Fear Not, You Are Mine

Introduction

This next section of Isaiah 43:1-44:5 has one main theme

Nevertheless, the section is daunting because of the different contexts it’s expressed in

Main theme is the abundant grace of God in redemption

Rather than tackle it all at once we’ll break it into some natural divisions

First division is marked clearly by the repetition of the phrase “Fear not” (Isa. 43:1,5)

Given that Isa. 42 ended with judgment for rebellion why does God follow it with these words?

This section has a great deal of hope and encouragment for God’s people (including us today)

READ Isa. 43:1-7

These are magnificent words of grace and good

Title of 1 of Bunyan’s works seems appropriate for this passage

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

What this passage doesn’t say is that the punishment for thier rebellion will not happen

Rather, it is a call to them not to fear while they endure the punishment

He gives 2 main reasons to start with about why they shouldn’t fear

You are mine (Isa. 43:1)

I am with you (Isa. 43:5)

As we’ve seen often the heart of this message transcends the immediate context of Israel & is reinforced in God’s people today

You Are Mine

Isaiah 43:1-4

God Created You (Isa. 43:1,4)

You are Precious

“You are mine” isn’t about expressing possession but deep personal connection

It is true that because of who God is we belong to Him - true of all people

God’s relationship with us isn’t limited to Creator/created relationship

He is free to be more than that to us

From the very beginning God intended our relationship with Him to be unique in all of creation

Genesis 1:26 “26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.””

We are the only part of creation that uniquely bears the image of God

Imago Dei

As Isa. 43:4 says, we are precious in His sight

Makes this clear by connecting this to creation. “who created you”

There is a deliberate connection to Isa. 43:5 - God’s power in creating universe

Here He makes a distinction - they are not just part of creation but a special, particular, personal part of creation

So much of Jesus’ High Priestly prayer is about the depth of love that God has for His people

John 17:23 “23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

In Isaiah 43 he again uses the names Jacob & Israel as a way of pointing out that they are unique among the nations

God chose them out of all the nations to be His specail people to carry His purpose

God’s people are a special people in this world

Titus 2:14 “14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

God didn’t choose Israel as His people because they proved they deserved it - it was an act of grace

So, we as the people of God are not chosen because we are inherently special but because of His grace

Titus 3:5 “5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,”

You need not fear because You are God’s, precious in His sight

You are Honoured

Isa. 43:4 - you have been honoured

Part of this wonderful work of God is that He makes you honourable

Then He treats you with honour

1 Corinthians 6:11 “11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

We need God’s grace because in His eyes we’re not honourable but sinful, filthy, unclean in our sin & rebellion

Jesus washes us clean of that filthiness

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Not just empty words, He doesn’t just say we’re honoured, He treats us with honour

Ephesians 1:3 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

Romans 8:32 “32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

He has raised you from being under condemnation to a position of honour & blessing

Romans 8:17 “17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

2 Timothy 2:12 “12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him...”

You are precious in His sight, you are honoured

You are Loved

Isa. 43:4 - I have loved you

Key aspect of this passage - the immense, wonderful, powerful love of God for His people

Clearly, Israel isn’t what they should be & haven’t lived up to their calling

Their unfaithfulness doesn’t change the truth of this statement

Jeremiah 31:3 “3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

God’s deep, abiding, permanent love falls on all of His people

Romans 8:35 “35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

Because of Christ, because You are God’s, the precious object of His honour and love nothing can separate you from His love

Believer, do not fear because You are God’s!

God has created you & ...

God Redeemed You

He Will Not Reject You (Isa. 43:1,2)

Transition from Isaiah 42 to Isaiah 43 is important

Israel is going into judgment, chastisement, trial because they have rebelled against God

Context is important because it shows us that their captivity is the discipline of love

God loves Israel but that doesn’t mean He will let them get away with rebellion, turn a blind eye

It is not in their best interest, for their good, to be allowed to continue in sin

After telling them again of their coming trouble He immediately assures of their place in His heart

Hebrews 12:6 “6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.””

His chastening isn’t a rejection of His people but correction to draw nearer

Notice they will still pass through the waters & feel the heat of fire

Key isn’t that they could escape this or find a quick fix but that God is still present with them through it

As 1 Cor. 10:13 reminds us, Jesus is the way through our temptations

Proverbs 3:11–12 “11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

People who are loved as deeply as God loves His people don’t need to fear

God delights in You

You will endure trials, you will endure discipline but these are not signs of God’s rejection of His people

He is Your God (Isa. 43:3)

Here is where the confidence comes to us, certainty of God’s love

Isa. 43:1 says we are God’s

Isa. 43:3 says God is ours

He has committed Himself to His people

This verse is, probably purposefully, striking similar to

Exodus 20:2 “2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

That past deliverance & commitment is assurance of their future

Even today God has not abandoned Israel, transferred their blessings, etc.

Iam, LORD, Yahweh is the name God gave to confirm His commitment

Note, the confidence of this passage to know God’s love is connected to this relationship

Not everyone can claim to be objects of God’s special, abiding, redeeming love

This is only found when it can truly be said that you are God’s and God is your God

Just like not every nation could say God was their God neither can every person say that

You must be able to say with confidence that “I am His and He is mine”

He Paid the Price (Isa. 43:3b)

Last part of Isa. 43:3 may be reference to Cyrus

As a way of illustrating redemption God will give Cyrus (or son) Egypt as a reward for releasing Israel

Redemption is at the heart of this passage

Isa. 43:1 - I have redeemed you

Redemption means that God has paid the price for your freedom

Redemption is central theme of God’s work through the ages

From the moment of the fall into sin God promised to free us

Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

This is the reason redemption is needed

Romans 3:24 “24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

Jesus paid the price for our freedom

What is the price? Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is the climax of grace - God pays the debt we owe to free us from bondage of sin & death

This is where you find the relationship with God that makes You His and Him yours

Titus 2:14 “14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

By believing Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the ransom for your sin brings you into a place where you can be assured that you are precious in His sight, honoured and loved

God Called You

He Reached Out to You

Isa. 43:1 - I have called you by name

He calls to Himself

He reaches out to bring us to Himself

John 1:14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

He came to us

Mark 2:17 “17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.””

Perhaps today is the day that you will hear His call

That you will hear & understand that Jesus died to save you from your sin

He Set You Apart

Romans 1:7 “7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Saints = set apart to God, for God

He has called you out of the world to be His special people

He Knows You Personally

He calls you to Himself to know Him personally

This is part of the wonder of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John 10.

He knows His sheep (people) personally and they know Him personally

Conclusion

The believer in Jesus Christ has nothing to fear in this world

Reason we have nothing to fear is because we are God’s

He created, redeemed us & called us

In that place we are precious to Him, honoured and loved

Nothing will separate you from God’s love

When you sin, live in disobedience, God will chastise you

That discipline isn’t His rejection but an act of His love

He has paid the price for your freedom