GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY

-Introduction

-Isaiah has been referred to as God’s prophet of doom (doom, despair and agony).

            -Isa 1:1 – prophesied to Judah and Jerusalem during Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah

            -It was during the time of Hezekiah that the Northern kingdom of Israel was defeated by

              the Assyrians.  Eventually, the Southern kingdom of Judah was taken into captivity by

              the Babylonians.

            -Isa 39:1-6

            -However, there was a message of doom for the Babylonians also.  Isa 13:1,17

-Within the book of Isaiah, there are some great lessons regarding the foreknowledge of God.  In

many instances within the book, God predicted events long before they ever happened.

-Within the messages of doom found in the book of Isaiah, there are also great glimmers of hope.

-God’s Deliverance of Judah

-past deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage – Deut 6:12

-Babylonian captivity was coming but God would once again deliver His people.

            -Isa 41:10-14

            -God continually provided for His people – Isa 41:17-20.

-Even though the Israelites continually fell short, God continued to provide for them, protect them

and deliver them.

          -Obviously, due to their rejection of God, God allowed them to suffer various hardships.

          -Yet, through the message of Isaiah and other prophets, a glimmer of hope was always provided.

-Ultimate Deliverance

-The deliverance of God’s people wasn’t as much for them but for the fulfillment of God’s

promises.  In other words, they didn’t merit God’s deliverance.  However, God delivered them in

order to accomplish His work and fulfill His promises.

            -Gen 17:5-7; 22:17-18

            -It was and is through Christ that these blessings are offered to all. 

-Isa 42:1-9

            -The great glimmers of hope pointed to the Messiah – hence Isaiah is referred to as the

              Messianic prophet.

            -vs 2-3 – Matt 12:16-20

            -vs 4 – law - Gal 6:2

            -vs 6 – Luke 2:25-33

-God’s Patience, Grace and Mercy Toward His People

-Isa 43:22-25

            -grace and mercy of God

            -In spite of their many shortcomings, sins and rebellion, God maintained His lovingkindness

              toward His people.

            -Obviously, by looking at the message of Isaiah, God didn’t ignore the sinfulness of His people

              but He was always willing to forgive them.

-In spite of their failures, God offered His grace and mercy.

            -He knew that His plan of redemption would lead to the sacrifice of Jesus and that forgiveness

              would be made available to those who followed His will.

            -Heb 9:15 – The blood of Christ flows in two directions – back to those in former times and

              forward to the last day.

-Now notice Isa 44 and the words “fear not” – (vs 2,8).

-A Message For Us

-Isa 59:1-2

-Rom 3:23, 6:23a

            -doom, despair and agony

-However, through God’s word we have the message of “fear not”.

-In spite of our shortcomings, failures – sin – God extends His grace and mercy to us.

-He still loves us and reaches out to us. 

-He invites us to be reconciled to Him

            -Rom 5:6-10

            -2 Cor 5:14-21

            -Isa 43:18-19

-Summary and Invitation

-God wants us to be reconciled to Him.

-Even though our sins have separated us from Him, He wants us back.  He wants us as His children.

-Therefore, He is willing to forgive us of our past sins (the old person dead in sin) and is willing to

make us a new person (spiritually alive with Christ).

          -Eph 2:1-2, 4-8

-God calls us to come to Him and dwell within His grace and mercy.

            -2 Thess 2:14 – We are called by the Gospel.

-By responding in obedience to the Gospel we answer God’s call:

            -Believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9), Repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30),

              Be Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Rom 6:3-4)

-After obedience to the Gospel, we are to live faithfully in service to God according to His word.

            -Rom 6:4, Eph 4:22-24, Rev 2:10

            -If we have obeyed the Gospel but haven’t served in faithfulness, we must confess our faults,

             repent of them, pray to God and ask His forgiveness – 1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24.

-God’s love, grace and mercy are wonderful, powerful and available.  God reaches down to you

with them.  Won’t you reach up to Him by responding in obedience to His word?  Be reconciled

 to Him.

Date:  October 16, 2005