creator. There is no other Sovereign. Any doubt in your mind that God
is the absolute God over all creation? You don't have any
doubt about that, do you? Not only is He the absolute God
over all creation, but secondly, He's the absolute God over all
providence. Over all providence. Notice,
if you will, verse five and following. I am the
Lord. There is none else. There is no God beside me. I
girded thee, though thou hast not known me, that they may know
from the rising of the sun from the west that there is none beside
me. I am the Lord. I am the Lord. I am the Lord. And there is none else. I form
the light. I create darkness. I make peace. I create evil, calamity, trouble. I the Lord do all these things. How does He create darkness?
By withholding the light. How does He create evil? By withholding
goodness. Just let man run and he'll go
downhill and he'll have all kind of havoc and all kind of problems.
I the Lord do all these things. He's the absolute ruler and controller
over all things, even so much so that He says in Isaiah 46
verse 9, turn over there, Isaiah 46, 9. Now turn and read with
me. Turn and read these scriptures together. Isaiah 46, 9. Remember the former things of
old. I am God, there is none else. Boy, he says that over
and over again, doesn't he? I am God, there is none else.
I am God. There is none like me. What's
he like? What's he like? He's not who we think he is.
He's who he is. There is none like me, declaring
here. This is what he's like. He declares
the end from the beginning. Known unto God are all his works
from the beginning. Declaring the end from the beginning. From ancient times. That's the
eternal decrees of God. From ancient times. Things that
are not yet done. God said, saying, My counsel
will stand. I will do all my pleasure. Calling
a ravenous bird from the east. the man that executes my counsel
from a far country. Yea, I've spoken it. I'll also
bring it to pass. I've purposed it. I will also
do it." So God's absolute God in all of creation, in all of
providence, He rules and reigns over all things. There's nothing
that happens in this time world that God from eternity didn't
decree it and in time He brings it to pass for our good and for
His glory. All things work together for
good. To them who love God, to them
who are the called according to God's purpose. So we see that
God is the absolute God in creation. You don't have any doubt about
that, do you? In providence? I hope you don't
have any doubt about that. This world doesn't run by luck,
chance, or fate. We ought not never use that word,
well, I was lucky today. We ought not never use, should
never use that word. It's always by God's purpose
and His decree that things come to pass. He blesses us according
to His own will. God is also God in salvation. That's the third thing. He's
the absolute God in salvation. Notice verse 17. But Israel shall
be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation. You shall
not be confounded, world without end. He is our rock. He is our foundation. He is our
salvation. And He saves us, not with temporary
salvation, but with everlasting salvation. Everlasting salvation. He's obtained eternal redemption
for us. He saves us with everlasting
grace. God is absolute in creation,
providence, and salvation. He said, I will have mercy on
whom I will have mercy. I will have mercy on whom I will
have mercy. God had given him power over all flesh that he
should give eternal life to as many as the Father had given
him. It's not of him that will it, nor of him that run it, but
it's God that would show mercy. He'll have mercy on whom he will. There's another plain declaration
in this chapter as well. A strong warning against idolatry. Notice in verse 16. Against idolatry,
they shall be ashamed. Now here's the reverse side of
those who are saved, who will never be ashamed, will never
be confounded. Here's the flip side, verse 16.
They shall be ashamed, also confounded, all of them, they shall go to
confusion together that are makers of idols. Look at verse 20. Assemble
yourselves, come, draw near, ye that are escaped of the nation.
They have no knowledge. No saving knowledge. No true
knowledge of a true and living God that set up wood or stone
of their graven image, their vain image, and pray unto a God
that cannot save. To preach and trust an impotent
God is nothing short of idolatry. To trust an impotent God who
wants to and can't is an idol. Now let me show you some Scripture.
I want you to turn and see this. See these things. Acts chapter
14. Acts chapter 14. When Paul and Barnabas were preaching
here in Lystra, and they healed this impotent cripple, and these
people so steeped in idolatry and pagan heathenism, they sought
to worship Paul and Barnabas. And look what he says to them.
