WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.980 Well, let's open up our Bibles once more to Isaiah chapter 55. 00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:13.580 Isaiah chapter 55. We took a one-week hiatus, a little detour in Deuteronomy last week, 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:19.699 but we're back to Isaiah chapter 55, and we're going to focus in on verses 8 and 9 this morning. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:23.400 So Isaiah chapter 55, verses 8 and 9. 00:00:23.399 --> 00:00:30.640 But for the sake of context, I'm going to begin reading in verse 6 all the way through verse 9. 00:00:30.739 --> 00:00:34.039 So Bibles open. Follow along with me as I read. 00:00:38.179 --> 00:00:44.239 Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. 00:00:45.099 --> 00:00:49.200 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:57.620 Let him return to the Lord that he may have compassion on him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:04.640 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 00:01:05.240 --> 00:01:13.540 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 00:01:13.820 --> 00:01:15.159 Let's pray once more. 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:21.739 Lord, we praise you for your unfailing word. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:27.780 It's powerful when we open it up, when we read it, when we seek to understand it by the help of your spirit. 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:35.280 And so we pray now that as we spend the next bit of our time together, Lord, unpacking this passage, 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:41.620 would you give us eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts that would rejoice at the truth that we see. 00:01:42.179 --> 00:01:44.439 We pray this in Christ's name. Amen. 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:56.359 Well, it may be hard to believe, but the numbers will show that most Americans say that they believe in God. 00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:03.179 In fact, almost every poll that I've seen, Gallup, Pew Research, Lifeway, they all do these polls. 00:02:03.179 --> 00:02:11.599 They all say that over 80% of Americans will say that they believe in God. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:19.359 But when you dig a little bit into their responses, sadly, the truth starts to come out. 00:02:19.359 --> 00:02:27.639 You start to see that they may believe in a God, but they have no idea who he is. 00:02:28.780 --> 00:02:36.959 And perhaps a better question in our day and in our time than do you believe in God might be, do you believe in sin? 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:41.820 Lifeway published a study in 2016. 00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:47.620 That's just six years ago now, but I don't think much has changed in a positive direction since then. 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:53.140 And in that study, over 80% of Americans said that they believe in God. 00:02:53.200 --> 00:02:54.600 And that was the headline. 00:02:54.740 --> 00:02:55.460 Good news. 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:57.140 Everybody believes in God. 00:02:57.540 --> 00:03:03.760 And that may sound good, but then again, you keep on digging and it gets a little bit more concerning. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:04.719 Here's what it says. 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:16.280 Two-thirds, 65%, agreed that everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature. 00:03:17.359 --> 00:03:22.180 A few Americans seem to think that most sins put them in spiritual danger. 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:32.659 Three-quarters, 74% of Americans disagreed with the idea that even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation. 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:38.599 That includes almost two-thirds, 62%, who strongly disagreed. 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:54.419 And even amongst those who believe in the concept of sin, most replied that they simply work on themselves, try to better themselves, rather than rely on Jesus Christ to free them from their sin. 00:03:54.419 --> 00:04:08.879 Now, in other words, according to this survey from Lifeway, most Americans, if you ask them, would say that if there is a God, then he must approve of what I do, must approve of who I am. 00:04:08.939 --> 00:04:10.379 He must think like me. 00:04:10.459 --> 00:04:11.799 He must act like me. 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:14.419 He must be just like me. 00:04:14.419 --> 00:04:15.139 Me. 00:04:15.139 --> 00:04:26.800 In short, they do not grasp the holiness of God, the depth of our sin, and our desperate need for God's mercy. 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:36.979 Without this fundamental understanding of who we are and who God is, of course, there is no need for repentance. 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:44.660 Throughout our passage, Isaiah chapter 55, Isaiah has been speaking to sinners. 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:48.340 And he's been calling them to repentance, inviting them. 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:51.720 The Israelites have been exiled for their sin. 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:53.500 They are out of their land. 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:58.819 They're enduring punishment from the hand of a holy God for their sin against the Lord. 00:04:58.900 --> 00:05:00.740 But yet he offers them hope. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:02.860 You remember this from a couple of weeks ago. 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:06.060 Isaiah 55, verses 6 and 7, it says, 00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:08.160 Seek the Lord while he may be found. 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:10.480 Call upon him while he is near. 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:12.879 Let the wicked forsake his way. 00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:13.580 That's repentance. 00:05:14.139 --> 00:05:16.199 And the unrighteous man, his thoughts. 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:20.080 This was a call for total repentance. 00:05:20.280 --> 00:05:23.560 And we saw one main reason why in verse 7. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:23.900 It says, 00:05:23.900 --> 00:05:30.939 God will abundantly pardon any sinner who comes to him in faith. 00:05:30.939 --> 00:05:38.899 But this morning, in our verses, verses 8 and 9, we're going to see another reason that Isaiah gives us to repent. 00:05:39.180 --> 00:05:41.680 And this is a bigger reason. 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:50.139 It's a foundational reason that undergirds and supports this call for repentance and God's eagerness to forgive. 