Sermon Outlines from the Word A Threefold Look (Isaiah 45:22)

A THREEFOLD LOOK

ISAIAH 45:22

INTRODUCTION: Let us consider a threefold look from God’s Word—three looks that can transform our lives.

I. AN INWARD LOOK. This is what the psychologist calls introspection—a look of examination.

A. The Scriptures are a mirror in which we can get a true picture of ourselves.

B. In Romans 1:18–3:8 we have the description of three classes of men.

1. Rom. 1:18–32—The renegade sinner.

2. Rom. 2:1–16—The respectable sinner.

3. Rom. 2:17–3:8—The religious sinner. These are the worst of all sinners. The Bible has much to say about them.

a. They are very religious: They worship God with lip service. Matt. 15:8, 9. They teach the doctrines of men.

b. They pray. Matt. 23:14; they have zeal. Matt. 23:15. They observe works of righteousness. Matt. 23:23. Their lives outwardly are pure. Matt. 23:26.

c. Yet they are defiled. vss. 27, 28 and are under condemnation. v. 33.

C. Rom. 3:9–20 gives to us the divine summary of these three classes.

II. AN OUTWARD LOOK. This is a look of faith. Isa. 45:22.

A. “Look.” This is an easy way: Salvation is easy for us; It cost God dearly. John 5:24.

B. “Unto me.” This is the only way. John 14:6. It does not say “Look” to the church, sacraments, ordinances, the preacher; but UNTO ME (CHRIST).

C. “Be ye saved.” This is the certain way. John 3:36; 1 John 5:13.

III. AN UPWARD LOOK. This is a look of Expectation. Phil. 3:20, 21.

A. Our citizenship is in heaven.

B. We look for Christ our Saviour.

C. The reason is obvious; v. 21 (We love him).

D. This look also makes a difference in our lives. 1 John 3:1–3.

SUBMITTING UNTO GOD

A THREEFOLD LOOK

Isaiah 45:22 KJV 1900

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.

Isaiah 6:1–8 KJV 1900

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

ISA. 6:1-

A THREEFOLD LOOK

INTRODUCTION: Let us consider a threefold look from God’s Word—three looks that can transform our lives.

Look - direct one's gaze toward someone or something or in a specified direction.

I. AN INWARD LOOK. This is what the psychologist calls introspection—a look of examination.

A. The Scriptures are a mirror in which we can get a true picture of ourselves.

Isaiah 6:3 KJV 1900

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:5 KJV 1900

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

isa. 6:5

1. —The renegade sinner.

2. —The respectable sinner.

James 1:23–24 KJV 1900

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

James 1:23 KJV 1900

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

3. —The religious sinner. These are the worst of all sinners. The Bible has much to say about them.

a. They are very religious: They worship God with lip service. , . They teach the doctrines of men.

b. They pray. ; they have zeal. . They observe works of righteousness. . Their lives outwardly are pure. .

c. Yet they are defiled. vss. 27, 28 and are under condemnation. v. 33.

C. gives to us the divine summary of these three classes.

II. AN OUTWARD LOOK. This is a look of faith.

Isaiah 45:22 KJV 1900

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.

.

A. “Look.” This is an easy way: Salvation is easy for us; It cost God dearly.

A. “Look.” This is an easy way: Salvation is easy for us; It cost God dearly. .

John 5:24 KJV 1900

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

.

B. “Unto me.” This is the only way.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

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It does not say “Look” to the church, sacraments, ordinances, the preacher; but UNTO ME (CHRIST).

It does not say “Look” to the church, sacraments, ordinances, the preacher; but UNTO ME (CHRIST).

C. “Be ye saved.” This is the certain way.

John 3:36 KJV 1900

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

;

1 John 5:13 KJV 1900

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

.

III. AN UPWARD LOOK. This is a look of Expectation

Isaiah 6:1 KJV 1900

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

isa. 6:

Philippians 3:20–21 KJV 1900

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

,

A. Our citizenship is in heaven.

B. We look for Christ our Saviour.

C. The reason is obvious; v. 21 (We love him).

D. This look also makes a difference in our lives.

1 John 3:1–3 KJV 1900

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

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SUBMITTING UNTO GOD

Bolick, J. H. (1987). Sermon Outlines from the Word (pp. 13–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.