Date: Friday, August 01, 2014
Today's Chapters: Isaiah 42-45
Message Title: To Know God

Religions all over the world claim they know God, they follow all sorts of rules, do all kinds of things, pray, read some sort of book, and even cry out to Him. Sadly, all these works mean nothing to God, in fact, many are down right horrendous to Him, if anything, all they are doing is sending people straight to hell. To know God we need to know Jesus Christ, if we do not know Him, than no amount of praying, crying out to God, or reading even the Bible will get His attention. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.

This is not something new, even before Jesus came to earth in the flesh, people, Jews and Gentiles (those not of Israel) alike have been told of heaven and hell and the one and only Savior who could redeem them. Through Isaiah, God reminds Israel that He will send a Redeemer to save all who believe in Him, not just the Jews, but Gentiles as well. “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.” - Isaiah 42:1-4,13-15.

No one escapes judgment, not one, every person who rejects God's Son, who's soul He delights in, rejects God, and if they reject God they face His judgment. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” - Matthew 10:32-34.

Once again, this is not something new or just for those who have been born after Jesus ascended back to heaven. Through Isaiah, God reminds Israel that He created them and they are His people, but He was not talking about all of Israel, only those who believe in Him. “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” - Isaiah 43:1-7.

The Holy One of Israel, Jesus Christ, our Savior, our God, one person in the same, is the only one who can redeem us, He did not come here just for the Jews, He came here for all who believe in Him. Through Isaiah, God reminds them that if they do not call upon Him they too will not be saved. “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.” - Isaiah 43:11-15,22.

Many Jews make the mistake of believing that because they are Jews they are automatically saved. This is false, and God confirmed this. We are not saved by race, religion, or deeds, we are saved by the shed blood of the Lord, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for all who believe in Him. It does not matter who we are, we all face the same judgment, anyone who rejects Jesus will not be saved. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.” - John 8:34-38.

Christians are not off the hook, just because they have received Jesus as their Savior and are no longer bound for hell, that does not mean we are free to do as we please and face no consequences for it. To be free means to be saved, to be redeemed, not by any other means than by Jesus Christ Himself. Through Isaiah, God reminds Israel, and everyone else that we are not redeemed by our goodness. “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.” - Isaiah 45:5-7,11-13.

Okay, so, it may seem a little unbelievable that God and Jesus can be one person, but think about it this way. If God loved us so much that no amount of works on our part can save us, why would He use any other person, but Himself as a sacrifice? No amount of good can save us, and that is why He gave His own life for us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” - John 3:16-18.

Today's Prayer: God, In a world full of false religion it is comforting to know that no religion or even race can save me from my sins. You alone, came here in the form of Your Son, Jesus Christ to redeem all who believe in Him, and that is enough for me. I am one of Yours because I believe in Your Son, and while I know nothing I do on this earth can save me, I do want to live me life through Your Son as a way to thank You for making such a great sacrifice. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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