Now I'm going to be speaking
to you today from the book of Isaiah. I would be most happy
if you would find your Bible and take just a moment, I'll
give you a few moments, to open your Bible to Isaiah 45. Isaiah 45, and I'm going to use
several verses of scripture, and this is a message that is
unusual, it's different, it's true to the scriptures, it's
going to answer some questions that I believe you have wondered
about. Isaiah chapter 45, and the title
of the message is, Look Unto Me and Be Ye Saved. And my text is a simple statement
recorded by Isaiah the prophet in chapter 45, verse 22. in which the Lord said, look
unto me and be ye saved. All the ends of the earth for
I am God and there's none else. Now, before we get to this primary
text, there are some important words to be considered prior
to this command. And this is a command, look unto
me and be you saved. All the ends of the earth for
I am God and there's none else. if you look in your Bible there
back at verse 17. It says, but Israel shall be
saved with an everlasting salvation. Now, who is this Israel that
shall be saved with an everlasting salvation? God says here, Israel
shall be saved with an everlasting salvation. And in another passage
of scripture, it says, and all Israel shall be saved. Well, who is this Israel? Have
you ever wondered about that? Well, the first time that Israel
is recorded in the Bible, the first time the name is ever mentioned
is in Genesis 32, 28. You remember that Jacob, Jacob
wrestled with the Lord. He wrestled with the angel of
the Lord, it said, and this angel of the Lord is none other than
Christ. And before the Lord departed,
after that experience with Jacob, He asked Jacob, he said, what
is your name? And Jacob replied, my name is Jacob. And then the
Lord said, your name shall no more be Jacob, but your name
shall be Israel. Israel, a prince of God. Thy name shall be called no more
Jacob, but Israel, a prince of God. Now that's the first time
that the word Israel is recorded in the word of God. And then
after that, The word Israel is used over 2,500 times in the
Bible. And most of the time, as most
of you know, in its literal application, the word Israel refers to the
nation Israel, the typical nation, the nation of the Jews. Beginning
with Abraham that when Israel the word Israel is used in the
Bible most of the time in its literal application It refers
to the nation Israel the typical nation but in its spiritual application
as it's used here in Isaiah 45 22 and And as it's used in the
New Testament when it says, and all Israel shall be saved, in
its spiritual and figurative application, the word Israel
in the Bible, remember this now, always refers to all true believers
in Christ. Israel in the Word of God, spiritually
speaking, Israel is the true people of God. And I can show
you that. Now listen to the Word of God.
Listen to Romans 9, 6 through 8. Now listen carefully. They
are not all Israel, which are of Israel. In other words, everybody
that descended from Abraham is not of Israel. They which are
the children of the flesh are not the children of God. A man
is not a child of God simply because he descended from Abraham
or from anybody else. But the children of the promise
are counted for the seed. They're not, when we talk about
Israel, naturally speaking, and literally speaking, the nation
Israel, Paul is saying there, these are not all Israel that
are of Israel. But the Israel is the true seed,
the children of the promise, the children of faith. Now look
at Romans 9, 27. Though the number of the children
of Israel, that is the natural seed of Abraham, the nation Israel,
though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the
sea, only a remnant, only a small part of them shall be saved.
Only a small part of them are the children of God. In Romans
2.28, now listen to this. He is not a Jew. He is not an
Israelite, which is one outwardly, by natural birth, by descendancy
from Abraham. He is a Jew, an Israelite, which
is one inwardly. Circumcision is not in the flesh,
it's of the heart. And then Galatians 3. Now listen
to this in Galatians 3.7, what I'm saying is this. that every
time the word Israel is used in the Bible in reference to
those redeemed people, all Israel shall be saved and all Israel
shall be saved with an everlasting salvation. It's referring to
the children of God, whether they're Jew or Gentile, whether
they're bond or free, whether they're male or female. And they
are the children of Abraham by faith, not by natural descendancy. Galatians 3.7, listen to this.
They which are of faith, The same are the children of Abraham.
I'm a child of Abraham because I believe God, I believe Christ. Ye are the children of God by
faith in Jesus Christ. If you be in Christ, then are
you Abraham's seed and your heirs according to the promise and
you are Israel. You see that? They which are
of faith, they're the children of Abraham. You are the children
of God by faith in Christ Jesus. If you be in Christ, then you
are Abraham's seed, then you are Israel and so all Israel
shall be saved. So Israel in the Word of God
is made up of every true believer, everybody listening to my voice,
whether you're from this country or another country or whatever
nationality, maybe your ancestry, you're Israel. If you like Abraham,
believe God. Because he says there's neither
Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, but all are
one in Christ. So all Israel shall be saved
with an everlasting salvation. That's what verse 17 says. Now,
look at verse 18, Isaiah 45, 18. And he says, this is no idle
promise. This is no idle promise. Every
true believer, every true seed of Abraham, Every true Israelite,
Jew or Greek, bond or free, male or female, shall be saved because
he says, thus saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord. Look at
verse 18, that created the heavens. This is the promise of the almighty
God who established all things. And he said, I am the Lord and
there's none else. I can do what I promise. None
can stay my hand or say unto me, what doest thou? He said
in Isaiah 46, my counsel shall stand. I will do all my pleasure. I've spoken it. I'll bring it
to pass. I've purposed it. I'll do it.
