Isaiah 1 “Come, Let us Reason”

Sermon by Nate Wilson, delivered at Christ the Redeemer, Manhattan, KS, 02 July 2006


CONTEXT (1:1)


PROBLEM STATED




TRANSITION: We’ve got problems, just like the people of Jerusalem did! That’s the first step - to recognize that we have problems. We have rebellious hearts that turn away from God, we tolerate little sins in our lives and pretend we are o.k., we stand by and let people get hurt. The Good news – the glorious good news is that God has a solution:

“24. Therefore the Lord declares, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: “Ah, I will get relief from my enemies and avenge myself on my foes. 25. I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as clean and remove all your alloy. 26. And I will return your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city." 27. Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who return, by righteousness.”




Pietists, Liberals, and Evangelicals tend to emphasize only one of these solutions, but Biblical Christians need to pull all three together – Holiness, Justice, and Gospel.


THE DOUBLE EDGE OF THE COVENANT

When we enter into a covenant relationship with our God and find cleansing from our sins, God promises two things. He promises blessings for obedience and He promises curses for disobedience:


“19. If you are willing and heed, you shall eat the good of the land; 20. but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken.”


“27. Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who return, by righteousness. 28. But destruction of rebels and sinners together, and those who forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.”


CONCLUSION

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