Verse 15. Acts 14. Saying, sir, why do
you do these things? Why would you worship men? We
are also men of like passion with you and preach unto you
that you should turn from these vanities, these idolatries, unto
the living God, who made heaven and the earth and the sea and
all things that are therein. Turn from these vanities to the
living and the true God. Now, turn to another scripture
I want you to see. I want you to turn to 1 Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians, when Paul talks
about the elect of God, 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, when he talks about
the elect of God, how do you know you're the elect of God?
Huh? He said, knowing brethren, beloved,
your election of God in verse 4, chapter 1, 1 Thessalonians.
Knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God." Well, how do
you know anything about your election? Well, it's known by
the calling, the calling of the gospel. For our gospel came not
unto you in word only, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and
much assurance, as you know what manner of men we were among you
for your sake. And you became followers of us
and of the Lord, having received the word. You heard it in power. You received the word. Having
received the word in much affliction, with joy, And notice what he
said down here in verse 9. For they themselves show of us
what manner of entering in we had unto you, how you turn to
God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for
his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even the
Lord Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come. So, to
preach and trust an impotent God is nothing short of idolatry.
When God saves us, He turns us to the true and living God, away
from idols. Turn to another scripture here
that's most interesting, Psalm 115. Psalm 115. Now, David here, under inspiration
of God, he's going to make a mockery of those who trust idols. See,
God hedges us about with precious promises, lest we despair, and
warnings, lest we presume. Psalm 115, verse 1, Not unto
us, O God, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy
mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen
say, David, where is now their God? But our God is in heaven. He hath done whatsoever he hath
pleased. Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of men's hands. They have mouths. They don't
speak. Eyes have they, but they see not. They have ears, but
they hear not. Noses have they, but they smell
not. They have hands, but they handle not. Feet they have, but
they don't walk. You see, they're dead. They want
to and can't. They walk not, neither speak
they through their throat. Now look at verse 8. They that
make them are like unto them, so is everyone that trusts them.
Dead. To trust an idol is to be dead
in your sin. and to not realize who God is. To preach and trust an impotent
God is nothing short of idolatry. And to trust a Savior, now listen
to this, to trust a Savior that is not God, that's idolatry too. You see, the Lord Jesus Christ
is God manifest in the flesh. And we trust Him as God, our
Savior. The Lord Jesus is the Almighty
to save. He has all power in heaven and
earth. He's able to save to the uttermost
all that come to God by Him. Thank God we don't have an impotent
Savior. We have an Almighty Savior who's
able to save and able to keep us from falling and to present
us, fall us, before the presence of God's glory with exceeding
joy. I'm glad I have an Almighty Savior.
This sinner needs an Almighty Savior who is God our Savior. Now, see what He's doing here
in this chapter? He's setting forth who He is. Anything short
of this God who is God is to trust an idol. Anything short
of a Savior that is not God is to have an idol. And it's to
hide in the refuge of lies and not in the truth. Now, what are
we to do? Now, here's the message. Now,
look at Isaiah 45, 21. Tell ye. Bring them near. Let's tell this message. Let's
not hide it. Let's tell this message. Bring
them near. Let's take counsel together.
Who hath declared this from ancient times? Whose gospel is this?
This is God's gospel. Who hath declared this from ancient
times? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord,
that there is no God else beside me, a just God and a Savior? This, then, is the message God
has ordained for us to decree and to declare and to preach.
This is the message God has decreed for us to declare, rather. The
gospel of God is the ancient gospel. It's no new gospel. Ancient gospel. Find Matthew
chapter 25. Look at this here. Matthew 25.
Now turn and use your Bible and turn and read these scriptures.
The gospel of God is the ancient gospel. How old is the gospel? It's as old as God. It's the
everlasting gospel. Both ways. From everlasting to
everlasting, He is God. And this gospel of God is the
ancient gospel. The old gospel. The eternal gospel. Matthew 25. Look at this here.