So when he declares in verse 17, all Israel shall be saved
with an everlasting salvation, all true believers. in Christ
Jesus shall certainly be heirs of the promise. And the reason
this is true is because the Lord willed it, and the Lord purposed
it, and God Almighty said it would come to pass. They said
to David, they said, where's your God? We know where our gods
are, they're idols which we've made with our own hands. Where's
your God, David? I said, our God's in the heaven.
David replied, our God's in the heaven. He hath done whatsoever
He pleased in heaven, earth and the seas and all deep places.
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He. And that's the assurance
of this promise because God said it. God said it. Now look at
verse 19, Isaiah 45, 19. And God said, all Israel shall
be saved with an everlasting salvation because I, the Lord,
have spoken it. I the Lord have willed it, I
the Lord have purposed it. And beside me, there's none else.
And then in verse 19, he said, and I have not spoken this in
secret. I have not spoken this in a dark
place of the earth. This is no secret work. Like
Paul said to the king, this was not done in a corner. GOD'S PROMISE
AND GOD'S PURPOSE IN SALVATION, IN REDEMPTION IS FOR ALL TO SEE. THIS IS NO SECRET WORK. THIS
IS NO HIDDEN WORK. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED
IN THE CORNER. WATCH HOW, THROUGHOUT THE WORD
OF GOD, IT DECLARES THAT THIS IS NO SECRET WORK. FIRST OF ALL,
WHEN ADAM WAS THE ONLY MAN WHO STOOD ON THIS EARTH, WHEN THE
WHOLE HUMAN RACE WAS IN HIS LAWNS, GOD SAID TO ADAM AND HE SAID
TO THE WHOLE RACE, The seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's
heel. And then when there was the one
family, Adam and his wife and sons and daughters and whomever,
and the two boys went out to offer a sacrifice, two young
men, Cain and Abel. And Cain brought her the fruits
of the field and the works of his own hands. And Abel brought
the lamb. And God had respect to the lamb. He had respect to the blood.
and he refused Cain's offering. And God is saying to the whole
human race at that particular time, it's the blood that maketh
atonement for the soul. And then the whole world watched
the Ark in preparation for 120 years. And then they saw that
Ark, which is a picture of Christ, which is a type of the Lord Jesus
Christ. All who were in the Ark dwelt
safely. All who were in the art were delivered from the judgment
and wrath of God, and all who were outside of the art perished,
and that's Christ. He that believeth on the Son
hath life, and he that believeth not the Son of God shall never
see life. And the whole world saw that. And then Egypt. Egypt
witnessed the death of the firstborn. Egypt was the most powerful nation
in the world. And God demonstrated His redemptive
purpose, His redemptive work, His redemptive will in Christ
Jesus right there in the most powerful capital in the whole
world for all men to see. I didn't do this in secret, he
said. I didn't do this in a corner. All Israel shall be saved with
an everlasting salvation, God said, because I've purposed it,
I've spoken it, and I willed it, and I'll bring it to pass,
and it'll not be a secret work either. The whole world is going
to see how I save sinners and through whom I save sinners.
And he showed them that when he had them put the blood on
the doorpost. And he said, at midnight, where there's no blood,
the firstborn in every home will perish. And when I see the blood,
I'll pass over you. And that took place that night
and the whole world witnessed it. And then Jesus Christ didn't
come secretly into this world. God hung a star over his birthplace
for all to see. And sent angels down here upon
the hillsides to announce the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
into this world. He said, I didn't do this in
secret. And those angels said to the shepherds, behold, we
bring you glad tidings of great joy unto you as born this day
in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord. God can't
come to earth in secret. And men heard that voice and
they heard the announcement of the angels and they saw the star
and wise men came from far away in the East country. And then
the gospel of God's mercy and grace through Jesus Christ is
preached everywhere in the whole world. And there's not a language
the scripture said in which his voice is not heard. God said, I didn't do this in
secret. And look at verse 19 there as you go on, it says,
and I didn't say to Israel, seek me in vain. God's people did
not seek him in vain. He said, I the Lord speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.
I tell you this redemptive work of Jesus Christ is known, it's
declared, it's the very expression of the heart of God and the mind
of God Council of God and the will of God and the work of Jesus
Christ in redemption is not only known but it's a righteous work
The work of Christ honors the law. God does not save men by
hook or crook. God saves men with a righteous
work. He said, I am a righteous God.