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:51.459 And it's simply this. 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:54.879 God is not like us. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:00.399 God is not like us. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:04.060 And so this morning, if you're a note taker, this is our outline. 00:06:04.159 --> 00:06:05.959 We're going to see that in two ways here. 00:06:06.039 --> 00:06:08.120 This is two reasons to repent. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.739 Isaiah gives us two reasons to repent. 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:12.639 This is our outline. 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:14.079 If you're a note taker, I encourage you. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:15.379 It'll help you to follow along. 00:06:15.979 --> 00:06:16.620 Isaiah says, 00:06:17.159 --> 00:06:22.259 First, repent because God is far holier than us. 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:31.060 And second, repent because God is far more merciful than us. 00:06:31.539 --> 00:06:33.219 Two reasons to repent. 00:06:33.399 --> 00:06:36.159 One, because God is far holier than us. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:42.000 And two, because God is far more merciful than us. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:49.740 First, we should repent of our sin because God is far holier than us. 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:50.899 Look again to verse 7. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:51.980 Isaiah says, he says, 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:56.300 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.040 And then verse 8, he says, 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:09.040 In other words, Isaiah says that if we are to come to the Lord, 00:07:09.140 --> 00:07:16.300 we need to recognize that there is a gap between our thoughts and our ways 00:07:16.300 --> 00:07:20.120 and the Lord's thoughts and the Lord's ways. 00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:21.700 Our ways are wicked. 00:07:22.140 --> 00:07:23.420 They need forsaking. 00:07:23.580 --> 00:07:25.560 But his ways are holy. 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:28.459 God never needs to apologize. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.780 He never needs to forsake any of his ways. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:34.959 He never needs to try again. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:43.480 Every one of his ways for all of eternity has always been right and good and true. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:47.819 You and I, we can hardly go five seconds without making some sort of mistake, 00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:49.480 without sinning against the Lord. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:54.000 And Isaiah says that our thoughts are wicked. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:57.980 Though maybe we can, from the outside, deceive one another 00:07:57.980 --> 00:08:01.920 and make ourselves look presentable and better than we actually are. 00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:07.980 But our internal life, our internal thoughts, our internal wickedness, it accuses us. 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:13.759 Isaiah says our plans and our motives, our intentions, our thoughts are wicked. 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:16.300 And God sees them all. 00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:23.480 But the thoughts and the plans and the motives and the intentions of God are pure. 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:26.040 They're right and they're perfect. 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:30.300 He has never thought a wrong thought and never planned a poor plan. 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:33.779 There is nothing impure or wrong in him whatsoever. 00:08:34.560 --> 00:08:37.500 And the biblical word for this is holiness. 00:08:38.779 --> 00:08:39.759 It's holiness. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:43.360 And this is Christianity 101. 00:08:43.819 --> 00:08:45.580 God is holy and we are not. 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:49.279 There is a gap here between him and us. 00:08:49.319 --> 00:08:53.340 And you might be prompted to ask, well, how much holier is he than us? 00:08:54.179 --> 00:08:55.799 How big is that gap? 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:57.419 How far does it expand? 00:08:58.740 --> 00:09:02.439 You know, there's several good illustrations that I've learned over the years 00:09:02.439 --> 00:09:04.939 of how to explain and illustrate the gospel. 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:09.460 And one of them is a tool that I learned in college called the bridge diagram. 00:09:09.880 --> 00:09:12.940 I wonder, you may be familiar with what I'm talking about here. 00:09:13.760 --> 00:09:20.400 You take a sheet of paper or a napkin or whatever you have nearby and you draw two cliffs. 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:25.200 One on the left side of the paper, one on the right side of the paper. 00:09:25.660 --> 00:09:30.380 And in between is this gap, this unbridgeable gap. 00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:36.059 And you're taught, as you're taught to present this, to write Romans 6.23 up on top of the page, 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:45.820 which says, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:53.419 So on the left side is man with all of his wages, which is sin and death and separation. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:56.860 And on the right side over here is God and his holiness. 00:09:56.860 --> 00:10:03.460 And this gap is meant to illustrate the separation that has taken place because of our sin. 00:10:03.560 --> 00:10:06.259 And of course, what is there to bridge the gap? 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:10.620 It's the free gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:10:10.680 --> 00:10:14.940 And so you draw a cross there that forms a bridge to bridge the gap. 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:17.100 That's why they call it the bridge diagram. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:18.800 It's an excellent illustration. 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:20.659 I use it all the time. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:22.420 I have one problem with it. 00:10:23.620 --> 00:10:25.159 It is not drawn to scale. 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:32.480 This gap between us and God cannot fit on a napkin. 