Sermon #235 Series: Isaiah

Title: THE NEW CREATION

Text: Isaiah 65:1-25

Reading: Office: Auditorium:

Subject: The Rejection of the Jews and the Calling of the Gentiles

Date: Sunday Evening - March 24, 1996

Tape # S-38

Introduction:

Turn in your Bibles to Isaiah 65. Tonight we are going to take an overview of these twenty-five verses. In this chapter, the Lord God begins to answer the prayer that is recorded in Isaiah 64. Actually, the prayer begins in chapter sixty-three, at verse fifteen, and runs through chapter sixty-four. This chapter is God’s answer to that prayer.

In this chapter Isaiah, writing by divine inspiration, looks forward to the coming of Christ. He describes the new creation, the new heavens and the new earth, the new order of things and the new world which would begin with the coming of Christ and the accomplishment of redemption by him. Whether Isaiah knew the full meaning of all that he wrote is totally irrelevant. He wrote by divine inspiration; and God the Holy Spirit certainly knew the full meaning of the prophecy which he inspired.

It is a mistake to limit the words of this prophecy to the first advent of Christ; and it is equally a mistake to apply the prophecy only to our Lord’s second advent. The fact is, as we read this chapter, it is obvious that parts of it began to be fulfilled when Christ and his apostles appeared in the earth preaching the gospel of the grace of God. It is in measure being fulfilled today. And it shall be ultimately fulfilled when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Follow me through the chapter. I am sure that you will see its meaning clearly.

Proposition: The thing taught in this chapter is this: God’s kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, made up of chosen sinners from among all the nations of the world, redeemed by the blood of Christ and made new creatures by the grace of God.

As we go through the chapter, I want to call your attention to five things in it.

I. First, we are given a clear revelation of THE FREENESS OF GOD’S SAVING GRACE.

“I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name” (v. 1).

We do not have to guess what this verse refers to. The Holy Spirit tells us plainly that it is talking about the calling of God’s elect from among the Gentile nations. It is a prophecy of our calling and salvation by the grace of God.

· Romans 10:20

· Romans 9:25-26

· Romans 11:25-26

· Ephesians 2:17

· II Corinthians 5:20

· John 16:8-11

II. Second, in verses 2-7, we learn THE CAUSE OF DIVINE REPROBATION.

“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.”

I recognize God’s total, absolute sovereignty in all things. I rejoice in it and preach it constantly. I know that all things in time were predestinated by God from eternity. However, throughout the Scriptures, we are given clear instruction about this matter of divine reprobation and eternal judgment. Reprobation and judgment are not arbitrary acts. God rejects men because they reject him. God’s judgment is executed in response to man’s rebellion.

You who hear the gospel are responsible to believe and obey the gospel. If you refuse to do so, you will answer to God for your rebellion.

· Proverbs 1:23-33

Look at the passage before us. God’s anger was provoked against the Jewish nation because of four things. These four things still provoke him to anger. Those who today do what these people did court the very wrath and judgment of God, both for themselves and for their children.

A. They despised God’s grace (v. 2).

B. They practiced idolatry, while pretending to worship God (v.3).

C. They engaged in witchcraft (v. 4).

D. They were horribly self-righteous (v. 5).

They perished under the wrath of God because they would not confess their sin and be saved by grace alone through the merits of Christ, the sinners’ Substitute.

· Romans 9:30-10:4

III. Third, in verses 8-10, the Spirit of God teaches us THE CAUSE OF GOD’S LONGSUFFERING.

“Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.”

The only reason why God did not totally annihilate the Jewish people when he destroyed their nation was this: He yet has an elect remnant among those people who must be saved. So it is with the whole world. The only reason God does not destroy this world is the fact that he yet has an elect remnant in this world who must and shall be saved by his grace.

· II Peter 3:9, 15

IV. Fourth, verses 11-16 show us THE STARK CONTRAST BETWEEN GOD’S CURSE AND HIS BLESSING UPON MEN IN THIS WORLD.

“But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.”

A. God’s wrath and judgment is always a matter of righteousness and just retribution (vv. 11-12).

B. Though it often appears otherwise, God’s people are, even in this world, blessed; and the wicked are cursed (vv. 13-15).

C. We bless ourselves by believing God, and all who do believe God trace their every blessing to the throne of God from which all the blessings salvation and grace flow (v. 16).

V. Fifth, in the last paragraph of the chapter (vv. 17-25), the Lord God promises and describes THE NEW CREATION.

This new creation began with the coming of Christ, the accomplishment of redemption, and the out-pouring of God’s Spirit by him upon all flesh. It begins in us in the new birth (II Cor. 5:17). It shall be consummated when our God shall make all things new at the last day (Rev. 21:5). Isaiah, by divine inspiration, lumps the whole thing together. That is why this passage is so confusing to many. They try to make everything said here applicable to some future millennial age. That is a mistake. What is said here must be understood spiritually. If you read the passage this way, it makes perfect sense. Here, the Lord tells us four things about his church and kingdom, the church and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A. It is a kingdom of joy because it is established upon the forgiveness of all sin.

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying” (vv. 17-19).

B. It is a kingdom of blessedness because it is a kingdom under the watchful eye and tender care of God himself.

“There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (vv. 20-24).

· Longevity of Life!

· Abundant Provision!

· Blessed Households!

C. It is a kingdom of peace because regenerating grace makes violent rebels to be the children of peace.

“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat” (v. 25).

D. It is a kingdom of blessed safety and security because it is the kingdom of God almighty.

“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD” (v. 24).

Application: We are new creatures in Christ now; but, oh, what a day that will be when our God makes all things new. “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (II Pet. 3:10-14).