Bible Readings:
Psalm 130
Isaiah 55:1-13
Romans 3:9-31
Sermon Outline:
Is. 55
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
I Sin
- Sin is far more serious than what we usually think it is
1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness,
and sin is lawlessness.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
14.What is sin?
Sin is any want of conformity unto,
or transgression of, the law of God.
The Heidelberg Catechism
4. What does God’s law require of us?
Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22:37–40:
“You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.”
This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
5. Can you live up to all this perfectly?
I am inclined by nature
to hate God and my neighbor.
II Grace
- God is far more gracious than what we think He is
55:1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Free, the free grace of God, free forgiveness of sin
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
Eph. 1
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
III Faith
- Acceptance with God is far easier than man can ever imagine
Micah 6.6-7
6 With what shall I come before the Lord,
And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Hos. 2:19 “I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me
In righteousness and justice,
In lovingkindness and mercy;
Hos. 2:20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
And you shall know the LORD.
Rom. 3.21-26
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Is. 30.15
15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
But you would not,
IV Blood
- Salvation is far more costly than we can ever think of
Is. 55
3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—
The sure mercies of David.
4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,
A leader and commander for the people.
1 Peter 1
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Conclusion
Cf. Is. 55
55:1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
John 8 :36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 15:5 without Me you can do nothing.
Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Is. 55:3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;