Isaiah 55, The Power of the Cross (3)

The Language of the Marketplace (Redemption)

·       The sinner is enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:17; 7:14).

·       There is redemption in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24).  In other words, He is our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30).

·       The cross is where the redemption (the ransom) was paid.  The price was the blood of the sinless One.  In Him we have redemption through His blood (Eph. 1:7).

·       The choice is always a choice of faith in Christ.  But that choice becomes our “lifestyle,” not just a one-time act.  We were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Cor. 6:20).

The Language of Wrath (Propitiation)

·       The sinners are by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2:3).  We were in need of propitiation, someone to satisfy God’s righteous wrath.

·       The Savior had to made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people (Heb. 2:17).  He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2). 

·       It was on the cross that Jesus was set forth by His Father as a propitiation by His blood (Rom. 3:25).

·       The choice is one of faith.  The propitiation is through faith (Rom. 3:25).  He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (Jn. 3:36).

The Language of the Courtroom (Justification)

·       The sinner has no righteous standing before God.  They are all under sin.  As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:9-10).

·       The Savior fully satisfied the righteous demands of the law (Rom. 8:1-4).  Therefore He became the LORD our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).

·       Again, this legal agreement was secured at the cross: having now been justified by His blood (Rom. 5:9).

·       The choice is one of faith.  It cannot be by our works, our accomplishment, but must trust the Savior and His work on the cross.  A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law (Rom. 3:28).  But to him who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, His faith is counted for righteousness (Ro. 4:5).