Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleNewness of Life
Bible TextIsaiah 55:12-13
Synopsis When God gives life and faith by his word, bringing us to believe Christ, all things become new for the believer. Listen.
Date28-Sep-2014
Series Isaiah 2008
Article Type Sermon Notes
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: Newness of Life (32 kbps)
Audio CD Quality Listen: Newness of Life (128 kbps)
Length 38 min.
 

Series: Isaiah
Title: Newness of Life
Text: Isaiah 55: 12-13
Date: September 26, 28, 2014
Place: FFF; SGBC, New Jersey

 

Isaiah 55: 1: Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2: Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3: Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4: Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5: Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6: Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10: For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 

When God gives life and faith by his word, bringing us to believe Christ, all things become new for the believer.

 

NEW LIBERTY

 

First, newness of life begins with us being delivered from bondage into liberty, “For ye shall go out with joy…” (Is 55: 12)

 

Imagine being taken captive by a foreign country.  Your freedom to move about is confined to only what your captors will alllow.  You cannot escape.  You have no freedom. You are in bondage. The children of Israel sinned against God so God justly turned them over to a foreign country. They were slaves in Babylon

 

It pictures every sinner. We are born into this world in bondage because of Adam’s transgression: we are under the curse of the law; we are under the devils bondage     ; our nature of sin keeps us in bondage; we are under the bondage of death. There is no way we can free ourselves.

 

For the children of Israel, God sent forth a redeemer, named Cyrus. Cyrus defeated Babylon. Cyrus redeemed the children of Israel out of bondage.

 

It pictures how, for God’s people, God the Father sent forth his Son, the Lord Jesus.  Christ redeemed all his people out of bondage by laying down his life on the cross. Concerning the curse of the law, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” (Gal 3: 13) Concerning the devils bondage, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb 2: 14-15)

Concerning our bondage to our sin-nature—God gave Christ the honor of sending forth this gospel. The gospel you hear now is being preached to you because Christ sent it for this hour.

 

In days before modern communication—when a war ended, the way the people were informed is by a herald.  They sent someone through the country declaring, “The war is over. The enemy is defeated!” That is what the preaching of the gospel is. That is what God’s word declares in the heart of his people

 

The reason God’s gospel does not return unto him void is because as his people hear this message, Christ comes into the heart in Spirit; then there is a new life in you; then you hear Christ speaking in this word; then you begin to believe him.

 

You believe him as Christ speaks into your heart saying, “to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves.” (Is 49: 9) He says, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” (Is 43: 1) He says, your “warfare is accomplished, your iniquity is pardoned: you have received of the LORD’S hand double for all your sins.”

 

Then, through faith in Christ, you “Go out with joy!” Free from the curse of the law, free from Satan’s bondage, delivered from the dominion of your old sin-nature and the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death—you have eternal life. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (Jn 8: 36)  Then you go out—delivered, redeemed, set free. You go out—with joy! “We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Rom 5: 11)  “The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Rom 15: 13)

 

Have you heard Christ’s voice in your heart?  Has the Spirit of Christ brought you to believe on him?  Do you know this joy of being set free from the bondage of corruption? Of being reconciled to God?  How do I know? “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Rom 10: 11) We know we are his because we return unto the Lord by faith in Christ.  God said, “the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” (Is 51: 11)

 

NEW LEADER

 

Secondly, newness of life is to now be under a new leader, “and be led forth with peace.” (Is 55: 12)

 

Who is this Peace which leads the believer out of bondage to his heavenly city? It is Christ the Prince of Peace, the LORD our Righteousness. “Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.” (Is 55: 4)

 

Jeremiah 23: 6: In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7: Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; 8: But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

 

The Lord Jesus promises to lead his dear children along. His people are his sheep and he is our Shepherd, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Is 40: 11)  Christ promises, “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” (Is 42: 16) Our Leader promises, “They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.” (Is 49: 9-11)

 

Christ leads every belever by the Spirit of God in our hearts, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Rom 8: 14-15) And Christ leads us using his under-shepherds which merely point us to Christ in the gospel we preach.

