THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD
Isaiah 52:9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. 12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.
In modern day Christendom the subject of “salvation” has become a common subject, lightly esteemed. But at one time even the Lord’s disciples had not the knowledge of salvation as is now revealed. John 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
The Lord has informed us concerning his method of revealing truth into the realm of mankind. And he has given us the sun as the center of our universe as our example. Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. So just as the S-U-N beams its light into our world, so the S-O-N is the light of the world, and the light of life. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Consider also this passage: Matthew 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
And the Apostle Paul sets it forth in his manner: Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Creation was so structured by the Creator as to reveal himself so that every human being is without excuse who does not come to know him! Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Therefore in the dimly lit economy of the Old Testament, or Old Covenant, which was only established upon the blood of animals for the approach to God, we have such revelation as is revealed in our text to set forth “The Salvation of our God.” We have then the sinner set forth in his total depravity in the phrase, “the waste places of Jerusalem.” And yet, this salvation is so certain which the Lord God alone can supply, that he speaks as if it were already accomplished! For he then says, for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. It is so certain that He refers to it in the past tense! Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
And even though it is little esteemed today, it is the most valuable gift ever provided to human kind. Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Here is the passage which our Lord read in his first standing to read in a synagogue, as recorded in Luke 4:18. Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 4 ¶ And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
He was informing all who had spiritual ears to hear that he was the Anointed One sent by God to preach good tidings and to build up those “waste places.” He would do so by binding up the brokenhearted, by proclaiming liberty to the captives, and by the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
For before his coming the earth was without form, and void. Darkness was upon the face of the deep. But he is “God said!” For that Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And by his word light and life appeared! Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Had you never wondered just who that light was that appeared in Genesis 1:3, at the very outset of the first day of creation, when the sun, moon, and stars were not created until the fourth day? Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
And we must have our views widened in order to see the spiritual reality of “Jerusalem.” Consider this passage: Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar (Hagar). 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
The Apostle speaks of the earthly Jerusalem as the Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. That is the Harlot Church of merely organized religion. It only had a “form of godliness,” but was ever “denying the power thereof.” (2 Tim. 3:5) Then he identifies the True Church as the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
And he clearly defines the difference in Hebrews, Chapter twelve. Hebrews 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Now we must take note of that which the Prophet Isaiah writes in the tenth verse of our text. For there he states that the LORD shall uncover and reveal that which had been previously covered in order to bring this salvation to pass. He states, The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. This “holy arm” which was the ‘implement’ to bring salvation had been previously covered! And the only name whereby this was to be accomplished was the Lord Jesus Christ! Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. And He had been, as it were, hidden from all eternity, and manifest in these last times to us. 1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
And just how shall this be accomplished? Isaiah 52:13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. This shall all be accomplished by these three things. First, he shall be exalted. That is, he shall be raised! His resurrection was a most powerful ‘event’ to occur on planet earth! For the regeneration of the soul is but a resurrection from the death of trespasses and sins! And our spiritual resurrection is directly dependent upon His physical resurrection! 2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then we read that he shall be “extolled.” This is the same word translated “Lift up” in Isaiah 51:6. That is, He shall ascend! And his ascension is directly attributed to our salvation! Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
And it is the direct cause of the power of the preaching of the gospel! Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Amen. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And finally our verse states, “and be very high.” That is His enthronement. Just consider all the following things provided by his enthronement. Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
His resurrection, ascension and enthronement provide this salvation of our God!
Pastor Gene Breed
March 31, 2021