Matthew 25, verse 34. Then shall the king say unto
them on his right hand. He's going to separate the sheep
from the goats. And he's going to say to the
sheep on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father. Blessed
with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ.
Inherit. Now you don't earn an inheritance.
Inheritance is given where heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
Inherit the kingdom, salvation, prepared for you. What does that
say there? From the foundation of this world. You see, it's an old, old gospel. And it's ever new. Turn to 1
Peter. Look at this here. 1 Peter. We
read about the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb slain. When? Well,
we know He was slain in time, but in the purpose and decree
of God, He was slain. He was that Lamb slain before
the foundation of the world. 1 Peter 1. He says in verse 18,
For as much as you know, 1 Peter 1.18, you were not redeemed with
corruptible things. Silver and gold, he mentions.
Vain conversation or tradition. So it's not money, it's not manners,
it's not morals. But, verse 19, with the precious
blood of Christ, as the Lamb without blemish, without spot,
He had no sin, did no sin. He's the spotless Lamb of God.
He had to be to die for our sin. Who barely, truly was foreordained
before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these
last times for you. You see, this gospel is the ancient
gospel. Who has declared this from ancient
times? Isn't that the question there? Well, it's God's gospel. God's gospel is concerning what?
His Son. Romans chapter 1 tells us that,
doesn't it? The gospel of God concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
It's all about Christ. Here's the message then. Here
is the central theme of that gospel. He is a just God and
He is our Savior. He is a just God and Savior. There is but one true and living
God. He is just, holy, and righteous
in all His ways. Now let me tell you a story.
I know a young man, Pastor Mahan's grandson, and when he was in
college, They were doing some kind of comparative religion
study, and the professor asked the students there, like I would
ask one of you children, one of you young people, if I asked
you to come up here to this board or another board and to write
one word on that board that would describe this God of the Bible,
what one word would you write? God is holy. God is holy. Well, this professor
asked that question. What word would you write? Well,
all the students came up and they wrote different words. Love,
mercy, all these things. And that's true. God is love.
God is merciful. But the central character of
God is holy. Well, when Pastor Mahan's son,
who grew up listening to the gospel, grew up listening to
that word of God, he came up to the blackboard and he wrote
on there, H-O-L-Y. God is holy. He sat back down
with a professor asking another question. when she started talking
about the Holocaust and World War I and World War II and the
Civil War and all the different things that happened to humanity
and all the turmoil and all this that happened. And then she asked
the class again to come up and write another word that described
God. And they all came up and they
wrote different things. I don't know what they wrote,
but the young man Came back up to the blackboard. Do you want
one word he wrote in front of the word where he wrote H-O-L-Y? He wrote before that, he put
S-T-I-L-L. God is still holy. He's holy
eternally. He's the holy God. There is one
true and living God and He is just and holy and righteous in
all His ways. You remember that. God is holy. God is holy. That's the center
attribute of all His character. God is love, but it is holy love. God is merciful, but it is holy
mercy. God is gracious, but His grace
has to be in character with His holiness. God can't violate His
own nature. It's impossible for God to lie.
He's holy. He cannot look upon a sin with
favor. God is holy. He's holy in all His ways. You
see what it says there? He's just. He's a just God. He's holy in all of His attributes. And then it says there, and He's
a Savior. He's a Savior. There is none
beside Me. There is one almighty Savior. Just one. He's this just God. The same one. I want you to find
Isaiah 28. Look at this. Isaiah 28. God
is holy. Yes. And He's our Savior. Now, that's the question of questions.
How God can be just and justify the ungodly? How can God save
me and love me and not violate His holy character? Well, the
gospel is the answer to that question in Christ. Isaiah 28,
16, Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion
for a foundation of stone. Thus say stones, they're stone. I lay this foundation, this foundation,
one foundation, this stone. It's tried, it's tested. It's
precious. Precious stone. It's a certain
and sure foundation. He that believeth shall not make
haste. Never be confounded. Never be
ashamed. Never be forced off this foundation. He is our Savior. He is our Savior. The only Savior.
