As we noted yesterday, there are those who think that they are saved because they did something which was pleasing in God's sight. But it surely is not easy for us to look to Christ as our Savior, if we do not take hold of every word of God concerning Him.
Isaiah points out a very important truth when he asks, "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground" (Is. 53:1, 2).
How can a root that is in dry ground bring forth branches, leaves, and fruit? And, get this: we are a dry land into which Christ came; and we give Him nothing, nothing to help us be saved!
We must take hold of the truth that God gives us through Isaiah. God, mind you, did not bring Christ into being by the work of man. Christ came by a virgin birth. No man planned His coming. No man supplied that which was necessary for His coming. The Son of God came into our flesh. We did not bring Him forth. We could not bring forth a sinless child. Every human father hands down the guilt of Adam to his children. Look up Psalm 14:2, 3 , and I Corinthians 15:22 . We do not simply die physically as Adam did. In him we became spiritually dead, for Adam could not bring forth children with a holy and righteous life.
Although we gave Christ nothing whereby He could save us, God sent Him through a virgin to die in our stead, and to earn everlasting life for us.
Men slew Him physically, thinking that that ended His work; but God used them so that, although we gave Him nothing, He gives us all the blessings of salvation. Behold then the wonder of God's grace and believe that it is God Who saves us through His Son. Believe that report. We gave nothing, but will, by His grace, get everything He earned for us.
Read: Isaiah 53
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Isaiah 25 ; Isaiah 26 ; Isaiah 27 ; Isaiah 28:1-13
Galatians 3:10-22
Psalm 61:1-8
Proverbs 23:17-18
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Quote for Reflection:
The cross was before Him with all its horrors; the joy of returning to the Father was before Him with all its bliss; yet neither the fearful prospect of woe nor the hope of unspeakable rest and gladness shook His love for His own. He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever, therefore His love never varies. He is eternal, therefore has He loved us with an everlasting love. He is Divine, therefore is His love different from all others, passing human knowledge. (Pink)