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:38.100 You cannot peer across it and just see God on the other side. 00:10:38.459 --> 00:10:49.439 The distance between our wickedness and God's holiness is infinite, is far, far greater than you and I tend to realize. 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:51.939 Look there to verse 9 with me. 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:54.260 Isaiah says, 00:10:54.260 --> 00:11:05.540 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 00:11:05.780 --> 00:11:09.780 As high as the heavens are from the earth. 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:15.760 In other words, Isaiah is saying this is an immeasurable difference. 00:11:16.640 --> 00:11:18.680 An infinite distance. 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:25.679 When you go outside and you stand with your feet on the ground and you look up into the sky, how far up does it go? 00:11:26.739 --> 00:11:27.659 You don't know. 00:11:28.439 --> 00:11:28.939 I don't know. 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:30.500 We can't measure it. 00:11:30.579 --> 00:11:34.859 We can't comprehend how vast and high and measureless the heavens go. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:41.179 You've probably made the same mistake that I have before, and you've let a balloon go out into the wind. 00:11:41.179 --> 00:11:45.199 A gust of wind comes by, you're holding a balloon, and whoosh, off it goes. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:51.939 And you follow it as far as your eyes can follow it until it just is a little speck on the horizon, and then it's gone. 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:56.180 God says, keep going. 00:11:56.620 --> 00:12:07.320 Beyond that, my ways and my thoughts are even higher and even greater and even further, even more incomprehensible than this. 00:12:07.420 --> 00:12:13.020 God is holy, holy, holy, and we are not. 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:20.699 And until we grasp this, friend, we cannot come to him. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:32.079 Until the weight of this gap between us and God becomes clear to us in our heart, we cannot be saved. 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:40.579 Until we recognize that God is holy and we are not, we cannot be saved. 00:12:40.580 --> 00:12:51.480 But when we see this, when we get this, that he is so far above and beyond who we are, everything changes. 00:12:52.420 --> 00:12:53.500 Everything changes. 00:12:55.180 --> 00:12:59.200 Do you realize the gap that there is between us and God? 00:13:00.160 --> 00:13:03.520 That he is holy and that we are wicked. 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:07.040 Isaiah knew this firsthand, didn't he? 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:14.120 And one place we see this gap very clearly is right here in Isaiah at the beginning of this book. 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:16.759 If you would turn to me to Isaiah chapter 6. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.360 Isaiah chapter 6. 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:27.819 And this is the account of when Isaiah was called to be God's prophet here. 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:34.919 And you may remember that in Isaiah chapter 6, he saw a vision of the Lord that almost undid him. 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:38.879 And so you look there in Isaiah chapter 6, verse 1, it says this. 00:13:39.319 --> 00:13:47.379 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. 00:13:47.839 --> 00:13:50.240 And the train of his robe filled the temple. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:52.779 And above him stood the seraphim. 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:54.319 Each had six wings. 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:55.979 With two he covered his face. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:58.000 And with two he covered his feet. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.679 And with two he flew. 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.960 And one called to the other and said, 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:07.200 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:11.200 The whole earth is filled with his glory. 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:15.639 And the foundations of the threshold shook at the voice of him who called. 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:17.480 And the house was filled with smoke. 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:19.860 And I said, look at this response. 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:21.800 Woe is me. 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.820 For I am lost. 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:27.240 For I am a man of unclean lips. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:30.500 And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:34.860 For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:42.680 And then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:48.259 And he touched my mouth and said, behold, this has touched your lips. 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:50.979 Your guilt is taken away. 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:54.279 And your sin is atoned for. 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:59.120 See, Isaiah saw the holiness of God. 00:14:59.939 --> 00:15:02.719 He saw the holiness of God. 00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:06.359 I see three responses here to the holiness of God. 00:15:06.459 --> 00:15:11.539 That when this gap was made clear to Isaiah, and this ought to be our response as well. 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.480 It's three responses. 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:17.559 It's to revere, to repent, and to receive. 00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:24.539 When the holiness of God becomes clear to you, revere, repent, and receive. 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:29.860 Number one, see, a clear view of God's holiness ought to lead us to reverence. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:33.179 And the seraphim flying around the Lord, what did they say? 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:38.500 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:41.799 The whole earth is filled with the glory of God. 00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:44.320 We see the same image in Revelation, don't we? 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:47.059 We've been studying Revelation in Sunday school. 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:52.480 The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within. 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:55.580 And day and night, they never cease to say, 00:15:56.340 --> 00:16:05.120 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.860 And this is reverence. