Our Salvation is Coming

Isaiah 55:12–13 “12 “For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.””

Then we’re brought back to reality of world we live in now

He describes the character of the leaders

Isaiah 56:10 “10 His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”

Isa. 57:1 reminds us that the righteous perish and the wicked don’t care

Much of Isaiah 57 describes the worlds selfish pursuit of other gods of our own pleasure

The future for God’s people is perfect but the present is far from it

Next few chapters give us instruction about living in this fallen world

What are the characteristics of the Redeemed while we wait for the completion of our redemption?

READ Isaiah 56:1-5

Since that is your future (Isa. 55) here is what to do in the present

Live in God’s Blessing

Isaiah 56:1-2

Live for God

Your salvation is near

For my salvation is about to come

Only way to do righteousness is to be righteous

This is a promise for the righteous

Isa. 57:1 - the righteous = those who are right with God

For them salvation is near

As seen so often in Isaiah, competion of our salvation is coming

Especially true for those Isaiah directly writing to

They’re waiting for Messiah

John the Baptist & Jesus both preached the same message

Matthew 3:1–2 “1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!””

Matthew 4:17 “17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””

God’s salvation is on it’s way

Salvation has come - Jesus death & resurrection

Salvation is coming - Jesus return to finally banish all aspects of sin

That means there is a time of waiting, it’s near, about to come but not just yet

This time of waiting is a time of gathering

God is gathering all of His people from every place

Live out your salvation

The call to keep justice, do righteousness (live godly) isn’t so that salvation will come

We’re to live godly because it is near

Our works don’t bring our salvation

We work because our salvation is near

God has redeemed you through Jesus, work has been done

In this time we are called to live accordingly, walk worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1)

Titus 2:11–14 “11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 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.”

Because of our salvation in Christ we wait for Him in godliness

Saved us from our sinful ways so that we could do righteous works

2 Peter 3:14 “14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;”

Blessings of Living for God

Blessed by God

Blessed is the man...

Blessing of God in the Bible isn’t empty words but rich, deep promise

It’s often described as soul satisfaction, deep contentment, strong comfort

It is the very depth of God’s goodness poured into your life

When we say ‘God bless you’ it is a prayer that God’s abundant goodness would fill your life

Psalm 1 describes the means & result of God’s blessing

Psalm 1:1–3 “1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”

Blessing comes by pursuing Him, obey Him

Blessing results in strength, stability, joy, satisfaction, life

Jesus expounds what these words of Isaiah & David mean in Matt. 5

We call them ‘the Beatitudes’

Matthew 5:3 “3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:8 “8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”

The ways of kingdom living, way we find satisfaction & joy in life

Each one expresses a way that we pursue God and the grace of God that is given in response

Light of the World

Jesus follows the Beatitudes with these words

Matthew 5:14–16 “14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Our life of godliness as we wait for His return is a light to the world

Reveals God’s salvation, brings glory to the Father

Isaiah is giving us the same message

Isaiah 49:6 “6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ””

The light of God’s people will draw people to God & His salvation

Isaiah 60:3 “3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.”

Live in God’s Grace

Isaiah 56:3-6

Grace for All

Brought near

Here is the result of living godly lives, of letting our light shine, proclaiming salvation of our God

People from all over come to Jesus

Of course, it’s not because of me that they come

My goodness isn’t what matters but who my life is pointing them to

God uses us to bring people to Him

Living for God means obeying the Great Commission to Go and preach the gospel

What we see in these verses is the wideness of God’s mercy

Like hymn says:

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea (v1)

For the love of God is broader than the measure of our mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.

Though specific promises of the Kingdom apply to Israel God’s salvation is for the world

John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

What He offers is to bring those that are far from Him, strangers, foreigners to Him, to be near

Ephesians 2:12–13 “12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

That’s part of what this time of waiting is about - God is gathering those far away to be near

That can be you today

Given an everlasting name

By the Law foreigners & eunuchs were restricted from Temple worship

Grace of God fulfills the Law so that all may draw near

In this group of people we not only see the ability of grace to draw us near but make us family

To give people who have no future an eternal future of joy & blessing

Revelation 3:12 “12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”

Acts 8 an Ethiopian Eunuch is saved as Philip helps him understand Isaiah 53

Can you imagine the joy that fills his heart as he reads this chapter

Our gracious embrace

Some like to use passages like this to shape our understanding of social justice, identity acceptance, politics & immigration

These passages aren’t about politics or social reform or open acceptance of every culture or identity

Nevertheless, there is something we can learn about grace & acceptance here in the context of our modern world

What set the foreigner outside, distant from God was their worship of other gods & rejection of God

Eunuch also was a practice forbidden by God as defiling His design & purpose for man

These, of course, aren’t the only sins that separate man from God but they are significant

Eunuch is now one of the many accepted ‘gender identities’ & so we ask ourselves how does all of this influence a Christian’s attitude toward modern world of ‘gender identity’

By God’s Word we know everything outside of male & female is sin, wrong, forbidden by God

That’s part of what makes this passage so wonderfully beautiful

God’s grace reaches to forgive, transform into godliness and accept into His family

We’re called to love all people, to loving, faithfully & wisely proclaim the Gospel to all

Here the call to embrace them is a call to embrace them as those who have bound themselves to God

A Life of Godliness

For all people, what does a life of godliness look like?

