His whole purpose was to release us from the bondage of our sins—to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. How is He able to do this? He goes on to say—I am the LORD: Isaiah 42:7 Jesus is our Creator, our Redeemer, and our God. What love!
Q3 How does the Bible show the futility of our trying to make ourselves right?
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. Jeremiah 13:23
NOTE: The leopard cannot change his spots, and we who are used to doing wrong cannot change our lives. We need help. This is our great need.
Q4 In love for us and in His concern for our great need, what invitation does God give to us?
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18
NOTE: The invitation is to ‘Come’. God is appealing to our minds where sin first begins, and to our reason to be able to understand how we can be restored.
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. 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. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; Isaiah 55:1-3
NOTE: We cannot buy or earn our salvation, but our part is to heed the invitation and to come to Him.
Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17
NOTE: Do you see? God describes our experience as being thirsty and hungry and tired. This is what it is like when we are sinning, and we do not always realise the cause of our unease. He can offer us rest, and the bread and water of life. He speaks of the abundance that satisfies. This is the offer that He holds out to us. Sin only takes us to death.
Q5 How generous is God’s response when we turn around and come to Him?
And he [i.e. the prodigal son] arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:20
Let Him return unto the Lord and He will have mercy upon Him and to our God for He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7
NOTE: Do not wait to make yourself better or put yourself on probation saying I will go to God when I have been free of this sin for a period of time. Go as you are.
Q6 Who is it that has drawn us to God?
And when He the Comforter [the Holy Spirit] is come He will reprove the world of sin. John 16:8 |
