Sermon
# 192 Series: Isaiah
Title: Taking Hold of The Covenant
Text: Isaiah 56:4-6
Subject: The Covenant of Grace
Date: Sunday Evening – October 9, 1994
Tape #: Q-54
Introduction:
The Jews had an arrogant, totally
unbiblical assumption that no Gentile could ever stand in a covenant
relationship with God. But in text, Isaiah boldly spake of despised eunuchs and strangers being united with
chose Jews among the people of God (Rom. 10:20). Sinners among the Gentiles, those who appeared to be
shut out from the covenant are here encouraged to take hold of God’s covenant
and join themselves to the Lord by doing so.
Tonight, I want to talk to you about Taking Hold of
The Covenant.
Proposition: It is the privilege of all believers and our highest
comfort and joy to take hold of God’s covenant.
Divisions:
I. What Is This Covenant?
This
is the first question to be settled. We
must know the teaching of Holy Scripture in this regard. Few today understand what God’s covenant is. Consequently, they cannot take hold of
it. To understand
what this covenant is is to hold the key to all theology. Though there are many, many covenants spoken of in
the Word of God, all these covenants between God and man really represent just
one of two covenants. The Old Covenant or the New Covenant, the Covenant of Works or the Covenant of Grace, the Covenant God made with Adam or the Covenant God made with Christ.
A. The First Covenant Revealed in
The Bible is The Covenant of Works That God Made With Adam in The Garden.
The
Lord God made Adam the covenant head and representative, the substitute for all
men, and gave him a covenant of works – “This do and live” (Gen. 2:15-17).
Note: Not that the law was given as a way of life, but to
show us the impossibility of salvation by the works of man.
3. All who hope to
be accepted before God and saved on the basis of their works are cursed and will perish under
the wrath of God – (Gal. 3:10) - “By the deeds of the law
shall no flesh be justified!”
“Vain are the hopes the sons
of men
On their own works have built;
Their hearts by nature are
unclean,
And all their actions guilt.
Let Jew and Gentile stop their
mouths
Without a murmuring word;
And the whole race of Adam
stand
Guilty before the Lord.
In vain we ask God’s righteous
law
To justify us now;
Since to convince and to
condemn
Is all the law can do!”
B. But blessed be the name of the
Lord, There is Another Covenant.
The
second covenant spoken of in the Scriptures is the covenant made with Christ on
behalf of God’s elect before the World began.
In that covenant Christ, as our Surety, promised to…
We
rejoice to know that he did it! He has
redeemed us. And he will bring all his
redeemed ones home to glory! (Heb. 7:22; Matt. 1:21).
“Jesus, how glorious is thy
grace!
When in Thy name we trust,
Our faith receives a
righteousness
That makes the sinner just!”
II. How Can I Take Hold of This
Covenant?
Our text speaks of taking hold of the covenant. I take that to mean that we are to, by one means or another, claim the covenant and appropriate its blessings and benefits to ourselves. But how can I do that?
A. I must turn Loose of The
Covenant Works!
“Nothing in my hands I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling!
Naked come to Thee for dress,
Helpless look to Thee for
grace!”
B. Initially, We Take Hold of The
Covenant by Believing Christ.
C. But having come to Christ,
having trusted him, still we must Take Hold of The Covenant and Appropriate to
ourselves, by every means possible, everything in the covenant.
Illus: An Insect, or Worm Clinging to
A Plant
III. What Is There In The Covenant
For Me To Take Hold Of?
Time
will not permit me to elaborate on this point, to tell even what I know. And I know that there is much more in the
covenant that I do not know then there is that I know. But here are seven things I know I can lay hold upon in
the covenant of grace. I hope you can
too.
A. Complete Atonement (Rom. 5:11).
B. Perfect Righteousness (II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 10:4; Jer. 23:6).
· Righteousness Finished (John 17:4).
· Redemption Finished (John 18:30).
C. Divine Providence (Rom. 8:28).
D. Unfailing Intercession (I John 2:12).
E. Divine Protection (Isa. 54:17). (God’s Presence, God’s Help, God’s Grace)
F. Divine Preservation (John 10:28; Phil. 1:6).
G. Heavenly Glory (Rom. 8:17).
IV. When Should I Take Hold of God’s Covenant?
A. When I need Grace!
B. When I need Help!
· In Service.
· In Temptation.
· In Trial.
C. When I need Comfort!
· In the Teeth of Sin!
· In the Teeth of Trouble!
D. When I am Leaving This World (II Sam. 23:5).
V. Why Should I Take Hold of The Covenant?
Let me put the question to you another way – Why shouldn’t you take hold of the covenant?
A. Many others just like you have done so.
· Self-righteous Pharises!
· Condemned Theives!
· Demon Possessed Men!
· Harlots!
· Blasphemers!
· Fornicators!
B. Of All The Vast Multitudes Who Have Come To
Christ, There Has Never Been One Who Was Rejected by Him.
“Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out!”
C. You are exactly the kind of person for whom
the covenant was made.
The fountain has been opened for sinners and unclean folk (Zech. 13:1).
D. There is nothing else for you to take hold
of!
Illus: Voltaire’s Son. “There’s nothing to hold on to!”
Application:
1. There is a Covenant of Grace.
2. All for whom that covenant was made and fulfilled shall be saved.
3. If you would be saved, you must take hold on God’s covenant.
4. If you take hold of the covenant by faith, by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are saved and all the blessings and benefits of the covenant are yours!