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.360 Not only this. 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:14.240 Second, for sinners like us, seeing the holiness of God ought to lead us to repentance. 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:17.899 Forsake your wicked ways. 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.419 Forsake your wicked thoughts. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:23.560 For his ways are higher. 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:25.419 His ways are better. 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:26.860 They are unlike ours. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.279 They are holy. 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.699 So Isaiah says, woe is me. 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.659 I'm unclean. 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:34.419 My lips are unclean. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.919 My people are unclean. 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:38.459 And we need our sins atoned for. 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:44.779 We need some way to bridge this gap between our uncleanness and God's holiness. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:51.399 Which is why, third, if we see God's holiness for all it is, we must receive atonement. 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:55.559 We must receive atonement. 00:16:55.659 --> 00:17:00.459 This beautiful picture of atonement in Isaiah chapter 6, verse 6. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:02.980 He says, behold, this has touched your lips. 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:08.819 Your guilt is taken away and your sin is atoned for. 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:24.539 The only hope for sinners like me and like you in the presence of a holy God is that he would provide atonement for our sins. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:33.259 That we would receive, not earn, receive the atonement that he has provided. 00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:35.419 Have you glimpsed the holiness of God? 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.240 Revere him. 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:41.759 Do you fear the holiness of God? 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.439 Do you fear his wrath against your sin? 00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:47.480 Repent of your sin. 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:50.700 Do you stand in need of atonement? 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:53.439 What do you receive? 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:56.919 What he's offering you this morning in Christ. 00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:59.879 Forgiveness in abundance. 00:18:02.159 --> 00:18:04.700 J. Alec Motier, he commented on this passage. 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.939 He said this. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:11.460 What a wonderful thing repentance must be if it can bridge such a gap. 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:15.820 Can so small a thing be so effective? 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:19.380 And if so, wherein lies its power? 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:24.140 Its power is in our second point this morning. 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.200 And it's this. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:32.380 Second, repent because God is far more merciful than us. 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:46.800 See, the power of repentance to bridge the gap between our sin and God's holiness, it does not lie in us. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:50.139 It is not in our ability to repent. 00:18:50.139 --> 00:18:52.159 It is not in anything in us. 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.500 It is not in our doing. 00:18:53.899 --> 00:18:55.159 It is not in our earning. 00:18:55.480 --> 00:19:01.159 There is no ladder that we can climb to bridge that gap that stands between us and God. 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:04.980 It lies in the merciful heart of God alone. 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:15.480 The ability to be saved and to receive atonement for our sin depends entirely on God's willingness to save sinners. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:20.820 Repentance is powerful because God is merciful. 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:31.200 He saved us, Titus says, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but because of his great mercy. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:41.179 You see, the only hope for sinners like us is that God is not only different from us in holiness, but that he is also different from us in mercy. 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:47.500 And this, I think, is what Isaiah is really wanting to emphasize here in the passage. 00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:50.440 I want you to look one more time at verses 7 and 8. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:55.700 And I want you to ask yourself, what is that for doing here? 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:59.640 What is that word for doing there in verse 8? 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:02.060 That word for is a connector. 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:05.320 It gives a reason for what he has just said. 00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:06.100 So what does it say? 00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:14.199 It says, let him return to the Lord that he may have compassion on him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon for. 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.839 So there's the connector. 00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:22.839 My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord. 00:20:22.939 --> 00:20:25.559 So what is that for connecting? 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:37.220 Well, theologians have recognized that while Isaiah is, yes, he is highlighting the differences between God's holiness and our wickedness, 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:40.019 there's an even closer connection here. 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.500 Do you see it? 00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:50.379 This not like us is connecting God's heart of mercy for sinners. 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:54.079 It's connected to God's heart of mercy. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:59.480 He is not like us in his eagerness to show compassion. 