 

And believers are led forth with peace in our hearts because “being justified, by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5: 1)  We are no longer enemies with God but friends; we are righteous in Christ; we are holy in Christ with Christ in us; we are ccepted of God in Christ; therefore we have peace with God!

 

NEW GLORY

 

Thirdly, newness of life is to behold Christ’s glory, “the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Is 55: 12)

 

There is great rejoicing when God saves a sinner. Christ said, “joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.” (Lu 15: 7) His preachers rejoice. Nothing rejoices my heart like seeing God work effectually through his word in saving one he loved from eternity.  Brethren, rejoice!

 

But not only this, you begin to see, in all of God’s creation, the glory of the Lord Jesus, “the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Is 55: 12)  For the first time we behold that “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Ps 19: 1)

 

Throughout the scriptures, everything in God’s creation is used as a metaphor to describe Christ and the blessings we have in him. When you see the sun rise “as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber” then you think of Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousness. (Ps 19: 5; Mal 4: 2) He is the Bridegroom, we his bride. (Eph 5: 24-32)

 

As the day progresses and you see the sun, “rejoice as a strong man to run a race; His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it” (Ps 19: 5) then you are reminded of Christ, the Strong Man, who ran his race, “who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12: 2)

 

When you see the rain and snow of winter then you see the tender bud spring forth in the spring—we are reminded of this 55th chapter, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Is 55: 10-11)

 

When you plant the little seed in your garden, you remember Christ’s description of his great sacrifice for us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (Jn 12: 24)

 

There are too many to name: the cloud, the rainbow, the wind blowing where it will. Here is the point: all around us, we see Christ’s glory, “the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

 

It makes you feel sorry for those who pass through this life rejecting Christ, opposing themselves, forsaking their own mercy.  They never behold Christ’s glory and peace and joy. Sinner, don’t miss out!  Believe on Christ and you will behold the glory of Christ. The Lord Jesus said to Martha, “if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (Jn 11: 40)

 

NEW CREATURE

 

Fourthly, newness of life makes the believer a new creature, “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree.” (Is 55: 13)

 

All we were and all we brought forth while dead in sins was thorns and briars. Thorns and briars are emblems of the curse of sin. In the day God pronounced the curse upon Adam he spoke of thorns and briars, “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen 3: 17-19)

 

Thorns and briars are useless. They are fruitless—a waste of the ground and rain and snow: the same rain falling on thorns produces nothing, while it produces fruit when it falls on the wheat. Thorns and briars are hurtful—like the crown upon our Savior’s brow. Thorns and briars describe all sinners are in our flesh and all that we brought forth, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5: 19-21) In the day of judgment, “The Holy One shall be for a flame: and shall burn and devour the thorns and briers in one day.” (Is 10: 17)

 

But the fir tree and the myrtle are emblems of pleasant, fruitful, useful trees. That is what the believer is. By God’s grace, “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree.” The fir tree and myrtle tree are symbols of fruitful, fragrant, good trees, a believer made new by grace.  Listen to this newness of life, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal 5: 22-23) Believers are not without the sin of our old fleshly nature. Nothing has been done to the old man.  But we are new in the new man. That is why Paul said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5: 17-18)

 

NEW GLORYING

 

Lastly, God creates us in newness of life to give God all the glory, “and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Is 55: 13)

 

When you hear religious folks speaking of themselves, it is just the opposite of what God works in this new creation. His work “shall be to the LORD for a name!” His people are called by his name, we bear his name and we praise only his name!

 

His work “shall be for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” His people are a monument of his love, grace, power, and faithfulness. The church and people of God shall not be cut off. God will have a people to serve him and praise him and give his Son all Preeminence forever!

 

What assurance we have that this word shall never return to God void but shall accomplish the thing whereunto he sent it!

 

Amen!