Find Isaiah 43, 11. Isaiah 43, 11. Look at this here. I, even I,
am the Lord. Isaiah 43, 11. Beside me there
is... What does that say? There is
no other Savior but the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle declared
in the book of Acts chapter 4 that there is salvation in no other. There is no other name under
heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. God must save
us in Christ. And that's what happened at the
cross. That's what happened at Calvary. You see, His name declares
who He is. He's the Lord Jesus. He's our
Savior. You remember the messenger from
heaven came and told Joseph of Mary what to name that babe who
is God our Savior? Call His name Jesus. Why? Well, that describes who He is. He's the Savior. He's a just
God and Savior. Call his name Jesus, he shall
save his people from their sin. You see, beside me, he said,
there is no other Savior. No other Savior. Now, he is a
just God and Savior. This is demonstrated all through
Scripture. Now you think with me. He's a
just God and Savior. All through Scripture, this is
demonstrated. Let me give you some examples.
Adam sinned and was punished. God is just and holy. God said,
the day you eat, you'll die. He ate. He rebelled against God.
Death. Death passed upon all men in
whom all sinned. God is holy. God is just. He
must punish sin. And yet we see, in that very
garden, He's a just God and a Savior. Genesis 3.15 tells us about the
woman's seed that would bruise a serpent's head. That is the
promise of salvation in Christ Jesus, Genesis 3, verse 15. He's
a just God and Savior. Here's another example of that.
The world was flooded. Remember that story of Noah?
God saw that the imagination of man was evil only continually. God is just and holy, and here
came the flood. The wrath of God poured upon
all men. All men! God is holy, yet yonder
on the water there's an ark. You see, He's the Savior. Inside
that ark, the wrath of God fell on that ark at the picture of
Christ. Those in the ark say, you see, He's a just God and
Savior. You see that all through the
Scripture. How about Sodom? Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed. God is just and holy. And God delivered Lot. He's a
just God and Savior. How about the holy law of God
that thundered from Sinai's mountain? And those Israelites, that mountain
quaked with the blackness and darkness, and the ground shook,
and they were scared to death and said, Don't let God speak
with us! Don't let God have anything to
do with us! He's too holy! And He gave that law. That law
that condemns all guilty. That law that says, Cursed is
everyone that continues not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. The law says, Guilty by
the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. God gave
that law to expose our sin. God is holy. And yet, He is merciful. Yonder in that law, is the tabernacle. And in that tabernacle where
the priest went once a year is that Holy of Holies. In that
Holy of Holies is the Ark. On that Ark is that Mercy Seat.
And what did that priest do on that Day of Atonement? He went
in there and he sprinkled blood on that Mercy Seat. You see,
God is holy and yet He is the Savior in Christ Jesus. The Mercy Seat. God said, that's
where I will meet with you, commune with you, on the mercy seat.
Christ is our mercy seat. You see, all that pictures how
God is holy, and yet He's merciful. And He's merciful in a just way.
Not to violate His own holy character. But here's a supreme example.
How He's a just God and Savior. Calvary. How do you think about
that? Isn't that the supreme example
and the fulfillment of our just God and Savior? You see, God
is just and holy. It pleased God to bruise Him
in our room and in our set. We know it pleased Pilate. It
pleased those Jews, those Pharisees that killed Him. But what we
must see is it pleased God to bruise His Son. Why? God is holy. He cries from the tree, My God,
My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Well, He's made sin. God,
too holy to look upon sin, had to forsake His Son. When our
sin was laid upon Him, He's holy! And yet in that glorious sacrifice,
God so loved that He gave His own Son. That's mercy. He's a
just God and Savior. You see that? Turn to 1 John
4. Look at this here. He was manifested
to take away our sin, and in Him is no sin. He is a just God
and Savior. 1 John 4, verse 9. And this was manifested, the
love of God toward us. 1 John 4, 9. It goes that God
sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live
through Him. Here's a manifestation of God's
love to us. God committed His love toward
us, and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. because that
God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might
live, that we might have salvation through Him. You see, He's a
just God and Savior. Herein is love, not that we love
God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice,
the payment for our sin. You remember what we read in
Romans 3? Turn back over there. Romans 3. Romans 3. He is a just God and Savior. Romans 3. Verse 23, all have
sinned. Does that include you? All have sinned. That's you.