Isa. 56:6 notes 6 characteristics of the redeemed:

Believe God

Join themselves to God

They believe God, identify with God, find their identity in Christ

That is what you were but you have been washed

Serve God

to serve Him

No longer serving self or own lusts

Love God

to love the name of Yahweh

This is the central, motivating factor

We love Him because He first loved us and gave Himself for us

Submit to God

to be His servants

Description Paul often uses of Himself

One who submits to God and gives life for God

Worship God

keeps from defiling Sabbath

Sabbath is about perfection, completeness of God’s work & worship of God

It’s also a reminder to look forward in joy & praise for the rest that is to come

Obey God

holds fast my covenant

Cling to God’s Word & promises

Obey & follow Him

These are marks/characteristics of all who are saved, no matter what life you were saved from

Live in God’s Peace

Isaiah 57:1-2, 14-21

Loved by God

Isaiah 57:1-2

Mercy of death

Merciful men = devout / men of lovingkindness

People who love God, live for God & show grace of God

People on whom the love of God abides

Matthew 5:10–11 “10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”

To live for God will put you at odds with the world we live in

When the righteous die no-one cares

To live for God also means to understand death differently

Merciful men are taken away

Righteous is taken away from evil

Death is tragic & sad - part of curse of sin

God tells us for the believer it is a mercy

Taken away = not just inevitable end of life in sin cursed world, not an accident

Death of righteous, as with their life, is filled with purpose & grace

God is sparing His people from evil

Peace of death

We exit the pain & trouble of this world and enter into peace with God

We rest in our beds in a world where we battle sin in & around us

Wake up in the perfection of our salvation

For those of us left behind death is a temporary sorrow

For those that God takes it is His merciful goodness

Until He takes you, live for Him in this world

Lead Back by God

Isaiah 57:14-21

High and Holy God (Isa. 57:15)

We’re reminded why all of this matters

God is the high & lofty one

He is eternal & Holy

Salvation is needed because He is high & holy

Because He is high & holy we ought to live for Him & in obedience to Him

How can I, a sinner, dwell in the same place as teh High, eternal & holy God?

With a contrite & humble spirit

By putting my trust in Him (Isa. 57:13)

Those who believe themselves to be equal with God cannot abide with Him

Those who recognise their own state, who undestand their lowliness before this God

Those, through belief & repentance, are able to find their place with God

Our backsliding

Living for God in a world like this isn’t easy, temptation is high

2 Peter 3:17–18 “17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Like Peter, we’re warned here to persevere in the faith

Backsliding perhaps most understood as a time when our faith isn’t flourishing

It’s a dangerous place to be in & hard place to identify truth of situation

Backsliding isn’t a true Christian losing their salvation

Most Christians tend to think of it as a time of stagnated faith or even sliding back into sin (real Christian but giving place to temptation)

Other way it’s understood is a professing Christian that returns to sinful ways because never truly saved

I think that’s probably the primary thought here

On the outside both of these look similar

Fortunately, the remedy for both is similar

God contends with the soul - through conviction of Spirit

God brings the soul to life & healing

Our reconciliation

God sees, that is, He doesn’t overlook the sin or excuse it

He sees the truth of our heart & brings healing to our soul

Answer to our backsliding in the end of Isa. 57:17

Don’t follow your heart

Conclusion

There is blessing, grace & peace available from God

Isaiah 57:21 “21 “There is no peace,” Says my God, “for the wicked.””

Wicked are the opposite of the righteous

That is, those who are not right with God

Wicked are those who will crumble under the anger of God

Those who follow desires of their own heart and not God

You can know peace, healing & reconcilliation

Grace of God is vast & wide reaching to the deepest, darkest parts of our soul

Believer, living for God, waiting for completion of salvation is hard

It is a life of immeasurable blessing, infinite grace & lasting peace

Your life, lived for God is a light to the world

A light of God’s grace that reaches to everyone

Your salvation is coming so

Live in God’s blessing

Live in God’s grace

Live in God’s peace

Benediction

2 Corinthians 13:14 “14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”

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