I speak righteousness. He said, I declare things that
are right. I save men by honoring my law
and by satisfying my justice on their behalf in the person
of my dear son. And the work of redemption through
Jesus Christ is not only known, It is not only a righteous work
and a God honoring work and a law honoring work and a satisfying
work where justice is concerned, but the work of Jesus Christ
is a sure and certain work for God said, therefore, all Israel
shall be saved. With an everlasting salvation. This is not just a bare invitation,
it's a proclamation. This is not a bare invitation,
it's a declaration. God said, I've spoken it and
I'll bring it to pass. And then he sounds a warning.
Look at verse 20. Then he sounds a warning. In
verse 20, he sounds a warning to those who set up false gods. He says, they have no knowledge.
They have no knowledge, they're ignorant. who set up false gods,
who worship idols and graven images. They have no knowledge.
He said, they have no knowledge who pray to a God who cannot
save. A God who cannot save is an impotent
God. A God who cannot save is a powerless
God. A God who cannot save is a God
who cannot do his own will. who cannot accomplish his purpose. And as I read those words, and
as I express those thoughts, I think of today's religion,
and I think of today's preachers, and I think of today's televangelists
who talk about God wanting to do this, but he can't unless
you let him, and God willing to do this, and God trying to
do that. What kind of God is this? He
said, they have no knowledge who set up idols and graven images. They have no knowledge who pray
to a God who cannot say. Can your God say? Well, he can't
unless I let him, then he can't say. Can your God accomplish
his purpose? Not without our will. Then he
can't accomplish his purpose. Then he's an impotent God. How
foolish to make our own gods. How foolish to deny the living,
almighty, sovereign, eternal, omnipotent God of heaven and
earth and try to replace him with a God of our own imagination.
They have no knowledge, he said. And then the Lord God in verse
21 again identifies himself. He keeps saying this. He keeps
saying this. He said in verse 21, I declare
the end from the beginning. From ancient times, the things
that are not yet done. God said, who hath declared this?
Who hath announced this? From ancient times, who hath
declared what shall come to pass? Who can prophesy a cross unless
he has the power to erect one? Who can prophesy and foretell
that all Israel shall be saved unless he has the power to save?
Who can declare my will shall be done, my purpose shall be
accomplished except the sovereign almighty God? Who can accomplish
that will and purpose? Known unto God are all his works
from the beginning. That's the living God. Doth God
know? Is anything too hard for God?
He said, I declare the end from the beginning. He said, there's
no God beside me. You know, when men foolishly
try to defend all religions, well, all religions are all right. Just live and let live, preacher.
All cults and sects and religions are all right. We're all going
to the same place. We're just traveling different
roads. Wait a minute. A man's without understanding
who talks that way. God said, there's no God beside
me. There's no salvation beside mine. There's no redeemer beside my
son. Eternal life is to know the true
God, the living God and Jesus Christ whom he had sent. There
is no God beside me. He says that two or three times
in this passage of scripture. There is no God, no God, no God. And I'm a just God and a savior. A God without perfect holiness
is no God. A God without a perfect law and
righteousness is no God. A God who is not just and who
does not punish sin is no God. A God who has no wrath for the
ungodly is no God. He said, I'm a savior. That's
true, but I'm a just God and a savior. Yes, I'm a merciful
God. Gracious Savior, but I am a just
holy and righteous God and any saving I do must be consistent
with my holiness and justice and righteousness So the Lord
declares I am a Savior That's why all Israel shall be saved
Because I'm a Savior and all Israel shall be saved righteously
and in a holy manner consistent with my justice by the blood
of my precious son. But they shall be saved in the
only way that a just righteous God can save and that is to honor
his law. Honor his law. Who's gonna honor
his law? You're not and I'm not. Well,
his perfect son did. He was tempted in all points
yet without sin. and that God will save in a way
that will satisfy his justice by the obedience of Christ and
the death of Christ in the sinner's room instead. That's what Galatians
4, 4 and 5 says, in the fullness of time. When the fullness of
time was come, God sent his son into the world, made of a woman,
made under the law to redeem them, born under the law. Romans
5, 19, by the disobedience of Adam, The many were made sinners. So by the obedience of Christ
shall the many be made righteous. I'm a just God and a savior. 1 Peter 3, 18, for Christ suffered
for sins that just for the unjust that he might bring us to God. Romans 5, 10, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his son. 2 Corinthians 5, 21, he who knew
no sin was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness
of God. in Him, all Israel shall be saved
with an everlasting salvation because God said, I've purposed
it. I've willed it. And it's no secret work. It's
no secret work. It wasn't done in the corner.
