This article from Way of Life is being posted without comment. https://www.wayoflife.org/reports/isaiah_55_the_gospel_invitation.php
It is self-explanatory.
PART I
Isaiah 55 the Gospel Invitation
October 16, 2019
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143, [email protected]
The following is excerpted from the Way of Life Commentary Series on Isaiah:
Isaiah is filled with God’s invitations to sinners, because this is the essence of His compassionate character. Above all, God is a Saviour.
1. The invitation is explained in verse 3. It is the offer of eternal life through David’s Son, the Messiah. The everlasting covenant is God’s promise that David’s seed would have an eternal kingdom (2 Sa. 7:12-13, 16). In Romans 1, Paul connected the gospel of Christ with God’s promise to David. Christ is the seed of David who inherits God’s promises. He was declared to be the Son of God by the resurrection, and the risen Christ is calling sinners from all nations by the gospel (Ro. 1:4-6; 2 Th. 2:14). God’s everlasting covenant with David extends, therefore, to any sinner who receives Christ, both Jew and Gentile.
2. God’s invitation to salvation has been given throughout history. It was preached before the flood by prophets such as Abel and Enoch. It was preached by Noah during the building of the ark (2 Pe. 2:5). It was believed by Gentiles such as Rahab and Ruth. It was preached in the days of Solomon to the kings of the earth (1 Ki. 4:34). It was preached by Israel’s prophets such as Jonah and Isaiah. It has been preached to the ends of the earth for the 2,000 years of church history. It will be preached by Jewish evangelists during the Tribulation (Re. 7, and it will be preached in Christ’s kingdoms (Isa. 60:3).
3. Salvation is for all (Isa. 55:1).
The invitation to “come” is repeated three times in one verse. The New Testament tells us that God was motivated to provide salvation because of His love for the whole world of sinners (John 3:16). He would have all men to be saved (1 Ti. 2:3-4). The gospel of Jesus Christ is a “whosoever will” gospel. It is for Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, male and female, young and old.
4. Salvation is fervently offered (“ho,” Isa. 55:1).
The offering of salvation is an act of great love, and God’s call to sinners is not halfhearted. We see this in Christ’s fervent offers (e.g., John 7:37).
5. Salvation is for the thirsty (“every one that thirsteth,” Isa. 55:1).
Jesus often used the picture of a thirsty person to signify what is necessary to receive salvation. Compare John 4:14; 6:35; 7:17. To thirst for salvation means to recognize one’s need for it and to desire it. The individual must acknowledge his guilt before God because of his sin and his inability to pay the sin debt. We see this explained in Christ’s dealing with the woman at the well in John 4. Christ led her to acknowledge her sin and her need for salvation (Joh. 4:15-18).
6. Salvation is free (Isa. 55:1).
Salvation was purchased by Christ as described in Isaiah 53, and it is offered as free gift to sinners.
7. Salvation must be received.
“come” is repeated four times (Isa. 55:1, 3).
Salvation is not universal. There is no automatic salvation for all sinners. Salvation is available for all, but it must be individually received.
The individual must incline the ear and hearken diligently (Isa. 55:3). He must seek the Lord (Isa. 55:6). He must call upon Him (Isa. 55:6). The sinner must be willing to hear the gospel and make an effort to understand it. There is no example in Scripture of someone being saved who didn’t do this. We think of the woman at the well (John 4), the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2), Cornelius (Acts 10), the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:27-39), Lydia (Acts 16:14), the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:29-32), and those who believed Paul’s preaching in Athens (Acts 17:34). In Christ’s Parable of the Sower, those who do not make an effort to understand the Word have it snatched away by the devil (Mt. 13:19).
It is self-explanatory.
PART I
Isaiah 55 the Gospel Invitation
October 16, 2019
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143, [email protected]
The following is excerpted from the Way of Life Commentary Series on Isaiah:
Isaiah is filled with God’s invitations to sinners, because this is the essence of His compassionate character. Above all, God is a Saviour.
1. The invitation is explained in verse 3. It is the offer of eternal life through David’s Son, the Messiah. The everlasting covenant is God’s promise that David’s seed would have an eternal kingdom (2 Sa. 7:12-13, 16). In Romans 1, Paul connected the gospel of Christ with God’s promise to David. Christ is the seed of David who inherits God’s promises. He was declared to be the Son of God by the resurrection, and the risen Christ is calling sinners from all nations by the gospel (Ro. 1:4-6; 2 Th. 2:14). God’s everlasting covenant with David extends, therefore, to any sinner who receives Christ, both Jew and Gentile.
2. God’s invitation to salvation has been given throughout history. It was preached before the flood by prophets such as Abel and Enoch. It was preached by Noah during the building of the ark (2 Pe. 2:5). It was believed by Gentiles such as Rahab and Ruth. It was preached in the days of Solomon to the kings of the earth (1 Ki. 4:34). It was preached by Israel’s prophets such as Jonah and Isaiah. It has been preached to the ends of the earth for the 2,000 years of church history. It will be preached by Jewish evangelists during the Tribulation (Re. 7, and it will be preached in Christ’s kingdoms (Isa. 60:3).
3. Salvation is for all (Isa. 55:1).
The invitation to “come” is repeated three times in one verse. The New Testament tells us that God was motivated to provide salvation because of His love for the whole world of sinners (John 3:16). He would have all men to be saved (1 Ti. 2:3-4). The gospel of Jesus Christ is a “whosoever will” gospel. It is for Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, male and female, young and old.
4. Salvation is fervently offered (“ho,” Isa. 55:1).
The offering of salvation is an act of great love, and God’s call to sinners is not halfhearted. We see this in Christ’s fervent offers (e.g., John 7:37).
5. Salvation is for the thirsty (“every one that thirsteth,” Isa. 55:1).
Jesus often used the picture of a thirsty person to signify what is necessary to receive salvation. Compare John 4:14; 6:35; 7:17. To thirst for salvation means to recognize one’s need for it and to desire it. The individual must acknowledge his guilt before God because of his sin and his inability to pay the sin debt. We see this explained in Christ’s dealing with the woman at the well in John 4. Christ led her to acknowledge her sin and her need for salvation (Joh. 4:15-18).
6. Salvation is free (Isa. 55:1).
Salvation was purchased by Christ as described in Isaiah 53, and it is offered as free gift to sinners.
7. Salvation must be received.
“come” is repeated four times (Isa. 55:1, 3).
Salvation is not universal. There is no automatic salvation for all sinners. Salvation is available for all, but it must be individually received.
The individual must incline the ear and hearken diligently (Isa. 55:3). He must seek the Lord (Isa. 55:6). He must call upon Him (Isa. 55:6). The sinner must be willing to hear the gospel and make an effort to understand it. There is no example in Scripture of someone being saved who didn’t do this. We think of the woman at the well (John 4), the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2), Cornelius (Acts 10), the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:27-39), Lydia (Acts 16:14), the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:29-32), and those who believed Paul’s preaching in Athens (Acts 17:34). In Christ’s Parable of the Sower, those who do not make an effort to understand the Word have it snatched away by the devil (Mt. 13:19).
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