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:05.919 He is not like us in his eagerness to show pardon and abundance. 00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:08.500 And isn't that good news for sinners this morning? 00:21:09.639 --> 00:21:11.619 That God is not like us. 00:21:11.699 --> 00:21:14.699 He is merciful beyond measure. 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:20.019 And we have spurned him, yet his love remains steadfast. 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:23.159 His sure love for David. 00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:27.080 We have been faithless, yet God has remained faithful. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:32.519 We have run from him in rebellion, yet God runs toward us in mercy. 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:34.180 We have not sought the Lord. 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:39.620 We have sought satisfaction in false joys, false hope, false pleasures, false gods. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:45.600 But the Son of God, the Son of Man, has come to seek and to save the lost. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:48.259 God is not like us. 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.500 God is not like us. 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:57.920 When we are wronged or offended or annoyed or inconvenienced, how do we respond? 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.920 God is not like us. 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:01.220 We want justice right then. 00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:02.460 Right there. 00:22:02.560 --> 00:22:04.580 If you are like me, right then. 00:22:05.380 --> 00:22:07.940 Especially if we know that we can benefit in some way. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.400 If it makes us look better. 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.920 If it earns us some advancement. 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.600 We want punishment. 00:22:12.820 --> 00:22:16.620 But God says, let the wicked person come to me. 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:20.660 That I might forgive and show compassion. 00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:24.340 And demonstrate my heart of mercy. 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:27.360 God is not like us. 00:22:28.820 --> 00:22:31.840 You may remember the story of David in the Old Testament. 00:22:32.060 --> 00:22:35.180 I know everybody remembers his one big sin. 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:42.960 The episode with Bathsheba and Uriah and all the fallout that came because of the horrible ways that David sinned against the Lord. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:47.860 But like us, David was not a one-time sinner. 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:51.660 The Bible presents more of his story than that. 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.480 In 1 Chronicles 21. 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:56.740 You don't have to turn there now, but maybe mark that for later. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.940 1 Chronicles 21. 00:22:58.100 --> 00:23:00.240 It gives us another example of David's sin. 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:05.519 And it says that David directly disobeyed a command of God. 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:07.700 And he counted up the Israelites. 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:09.120 He composed a census. 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:12.940 And this was something God had commanded them not to do. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.759 Very explicitly. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.960 And so this displeased the Lord. 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.000 It was sin. 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:19.340 But God did something really interesting. 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.900 I don't know if you're familiar with this story. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:25.720 He gave David a choice for how he would punish David. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.559 Three options. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.620 He says, choose what you will. 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:32.640 Either three years of famine. 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:39.600 Or three months of devastation by your foes with the sword of your enemies while they overtake you. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:44.039 Or else, three days of the sword of the Lord. 00:23:45.179 --> 00:23:51.759 Pestilence in the land with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel. 00:23:51.939 --> 00:23:52.699 Three options. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.579 I wonder which one you would choose. 00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:57.419 I wonder which one I would choose. 00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:03.359 You might look at the length of the sentence and say, okay, well, three years is a long time. 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:05.579 Three months is a little less than that. 00:24:05.679 --> 00:24:07.879 And three days is even less than that. 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:09.199 Maybe that's the best option. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:11.359 I can tolerate maybe anything for three days. 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:16.919 Or you could look at the severity of the punishment and say, well, three years of famine. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.799 Let me think about that. 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:20.019 That would wipe out an economy. 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:23.659 That would cause widespread suffering in the land. 00:24:23.719 --> 00:24:27.139 We'd have to take time to rebuild our whole nation. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.899 Three months of war with our enemies being conquered. 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:31.479 We'd lose lives. 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.939 We'd lose resources. 00:24:33.699 --> 00:24:35.859 But I've seen what the angel of the Lord can do. 00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:38.679 Unlimited strength. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.939 Unlimited power. 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:44.599 He could wipe us out completely with a blink of an eye. 00:24:44.719 --> 00:24:50.159 What could he do in three days of the wrath of the angel of the Lord? 00:24:50.159 --> 00:24:53.639 Or you could choose as David did. 00:24:54.659 --> 00:25:00.139 And look at the character of the one bringing the punishment. 