That's me. That's all of us. And Adam all
died. All have sinned and all come short of what God requires. He requires absolute perfection. I can't produce it, but thank
God He's a just God and He is the Savior in Christ. Being justified
freely by His grace. through the redemption, through
the redeeming sacrifice that is in Christ. He set Him forth. He was foreordained to be that
sacrifice for sin through faith in His sacrifice, His blood,
to declare God's righteousness. He's just for the remission of
sins that are passed through the forbearance of God to declare,
I say at this time, His righteousness that He might be just and the
justifier of them which believe. believe in this Savior. He's a just God and a Savior. Thank God. God, and that's the
answer to that question. And it's a good question. How
can God save me, love me, and justify the ungodly and not compromise
His holy character? Now, he must love me and save
me in a way that satisfies his own character, that satisfies
his own law. And the answer to that question is the gospel.
Substitution. God made him to be sin for us.
And satisfaction. He satisfied God's law and justice. He shall see of the travail of
his soul and shall be satisfied. Satisfied. That's how God can
love me, save me, keep me, glorify me in Christ. in Christ Jesus. That's the good news of the gospel. Now back to the text. Now look
at this here. Back to the text. He declares
plainly, there is no God else beside me, a just God and Savior. Christ is the Savior. There is
none beside Him. Now, if you need mercy, and we
do, if we need forgiveness And we do. If we need a Savior, and
we do, where should we look? Would it be wise to look where
God says look? This is a simple word. Look at
verse 22. L-O-O-K. One word. Two letters. The same. L-O-O-K. Look! Don't look to the law. It'll condemn you. Don't look
to yourself. There's no hope there. Don't look to the false
refuge. Don't look to tradition. Don't
look to ceremony. Don't look to an experience.
He said, look to Me. Look to Me. And be saved. All the ends of the earth. I
am God. There is no other. I am God. The command of the
gospel is to preach Christ and Him crucify. The command of the
gospel is to look to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is God our Savior. Look to Him. Him alone. Saving faith looks to this glorified
God our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, let me give you
this. What is the hope? What hope is
there in looking to Christ? What hope is there? Look what
he said. Here's the promise of God. Look to me and be saved. Boy, that's a good motive to
look, isn't it? To look to Him. To look to the Lord Jesus. What
hope is there in looking? be saved, be justified. We have
a good hope through grace. Through grace alone. Our hope
is in the Lord. Look at verse 25 of Isaiah 45.
In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified. Now let me give you this. Who
may look? Right there in that verse there. Look at verse 22.
Who may look? It says all the ends of the earth.
All the ends of the earth. You in need, look to Him. Are
you lost? Look to Him. Do you need salvation? Look to Him. All the ends of
the earth. Our God told us to go into all
the world and preach the gospel to every creature. I don't know
who the elect are. That's not my business. My business
is to go to preach the gospel to every creature. It's God's
business to call out His sheep with that message. And He will.
He will. It said, it will not return unto
Him, Boyd. You see what it says in verse
23? I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth
in righteousness. It will not return to me, Boyd. Every knee
will bow. Every tongue will confess that
He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. When should we look? When should we look? Who may
look? Well, you in need? You thirsty? Look to Him. When
should we look? Now. Today. Today's the day of
salvation. Whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved. Whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved. All the ends of the earth, I
am God. When should we look? Right now.
Right now. Now's a good time. Turn to Psalm
62 and look at this. Psalm 62. He said, Look to me and be saved. When should we look? Well, at
all times. Psalm 62. Turn over there. Psalm 62. Verse 8, Trust in him at all
times. When should we look? At all times.
