Isaiah: Salvation Realized
Isaiah: The Advent of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 12 viewsFocus on the salvation of this world helpus us hope in the future benefits .
Notes
Transcript
What does it mean to be saved? We use the word all of the time. Do we truly understand the word and its use?
Intro
Intro
Illus: Marines of 2/5 being pinned down in the street behind a house. Rescued by a tank. But, they immediately went right back into the fight. Saved, but not completely.
This is the idea of the term saved in the Christian faith.
Let me explain:
Isaiah prophesies the coming incarnation
Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
Context:
History of Zebulan and Naphtali - tribes of Israel
Zebulan
Son of Leah, wife of Jacob
“honor” - God showed her favor she now was honored by Jacob
Jacob loved Leah less than Rachel
Inheritance
Land by the sea -
land that stretched outward -
land that would become Israel during the divided Kingdom - Northern Kingdom
unfaithfulness
Judges
1 - guilty of not driving out inhabitants of Kitron
4 - Barak & Deborah lead Zebulan and Nephtali against Jabin king of Cannan
5 - fighters for God’s Kingdom
faithfulness
A remnant comes from Zebulan to reform worship
Celebrate the Passover - a covenant with God
Forgiveness of sins by Hezekiah (King who reforms worship in Jerusalem)
We learn from this history that Zebulan and Napthali turned from their unfaithfulness to God - context of worship
God’s global evangelism - expansion of his Kingdom begins
It is in this context we can no w understand this passage better:
Principles of Faith
Principles of Faith
God provides salvation, not only in a promise as we saw last week, but in a realized way.
Focusing on the benefits of salvation for today can help us persevere for the benefits we have yet to see come to fruition.
What does salvation bring to God’s people?
Salvation: Globalization (9:1)
Warning: Not that God saves everyone, not that Christ died for everyone
Globalization means that God’s salvation was for a people greater than Israel
9:1 - “the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.”
the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
What is about to be prophesied is realized beyond Israel and will be offered to Gentiles
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
“nations” at the end of this verse in Hebrew is - Gentile (גּוֹיִם) Goiim
God’s Kingdom is being expanded
App: This globalization is not a new invention in Acts - it is a part of God’s eternal decree and providence that we see play out before us in this life. We see the church in history grow and expand. Focusing on the work that God is doing in his church should encourage us.
Illus: Decline in attendance. God never promises large churches in this world. We will see the world move away from God at various times. Zebulan and Napthali did it. Yet, God provided salvation to them. A small group of believers, faithful Christians, reformed worship and God provided salvation through them.
Salvation: Regeneration & New Birth (9:2-3)
Regeneration & New birth
“darkness to light”
Zechariah’s prophecy in
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Paul to the Ephesians
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Eph 1
Regeneration is necessity to enter into God’s Kingdom
we are taught that it can be entered only by regeneration
Berkhoff rightly points out: we are taught that it can be entered only by regeneration (Berkhof, L. (1938). Systematic theology (p. 408). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans publishing co.)
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Berkhof, L. (1938). Systematic theology (p. 408). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans publishing co.
Salvation moves us from darkness to light
This moves us from despair to joy
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
App: Salvation includes the work of Jesus Christ applied to his people. We should focus often on our own salvation and work that God is doing in our life. Evidence to the salvation that comes. This will bring us joy.
Salvation: Protection from our enemies (4-5)
“Yoke of His burden”
enemies
And now I will break his yoke from off you
and will burst your bonds apart.”
Jesus
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
refers to Israel’s enemies and being held to their laws and commands
God rescues his people from this bondage
Judges and Midian
God saves his people from the Midianites and Gideon leads God’s people to defeat the kings Oreba and Zebb
Physical manifestation of God’s spiritual work
God defeats our enemy in Satan and his angels
Salvation: Kingdom of God established (6-7)
King
God himself
All names here are names used for God
Isaiah is saying that God will save his people
The source of Justice and righteousness
These are not opposing attributes
justice - pronounces judgment on right and wrong
righteousness - produces right/He is the standard of holiness
We see Isaiah prophesy what we see come to fruition/completion in Jesus being born many years later
Israel realized some realities of salvation, but not all
Conclusion
Conclusion
When we use the term saved we must consider the fact that we are not completely saved. We look forward to Xp’s second coming as the end for those, as Paul says, are being saved.
As we wait in this life we should spend some of our time thinking and looking at salvation realized.
Look at the benefits show to Israel in Isaiah. They did reap some of the benefits of salvation during their time, yet never saw the Messiah come.
God is saving his people, us today. And, with salvation comes many benefits.
By placing our minds on the realities of our salvation today we can endure until Christ comes again.
We can look around us and see little signs that we are being saved every day:
We are living in God’s Kingdom where Jesus is King
This Kingdom is global - spreading
This Kingdom includes regeneration and rebirth
This King continues to defeat his and our enemies
“until they are made a footstool”(; Heb 1:13)
This Kingdom is God’s Kingdom
We are given grace to love God more
We are given grace to love others more
You have been rescued from the wickedness of this world and have been brought into this Kingdom through adoption
In a very real way we can experience the salvation that Jesus brought, yet we have not seen it come to fruition. We are “being saved.”
Illus: Peter - Matt 14:26-33
Peter rescued - saved - from drowning.
It is as if we are all being lifted out of the water, yet we have not yet been drawn into the boat, completely rescued.
“Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Yet, focusing on Jesus and keeping our eyes on the realities of our salvation it will sustain us until he comes again and finishes saving us.
Pe
Let us keep our eyes on Jesus. This is what it means to be saved. We use it in the past tense, but it goes beyond time and space. It is what Jesus did, is doing and will do for us. Let us embrace salvation and be encouraged as Israel in the time of Isaiah, by the promises of God, we already see taking place.