It wasn't announced in secret places. It was done openly before
heaven and earth and hell. And it was an accomplished work
for that God who is a savior is a just God. Then watch this. Then comes the great command.
And here I get around to my text. Therefore, look unto me. Look unto me. All Israel shall
be saved with an everlasting salvation because I've purposed
it, God said, I've spoken it. I'll bring it to pass openly
before my throne of grace and righteousness and before the
open jaws of hell. I'll satisfy my justice and honor
my law. It will come to pass. And it'll
be in such a way that men won't sneak into heaven. They won't
get there by the skin of the teeth. They won't be brought
to the back door and sneaked in. They'll be brought in triumphantly
and victoriously in Christ. That's right. Therefore, you
look to me. I'm God, look to me, all the
ends of the earth, every son of Adam who has a need, who has
a thirst, who has a sin, look to me and be ye what? Saved,
for I'm God and there's none else. You know, the Lord gives
us an illustration. I want you to stay with me a
moment. The Lord gives us an illustration in the book of Numbers.
The Jews had murmured against God and the Lord had judged them
and sent fiery serpents among them. And their people were dying,
just many of them dying. And God went to, Moses went to
God and he said, Lord, help us, help us, show mercy. And the Lord said, Moses, make
a serpent of brass in the likeness of the serpents that have bitten
the people and put it on a pole. And then command the people to
look and live, look and live. And they did, those who were
bitten looked and they lived. And I noticed several things
about that story. First of all, they were not told
to look to Moses. They were told to look to the
serpent. Looking to the preacher and the prophet and the priest
is not going to help you. You're going to have to look
to Christ. You see, our Lord came down here and was made in
the likeness of sin. What had bitten us? What was
destroying us? What condemned us? Our sins.
And he was made in the likeness of sin and he was lifted up on
a cross. As Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up that
whosoever believeth in him, look at the him, just like those Israelites
in the wilderness. Look to the brazen serpent, then
you look to Christ. Not to Moses, not to me, not
to the priest. Not to the preacher, not to the
evangelist. And these people were not told
to help others who were bitten and their good works would save
them. No, look to the serpent. And they were not told to fight
the serpents and clean up the camp. Let's fight, let's get
rid of all these serpents. Let's get rid of sin in America.
And then we'll all be saved. No, not gonna get rid of sin
until they kill every human being. You gotta look to Christ. And
they were not told to wear an image of the pole and a serpent
around their neck. Couldn't you just imagine those people, one
of them got him some gold and he whittled out an ornament,
you know, and put it around his neck or her neck, and there was
a serpent, and there was the pole, and there was a snake bite
too, and there was death. Look to the Lord Jesus. Don't
wear his cross around your neck, look to him. They were not told
to bring an offering to the serpent. They were not told to go to a
room and talk to a counselor. Now thing for you to do, if you're
a sinner, and you need salvation is go to the room, talk to the
counselor, call on the phone. We got counselors standing by
to help. They can't help you. They can't help themselves. You
need to look to Christ. You need to get everybody out
in between you and Christ and get to Christ. That's right,
get to the Lord Jesus Christ. And they weren't told to pray
a certain prayer. Praying wasn't gonna help them then. They got
to look to the serpent. They got to look to the savior.
They got to look to one who can deliver them and heal them. They
were told to look. Can you do that? Just believe
God. This is the good news of the
gospel. All Israel, all true believers of all nationalities,
all ages, all backgrounds, all who can believe God, all who
can believe Christ, all who can receive him shall be saved with
an everlasting salvation. God said, I've purposed it. And
I haven't done it in the corner, I did it on a cross for the whole
world to see. And it'll come to pass. It'll
come to pass. And I did it in such a way that
I'm a just God and a Savior. Now you look to me. You look
to me. Get all these people out from
around you and in front of you and before you and between you
and God. Just move. Just move. Don't bother
me. Let me get to Christ. And you look to him in the covenant
of mercy as the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
You look to Christ who came in the flesh and obeyed God's law.
You look to Christ who died on the cross and put away our sin.
You look to Christ who arose from the dead and ascended to
glory. You look to Christ who sat down
at the right hand of God as our only mediator. You look to Christ
who will come again to receive you under himself that where
he is there you may be also. all the ends of the earth, all
the ends of the earth, for I'm God and there's none else. And the disciples said, well,
show us the Father. And Christ said, he that has
seen me has seen the Father. Now you need this message and
some friends of yours need this message. Look unto me and be
you saved. And I've got it on a cassette
tape, an audio cassette tape. And I've got one on the other
side called Preaching the Cross. Preaching the Cross, I'm gonna
bring next week. You want this tape, the announcer's
gonna give you an address. They cost us more than the price
for which we sell them. You send $2, donation, we'll
send you this tape. Until next week, God bless you,
everyone.