We are going to finish the book of Isaiah by tomorrow, ok? I have loved studying this book over the past month or so. I hope you've enjoyed walking through it with me.
Isaiah 60 and 62 and 65:17-25 are prophetic songs of celebration for that future day when God makes Jerusalem the center of the earth. Yes, one day in the future, after Jesus Christ returns to reign as Regent over all the earth, Jerusalem will be the earth's capital.
These chapters took a giant step toward fulfillment in 1947 when Israel became a nation. Not long before that it was discovered that the Dead Sea was a literal treasure trove of minerals. It has been estimated that the wealth of the Dead Sea is roughly 4 times the total wealth possessed by the United States. (G.T.B. Davis, 1935, Rebuilding Palestine) So, Israel literally surrounds "a gold mine".
Our omnipotent God mentions the Dead Sea in Isaiah 60:5, stating that it contains "abundant wealth" (Amplified Bible). This is an example of the Bible once again being proven by science (eventually) to be true. For years, scoffers laughed at that part of Scripture. Obviously, the Dead Sea was called "dead" for a reason, right? Nothing of any consequence lives in it. The waters are so dense that floating in it is a breeze...Again, God was "proven" right. I just love how that happens!
Isaiah 61 begins with words of prophecy about the Messiah to come. These words of prophecy, like many prophetic passages from the Bible, have a dual fulfillment - - - one that occurs in that present day or shortly thereafter, and one that predicts a future fulfillment. Isaiah was talking about himself, but he was also prophesying about Messiah. In Luke 4:18-21, Jesus read Isaiah 61:1-2 at the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown. After reading, he proclaimed that He was the fulfillment of that prophecy, effectively telling the people he had grown up with that He is the Messiah. Let's compare these two passages:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,(A)
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] [a]and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,(B)
Isaiah 61:1-2
Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and the regaining of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him.21Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.”
Jesus goes on to say that he knows that these people who know Him best, because he grew up in their midst, will have the hardest time believing that He is the Messiah. And, sure enough, they grew so angry at His words that they all rose up en masse and attempted to kill Him. Since that was not part of His Father's plan, though, they were unsuccessful. He "gave them the slip".
There is a passage in Isaiah 64 that is echoed by Paul in his letter to the Romans. Look at 64:4-8.
Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who intervenes for those who wait for him.
5 You assist those who delight in doing what is right,
who observe your commandments.
Look, you were angry because we violated them continually.
How then can we be saved?
6 We are all like one who is unclean,
all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight.
We all wither like a leaf;
our sins carry us away like the wind.
7 No one invokes your name,
or makes an effort to take hold of you.
For you have rejected us
and handed us over to our own sins.
8 Yet, Lord, you are our father.
We are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the product of your labor.
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who intervenes for those who wait for him.
5 You assist those who delight in doing what is right,
who observe your commandments.
Look, you were angry because we violated them continually.
How then can we be saved?
6 We are all like one who is unclean,
all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight.
We all wither like a leaf;
our sins carry us away like the wind.
7 No one invokes your name,
or makes an effort to take hold of you.
For you have rejected us
and handed us over to our own sins.
8 Yet, Lord, you are our father.
We are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the product of your labor.
In Romans 3:10-12, 23, Paul quotes Psalm 14:1-3 and alludes to the Isaiah passage to emphasize the theme that runs through the entire Bible. "No one can attain his own righteousness." Redemption, salvation, justification, sanctification, glorification - - - all steps in a believer's maturing relationship with God - - - come FROM God and from no one/no place else. As my friend, David E., would say, "That is all."
Do you realize, dear Reader, that Christianity stands alone in this assertion? That ALL the other religions of the world declare that to become right with God disciples to their faiths must "work, work, work" their way into salvation, into Heaven. Christianity proclaims just the opposite - - - you can't earn it. Impossible. As it says in Isaiah 64:8 - - "We are the product of HIS labor." Love it!
Oh, you want to talk about the James 2:14-26 and Philippians 2:12 passages, do you? HAHA! Ok.
These two passages are often cited as evidence that it is our faith plus our good works that land us in God's good graces, despite the passages I mention above. But, upon closer examination, that view does not cut it. The Philippians passage was written by Paul, whose letters to the young churches were FILLED with the theme we read in Romans 3. Why on earth, then, would he contradict himself in Philippians 2. He doesn't. The passage says:
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (KJV)
The key to this passage is the word "obedience", walking in obedience to the truth (salvation by faith) they were taught by the apostle Paul when he was with them. He was exhorting them to walk in reverence to God, living out (working out) lives of holiness, because of the saving faith they possessed in their hearts. The passage goes on to say, "for it is God who works in you.." (vs. 13). His Holy Spirit is the One who produces the fruit (result) of holiness in our lives, not our own fruitless efforts.
Now for James, who makes the very excellent point that, if your lives don't reflect your relationship, then there is no relationship with God. Look at James 2:14-24.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?(A) Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.(B) 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?(C) 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.(D)
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds,(E) and I will show you my faith(F) by my deeds.(G) 19 You believe that there is one God.(H) Good! Even the demons believe that(I)—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?(J) 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(K)22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together,(L) and his faith was made complete by what he did.(M) 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b](N) and he was called God’s friend.(O) 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?(P) 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James is making the distinction between a mere belief in the truths of Jesus Christ and a faith that saves. He points out that the Devil and his demons believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah of mankind. But, they do not bow to Him by embracing that saving faith, that personal, life-changing relationship with God.
People, there are many of us who claim to know Jesus as Savior, but that professed faith is "dead". If our lives do not reflect what our words say, then we are liars and as Jesus said, "the truth is not in us." James, the common sense apostle, is emphasizing that just because someone says he/she is a follower of Jesus, it may not be so. What do the person's "works" (deeds, actions) look like? You can be sure that someone who truly is a disciple of Jesus will live like it because "faith without works is dead". (Or, he/she will be the most miserable being on the planet, if he/she is running from God. The Holy Spirit within him/her will make that person a miserable soul, because the Spirit will be continually convicting him/her of rebellion and sin.)
So, I ask you, Reader: what is the source of your righteousness? Have you made the decision to accept God's free gift of righteousness, salvation through accepting His Son as your Savior? I hope you have, and that your belief is one that has been true belief --- belief leading to repentance and a surrender of your life to God. That is the only way you can walk...resplendent!
Holy Father, in reverence I confess that all of my "acts of righteousness" apart from You are like dirty, smelly baby diapers or soiled feminine hygiene products. You paint a very clear picture about how effective our own human efforts are at attaining a relationship with You...useless and offensive to Your holiness. I am thankful that You provided a way for me to wear the clean robe of righteousness, that you provided a robe for me as your Bride. Oh, help me to live in obedience, to walk worthy of Your amazing love, to walk with You...resplendent! In Jesus' name, amen.
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