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:04.579 So he says in 1 Chronicles 21, 13. 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:07.039 He says, I am in great distress. 00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:07.599 No kidding. 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:12.359 He says, let me fall into the hand of the Lord. 00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:16.000 For his mercy is very great. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:19.539 But do not let me fall into the hand of men. 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:27.679 See, his hope in the face of the wrath of God against his sin 00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:31.919 was the merciful heart of God towards sinners. 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.740 Do you see that? 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:39.579 The hope of David in the face of God's wrath towards sin 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:44.220 was the heart of mercy that God has towards sinners. 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:48.000 And this is what Isaiah is telling us. 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:52.559 He's telling us God is far more merciful than us. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:58.779 So often we think that we have to just plow through God's hard exterior 00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:02.279 to make our way to mercy, to make our way to forgiveness, 00:26:02.419 --> 00:26:07.119 that we have to push through a layer of reluctance and anger and judgment 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:09.099 to get to his love. 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:12.500 That's how it is with us when we're offended. 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:14.859 That's not how it goes with God. 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:19.039 God is far more merciful than us. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:22.199 He's full of mercy towards sinners. 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:26.879 Isn't this what we see in Psalm chapter 103? 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:32.180 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, 00:26:32.780 --> 00:26:34.760 and abounding in steadfast love. 00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:38.820 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:42.420 He does not deal with us according to our sins, 00:26:42.760 --> 00:26:45.600 nor repay us according to our iniquities. 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:49.299 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.219 does that sound familiar? 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:54.039 As high as the heavens are above the earth, 00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:59.740 so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:02.759 As far as the east is from the west, 00:27:02.859 --> 00:27:06.219 so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 00:27:06.959 --> 00:27:09.839 As a father shows compassion to his children, 00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:15.299 so the Lord shows compassion toward those who fear him. 00:27:16.199 --> 00:27:18.539 What a God we serve. 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:22.980 What a hope he's given us. 00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:28.619 This passage in Isaiah is an invitation for sinners to repent, 00:27:29.179 --> 00:27:31.240 to forsake your sin, 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:36.179 to turn from false joys, false gods, false hopes, 00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:40.099 and come into the open arms of your heavenly Father 00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:46.980 and find compassion and mercy and love unlike anything you've ever known. 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:50.759 But you may ask, 00:27:51.199 --> 00:27:52.899 how can that be? 00:27:52.900 --> 00:28:00.940 How can an infinitely holy God show mercy to sinners? 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:06.580 Wouldn't that compromise his holiness just to wipe away someone else's sin? 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:09.320 Wouldn't that undermine his goodness, 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:09.900 his holiness, 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:12.860 to show mercy and compassion to those who don't deserve it? 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:14.640 Wouldn't that undermine his justice? 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:19.160 And how could it be fair when all have sinned for some to receive pardon 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:21.500 and some to be punished? 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:24.380 And the answer, of course, is the gospel. 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:27.720 It's the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:32.000 He alone bridges the gap. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:36.000 God's thoughts are not like ours, church, 00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:38.500 from before the foundation of the world. 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.940 Before there was sin, 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.279 before there was you, 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.740 before there was me, 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.940 before there was a need for redemption at all, 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:54.019 God planned in his mind to show mercy and grace to sinners. 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:58.319 And God's ways are not like our ways. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:02.279 He accomplished this redemption in the most stunning way imaginable. 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:05.980 By creating and preparing a world. 00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:08.779 Creating and preparing a people. 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:14.579 Creating and preparing a time for the incarnation of his own son. 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:17.659 And when the fullness of time had come, 00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:23.399 God sent forth his son to come and to live and to die 00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:27.099 and to rise on behalf of sinners. 00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:33.039 So that any sinner who turns from their sin and comes to Christ will be saved. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.079 Have you come to him? 00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:37.179 Do you know him? 