You see, He only is my rock, my salvation, my defense. I shall
not be moved. And God is my salvation, my glory,
the rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God. He's God
my Savior. I trust in Him at all times. In all times. Ye people, pour
out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. When should we look? Right now,
today. Always, at all times, when in
the dark, He is our light. He is our light. He said, I form
the light. The Lord Jesus said, I am the
light of the world. Psalm 27. Don't turn. Let me
just read it to you. Psalm 27. David said, The Lord
is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is
the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When
should we look? Now. When in the dark, He is
our light. When in weakness, He is our strength. Look at Isaiah 45, verse 24. Surely shall one say in the Lord,
I have righteousness and strength. When I am weak, He is my strength. He is my strength. When we are
weak, He is our strength. When in sorrow, He is our joy. He is our joy. Rejoice in the
Lord Jesus Christ always. And again I say, rejoice. When in trouble, He is our help. Turn to Isaiah 43, verse 1. I think I brought a message from
this not long ago. Isaiah 43, verse 1. When in trouble,
when in need, when in fear, He is our help. Verse 1 of Isaiah
43, But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, he
that formed thee, O Israel, fear not. I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name.
You're mine. You're mine. You're mine. When
in the dark, he's our light. When we're weak, he's our strength.
When in sorrow, he's our joy. When in trouble, he's our help.
When in sin, he's our righteousness. He's our righteousness. Notice
what it says over here, turn to Isaiah 53. You see, He took
our sin. Isaiah 53, verse 4, Surely hath
He borne our griefs, carried our sorrows. We did esteem Him,
stricken, smitten, and God-inflicted. He was wounded for our transgression,
bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement of our peace
was upon Him. And with His strife, we are healed. He's our Savior. The blood of
Christ cleanses us from all sin. Now back to the text, Isaiah
45. God has sent out his gospel concerning
the Savior, and this gospel, when preached, it will accomplish
God's purpose. It will either be a saver of
life unto life, or a saver of death unto death. Look at what
he says in verse 24. The word has gone out of my mouth.
You in the Revelation, and I think it's chapter 19, it describes
the word going out of his mouth as a sharp sword. And that's
the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged
sword. The word's gone out of my mouth,
and it's gone out in righteousness, and it shall accomplish my purpose. Turn to Isaiah 55, 11. Look what
it says here. Isaiah 55, 11. So shall my word
be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto
me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall
prosper in the thing whereinto I send it." God's gospel will
accomplish God's purpose in calling out His people. The gospel will
never be altered, changed, and cannot be compromised. He said, I am the Lord, I change
not. Therefore, you sons of Jacob shall not be consumed. All men
will bow to this just God and Savior, now by His grace, or
in the day of judgment to their eternal ruin. Every knee will
bow. Every tongue will confess that
He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Here is our confession
in verse 24, Isaiah 45, Surely shall one say in the Lord, I
have salvation. Is that what you can say? Is
that your hope? In the Lord I have righteousness
and strength. In the Lord I have salvation.
In Christ Jesus we have a justifying righteousness, and we have strength.
In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in
Him we are complete. All that are incensed against
Him, He that believeth on the Son hath life. He that believeth
not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on
Him. all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed." Look at
verse 25 in closing. In the Lord, in the Lord, this
One who is a just God and Savior, in the Lord, shall all the seed
of Israel be justified. Be justified. And they shall
glory. We glorify. God forbid that we
should glory, say, in the cross of the Lord Jesus. But of Him
are you in Christ, who of God is made unto us." He's our wisdom.
He's our righteousness. He's our sanctification. He's
our redemption. That, according as it is written,
He that would glory. Let Him glory in the Lord. In
the Lord alone. He is a just God. Now, you remember
this. He is a just God, and He's all
our salvation. all of our salvation to the glory
of God, by Jesus Christ the Lord.