[ ] 7/19/2015 #1116 GRACE OF SALVATION Isaiah 55:1-7

INTRODUCTION: Jesus did not come into this world to condemn sinners. Jesus came to invite sinners to come to Him and have life everlasting. In order to save the lost, Jesus had to die on the cross. A. W. Tozer wrote: “The cross is the lightning rod of grace that short-circuits God’s wrath to Christ so that only the light of His love remains for believers.”

I. GRACE IS AVAILABLE A. INVITATION FROM GOD. (v. 1) "every one that thirsteth" (Titus 2:11 The word "Ho" is the prophet calling with a message from God. It is a message of divine importance. The God of creation is sending forth an invitation to all who thirst and hunger for salvation.

God's invitation is for the Jew and Gentile alike. His grace is sufficient enough to save all who will come to Him in faith.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." (Titus 2:11 KJV)

Jesus said: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 KJV)

Again Jesus said: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." (John 7:37 KJV)

B. ILLUSTRATION OF GRACE. (V. 1-2) What is grace? How do you explain what grace is? There are not enough words in all the human languages to express the full meaning of God's amazing grace. Isaiah helps us to some degree to understand grace.

Picture a store owner standing at the door of his store inviting hungry and thirsty customers to come in and buy wine and milk. The only problem is that the customers have no money.

The poor customers have nothing to pay with. The store owner offers them the wine and milk free of charge. They can take as much as they need.

The owner of the store pays for the items himself. It costs him to be a blessing to these people.

Think of the store owner as Jesus. He invites all to come and buy wine and milk without price. Jesus doesn't offer things that are temporal. What He offers are spiritual blessings that last for eternity.

The word "waters" speaks of what is essential for life. We have to have water to have life. "Waters" in the plural refers to the abundance of its supply.

"Wine" is used in Scripture as a symbol of joy. The world looks to find happiness in alcohol or drugs; the Christian finds joy in the Holy Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." (Galatians 5:22 KJV)

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:17 KJV)

"Milk" refers to that which provides nourishment and growth. Peter exhorted the Christian: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:2 KJV) The waters speak of the Holy Spirit, the wine of the joy of salvation and the milk of the Word of God. These three gifts of grace are freely bestowed without money and without price to all who will receive the gift of salvation.

Isaiah rebukes the foolishness of spending money for those things which do not satisfy. People work hard trying to find joy and happiness in this world. They long for something to satisfy their souls. They spend money for that which is not bread. They are deceived in believing in the wrong things. Their souls thirst for meaning and purpose. They look to the world rather than to God. Misery and pain become the fruit of their choices.

Jesus said: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." If your soul is thirsting for peace with God, come to Jesus. Salvation is free because of the price Jesus paid on the cross.

Isaiah wrote: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isa. 53:4-5)

II. GRACE ACCEPTED A. MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY. 1. Hearing the invitation. (v. 3) "Incline you ear" An often repeated warning from Jesus was, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 11:15 KJV) The person who has ears to hear will respond in obedience to what God has spoken. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)

We are saved by faith. (Eph. 2:8-9) Faith starts at the hearing of the Word of God. "So, then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17) Man's responsibility is to hear the Word of God and act upon what he has heard.

Spiritual life begins at the moment of salvation. Spiritual growth continues the rest of our lives. In Mark 4:24, Jesus said: "Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given." (Mark 4:24 KJV) When we hear the Word of God and receive it into our hearts, God will give us more spiritual understanding and a deeper intimacy with Him.

2. Coming to the Lord. (v. 3) "come unto me" Man's responsibility is to come to Jesus by faith. Jesus said, "him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)

A refusal to come to Christ is to damn one's soul to hell. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." (John 5:39-40 KJV)

God made an everlasting covenant with David. It continues through Jesus Christ. When we come to Jesus by grace through faith, we become partakers of the "everlasting covenant." God showed great mercy to David when he had sinned. He was guilty of murder and adultery, but God forgave him and blessed him. Like David, we can have the sure mercies of God.

3. Come without delay. (v. 6) The prophet stressed the urgency to come to God while He can be found. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Sinful man must seek the Lord when He is near. This means to draw near to God while He is dealing with your heart. Jesus said in John 6:44 that "No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him." Zacchaeus "sought to see Jesus . . . for he was to pass that way." (Luke 19:1-10) Zacchaeus had climbed up into a sycamore tree so he could get a better view of Jesus. When Jesus passed near the sycamore tree, He looked up and called Zacchaeus by his name. Zacchaeus got saved that day. He was thirsting for God and Jesus knew it.

If Zacchaeus had no desire to see Jesus that day, He may not have had another opportunity to be saved.

Jesus may be passing your way today. Your failure to call upon Him while He is near could be your last chance to be saved.

B. MAN'S REPENTANCE. (v. 7)) Repentance is absolutely essential for salvation. Jesus said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3, 5)

When a person truly repents, he will turn from his own way and turn to go God's way. The Bible says that we all have sinned and come short to the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) We all are wicked and unrighteous. When we repent, we forsake our wicked ways and forsake our unrighteous thoughts.

III. GRACE ABOUNDING A. LIFE ETERNAL. "your soul shall live" The person who will accept God's grace "shall live." Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10 KJV)

Paul wrote that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." (Romans 5:20 KJV) We see in verse 7 that the person who turns to the LORD will find mercy and God will abundantly pardon.

B. LIMITLESS SUPPLY. Astronomers have looked into the universe as far as they can see, some 6 billion trillion miles. All they see are more galaxies. There is no evidence the universe has an end. So is the infinite grace of God. We will never exhaust God's grace

God's grace is sufficient for our daily needs. We draw from the limitless supply of grace. God's mercies are new every morning and His grace is everlasting. We will spend eternity discovering the boundless provision of God's grace. Thanks be unto God for His limitless supply of His grace.

Conclusion: These verses contain the gospel of grace for sinners so they can be saved. If you are without Christ in your life, you are lost. Should you die in this condition, you will be forever separated from God. If you will receive God's invitation of grace and trust Jesus as your Savior, you can be saved today. If you are thirsting to know God and have a new life, accept His invitation.

These verses also include an appeal to the backslider. If the backslider will repent and return to God, he can be restored in his walk with God.

These verses should remind us all what Paul said of himself: "But by the grace of God I am what I am." (1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV)

How amazing it is to be a recipient of God's grace and the object of His eternal love.