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:40.439 Do you know this mercy of God? 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:45.139 See, the gospel is how God can be both just and the justifier 00:29:45.139 --> 00:29:48.539 of the one who has faith in Jesus. 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:53.139 He is holy and he is merciful. 00:29:55.439 --> 00:29:56.719 Get this, church. 00:29:57.099 --> 00:30:03.519 The gospel tells us that because of the mercy of God, 00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:06.179 his holiness is no longer our enemy. 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:07.519 It is our only hope. 00:30:09.379 --> 00:30:11.119 For any who are in Christ, 00:30:11.219 --> 00:30:15.559 instead of pouring out wrath against us in our sin, 00:30:15.659 --> 00:30:20.679 the holiness of God in Christ thrusts us upward toward him 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:24.580 in a wave of undeserved mercy and grace. 00:30:25.060 --> 00:30:26.620 And this is, 00:30:26.620 --> 00:30:29.060 as the Christmas carol says, 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:33.740 it's tidings of comfort and tidings of joy. 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:38.099 I went to put up Christmas lights on the house the other day. 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.839 Did anybody notice? 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:45.779 And we did all the prep work and laid out the lights, 00:30:45.939 --> 00:30:46.659 tested them, 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.519 made sure they worked, 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:52.199 lined them up on the ground exactly how we wanted them to go up on the house. 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:56.200 And then I got on my ladder and realized that my ladder was too small. 00:30:57.860 --> 00:30:59.500 I couldn't reach the roof. 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:01.120 No matter how I positioned it, 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:04.500 the bushes were either in the way or the ladder was too small. 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.980 I tried to straddle the bushes. 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:06.720 No luck. 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.079 Amanda said, 00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:09.000 just do it anyways. 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.920 Jump and pull yourself up. 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:11.160 I said, 00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:13.680 I don't know who you think I am, 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.160 but that's, 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:18.920 I'm not risking my bones for these lights. 00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:22.339 The gap was too big. 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:28.579 Isaiah wants us to see 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:32.079 that the gap between us and God 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:34.079 is too big. 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:38.119 It cannot be reached 00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:40.400 just by a bigger ladder. 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:43.579 Every other religion in the world 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:46.460 would give you another ladder to climb. 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:49.700 They would tell you to get a bigger ladder. 00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:52.980 And we tend to operate that way too, don't we? 00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.859 Let me try harder. 00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:56.299 Let me climb further. 00:31:56.460 --> 00:31:58.200 Let me do differently. 00:31:58.380 --> 00:32:00.259 Let me work harder. 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.940 Let me be better. 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:05.880 The good news of the gospel 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:08.900 is that because of the incredible, 00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:12.000 merciful heart of God, 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:16.460 God gives us exactly what He demands of us, 00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.660 His holiness. 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:22.759 God gives us what he demands of us. 00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:26.259 He bridges the gap, not by giving us a ladder to climb, 00:32:26.340 --> 00:32:32.720 but by sending his own son down to us to bring us up to him. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:38.400 Who could dream up such an amazing story of redemption, 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:42.440 such an amazing display of both holiness and mercy? 00:32:42.560 --> 00:32:43.259 Only God. 00:32:44.540 --> 00:32:46.680 His thoughts are not our thoughts, church. 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:51.460 His ways are not our ways. 00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:53.000 Would you pray with me? 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:58.200 Lord, we thank you for the gospel, 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:05.360 that in the gospel of Christ you give to us what you demand of us. 00:33:05.540 --> 00:33:07.960 You give us the perfection of Christ, 00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:12.060 to be received by any who come to him in faith. 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:16.860 Lord, as we enter into this Christmas season, 00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:20.859 we pray, Father, that our hearts would be right with you, 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:26.679 that you would remove distractions and busyness so that we could worship you as you deserve, 00:33:27.439 --> 00:33:29.819 that we might revere you as you deserve, 00:33:29.939 --> 00:33:32.819 that we might repent of sin as you deserve, 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:42.139 that we might receive the sacrifice of Christ and live and know true and total, complete pardon and forgiveness. 00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:46.840 Lord, we love you and we pray that you would receive all glory and honor. 00:33:47.040 --> 00:33:48.580 You are holy, holy, holy. 00:33:48.800 --> 00:33:49.920 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:50.880 Amen. 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:51.040 Amen. 00:33:51.520 --> 00:33:51.880 Amen. 00:33:51.880 --> 00:34:21.860 Thank you.