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ISAIAH: GOD'S DIRECTIVES TO THOSE TROUBLED AT GOVERNMENTAL APOSTASY
Part XLII: God's Predicted Salvation Of Souls In The World By Grace Through The Messiah
(Isaiah 55:1-13)
  1. Introduction
    1. The historic Christian faith holds that, to have eternal life, one must believe alone in Christ alone as His Savior from sin to be given eternal life from God, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; John 3:16.
    2. This belief that God's salvation is a GIFT to the undeserving sinner apart from human merit makes Christianity unique among the world's religions, and it gives critics cause to challenge the faith's validity.
    3. One of the greatest evidences for the divine VALIDITY of this Christian Gospel of God's grace is found outside of the New Testament itself: it comes from the Hebrew Old Testament book of Isaiah, a book we know by archaeological evidence existed hundreds of years before Jesus of Nazareth was born!
    4. We view that Gospel as foretold in that Old Testament book for verification of the Christian Gospel:
  2. God's Predicted Salvation Of Souls In The World By Grace Through The Messiah, Isaiah 55:1-13.
    1. The book of Isaiah existed at least hundreds of years BEFORE Jesus of Nazareth was BORN, for the complete Isaiah scroll discovered at Qumran near the Dead Sea in 1947 is dated by experts to be penned in 150 B. C., cf. Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, vol. Three, p. 321. [We hold this scroll was a copy from a line of copies of an original work penned by Isaiah circa. 700 B. C., Ibid., p. 316-317.]
    2. As such, the prediction of the gospel of salvation by grace through Israel's personal Messiah, a salvation that would extend to mankind throughout the world as given in Isaiah 55:1-13, shows the validity of the Christian Gospel of Jesus Christ to come hundreds of years later as follows:
      1. Long before Jesus of Nazareth was born, the Hebrew prophet, Isaiah predicted God would offer salvation as a gift apart from human wealth or work, Isaiah 55:1-2a.
      2. Indeed, long before Jesus came, God predicted through the Hebrew prophet, Isaiah that this salvation would satisfy the inner man's cravings for fulfillment, Isaiah 55:2b.
      3. Long before Jesus' era, God predicted through Isaiah that this salvation would be a new covenant that would be as enduring as His covenant with David, Isaiah 55:3; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV , ftn. to 55:3.
      4. Then, through Isaiah and long before Jesus' birth, God predicted He would make the Hebrew Messiah a Savior of this salvation to the inner man for individuals who were Gentiles, Isaiah 55:4-5:
        1. The KJV words translated "people" in Isaiah 55:4 are actually plural in the Hebrew text (umim), so they should read, "peoples ", Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 686; E. J. Young, Isaiah, vol. III, p. 378.
        2. Isaiah 55:5 reveals these peoples included Gentile groups that had not previously been related to Him, and that they would "run to" the Hebrew Messiah since God had glorified Him. [This is now being fulfilled as men are trusting in Christ throughout the world after His death and resurrection.]
      5. This salvation would abundantly come upon even pagans when they turned from sin and called upon the Lord, Isa. 55:6-7. [Note how this prediction matches Paul's teaching in Romans 10:9-10.]
      6. Isaiah predicted God's grace to save man so extensively this way was so great that those reading Isaiah's prophecy in his era would not be able to fathom it, Isaiah 55:8-9. [The fact that Hebrews especially balked at the Christian Gospel in the book of Acts is proof of this statement! (cf. Acts 15)]
      7. This salvation Gospel of Messiah, going out from God, would blossom into salvation for man that was so refreshing, it would be likened to lands that blossom with plant life after rain, Isaiah 55:10-11. [Each of us who has trusted in Christ can witness to the truth of this fact in our own experience!]
      8. Blessings to come on the earth due to this salvation during the coming Messianic Kingdom are briefly described in Isaiah 55:12-13: there we note the Adamic curse that came on nature when Adam fell will be removed (Isa. 55:12-13a), and that to the glory of God's reputation as a Gracious God, Isa. 55:13b.
Lesson: Christ's salvation by grace through faith in Him was PREDICTED to be a WORLDWIDE salvation Gospel to ALL nations back in Isaiah 55. Thus, the Christian faith's GOSPEL of SALVATION is VERIFIED by Old Testament prophecy made long before the birth of Jesus Christ!

Application: (1) May we REST in the VALIDITY of our Savior's GOSPEL of SALVATION due to this evidence from OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY. (2) May we REST in the VALIDITY of our Savior's GOSPEL of SALVATION due to its SUBJECTIVE EFFECTS in our OWN lives TODAY!