Subtopic: Will You Answer The Call
Text: Isaiah 1:18-20 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.(vs19)If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (vs20) But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
Revelation 3: 20-22 (To The Lukewarm Self-Satisfied Laodicean Church) "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (vs21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (vs22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
The Septuagint(Hebrew OT into Greek)by Charles Thompson translates Isa.1:18 as "then come---(let our controversy be brought to issue, saith the Lord) and though your sins be as a purple stain: I will make you white as snow--- though they be as a stain of scarlet: I will make you white as wool"
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.10, Page 23, a comment on Isa 1: 18 "THE MAGNITUDE OF DIVINE MERCY. In estimating the fullness of God's grace to mankind, we must include: 1.His patience toward all men, both penitent and impenitent. From the beginning of sin until the present hour God has been forbearing to inflict penalty." He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."(Psa. 103:10) The times of long- continued ignorance God overlooked, or did not interpose with special penalty or redemption (Acts 17:30).
Text: Isaiah 1:18-20 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.(vs19)If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (vs20) But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
Revelation 3: 20-22 (To The Lukewarm Self-Satisfied Laodicean Church) "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (vs21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (vs22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
The Septuagint(Hebrew OT into Greek)by Charles Thompson translates Isa.1:18 as "then come---(let our controversy be brought to issue, saith the Lord) and though your sins be as a purple stain: I will make you white as snow--- though they be as a stain of scarlet: I will make you white as wool"
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.10, Page 23, a comment on Isa 1: 18 "THE MAGNITUDE OF DIVINE MERCY. In estimating the fullness of God's grace to mankind, we must include: 1.His patience toward all men, both penitent and impenitent. From the beginning of sin until the present hour God has been forbearing to inflict penalty." He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."(Psa. 103:10) The times of long- continued ignorance God overlooked, or did not interpose with special penalty or redemption (Acts 17:30).
The Thoroughness Of His Forgiveness. (1) The Breadth Which It Covers.(a) The worst kinds of sins---blasphemy, idolatry, all forms of impurity, murder, ect. ; (b) the most criminal condition---long-continued forgetfulness, sin against multiplied privilege, persistent and stubborn rebelliousness of heart, ect. (2) The Depth To Which It Goes Down. (a) Penetrating to the most secret thoughts of the mind, to the most inward motives of the soul, to the slightest choices of the will; (b) extending to the thoughts and things which have been overlooked and omitted, as well as to those which have been entertained and wrought. (3) The Height To Which It Rises. (a) Leading to actual holiness--- for pardon is the fruit of penitence and faith, and with them in the soul, the scarlet becomes as snow, the crimson as wool, the mind is radically changed, the life is thoroughly transformed; (b) including full restoration, not merely the not exacting penalty, but the actual bestowal of the Divine favor--- admitting to the Father's home and table, lavishing upon the accepted child every sign and proof of parental love.
THE DIVINE ARGUMENT THEREFROM. God condescends to "reason" with us; he appeals to our sense of obligation, to our regard for our own interests, to our human affections, ect. The argument here is not stated, but it may be easily inferred. If such is Divine mercy--- so large and full and free, then how wise to seek it at once! because of; 1. The blessedness of being right with God henceforth. 2. The uncertainty of the future. Between our souls and its possession may be interposed (1) sudden death; (2) hardening of the heart; (3) increased outward obstacles. 3. The immeasurable issues which are at stake--- "everlasting punishment or eternal life."
DEFINITION
To Reason means the ability to think and draw conclusions; or to draw conclusions or inferences from facts or premises.
EXPOSITION
1. Will You Answer The Call Of God's Divine Pleadings:
(a) For a Satisfying Portion--- Isa.55:1 "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price."
(b) For Spiritual Renewal and Life--- Eze.18:31-32 "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (vs32) For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."
(c) To Repentance and a Righteous Life--- Hosea 6:1-2 "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (vs2) After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight."
(d) To a Refreshing and Abundant Flow of Rivers of Inward Holy Ghost Joy--- St. John 7:37-39 "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.(vs38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.(vs39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
(e) For Rest of Your Soul--- St. Matt.11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(vs29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.(vs30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
(f) To Witness for Christ and His Gospel--- Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
(g) To Walk Worthy To The Call of Our Vocation in Love and Unity--- Eph.4:1-6 "I Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (vs2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (vs3) Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.(vs4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (vs5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (vs6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
THE DIVINE ARGUMENT THEREFROM. God condescends to "reason" with us; he appeals to our sense of obligation, to our regard for our own interests, to our human affections, ect. The argument here is not stated, but it may be easily inferred. If such is Divine mercy--- so large and full and free, then how wise to seek it at once! because of; 1. The blessedness of being right with God henceforth. 2. The uncertainty of the future. Between our souls and its possession may be interposed (1) sudden death; (2) hardening of the heart; (3) increased outward obstacles. 3. The immeasurable issues which are at stake--- "everlasting punishment or eternal life."
DEFINITION
To Reason means the ability to think and draw conclusions; or to draw conclusions or inferences from facts or premises.
EXPOSITION
1. Will You Answer The Call Of God's Divine Pleadings:
(a) For a Satisfying Portion--- Isa.55:1 "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price."
(b) For Spiritual Renewal and Life--- Eze.18:31-32 "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (vs32) For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."
(c) To Repentance and a Righteous Life--- Hosea 6:1-2 "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (vs2) After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight."
(d) To a Refreshing and Abundant Flow of Rivers of Inward Holy Ghost Joy--- St. John 7:37-39 "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.(vs38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.(vs39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
(e) For Rest of Your Soul--- St. Matt.11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(vs29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.(vs30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
(f) To Witness for Christ and His Gospel--- Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
(g) To Walk Worthy To The Call of Our Vocation in Love and Unity--- Eph.4:1-6 "I Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (vs2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (vs3) Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.(vs4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (vs5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (vs6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
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