THE COVENANT OF GRACE
ISAIAH 55:1-3
Introduction:
The Lord is speaking through Isaiah offering an “everlasting covenant,” not just to Israel, but all mankind as well. In the following verse 1 of this chapter, the Lord appeals to the senses of man saying “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.”
In verse two He asks some pertinent questions inviting man to listen to God’s argument.
I. INCLINE YOUR EARS
A. The ears to hear God’s Word, Psalm 78:1, “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.”
B. Incline your heart, Psalm 119:112, “I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.”
II. Come unto me,
A. Come for rest for your soul, Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
B. All that the Father gives will come, John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
1. The Father draws man, John 6:44-45, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45- It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
2. If any man thirst, John 7:37, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
II. HEAR AND YOUR SOUL SHALL LIVE
A. Blessed are the hearers, Matthew 13:16, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”
B. This is the Son of God speaking, Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
C. The hearers and doers will pass from death unto life, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
III. I WILL MAKE AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH YOU
A. The Redeemer offers everlasting kindness, Isaiah 54:8, “In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.”
B. He offers an everlasting covenant, Isaiah 54:8, “In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.”
1. This covenant is based on the Abrahamic covenant, Genesis 17:7, “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.”
2. It is also based on the Davidic covenant, 2 Samuel 23:5, “Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things , and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.”
IV. A SURE COVENANT
A. I will not turn away from them, Jeremiah 32:40, “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.”
B. “My covenant will stand fast,” Psalm 89:28, “My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.”
1. The Lord declares the surety of it, Jeremiah 33:20-21, “Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21- Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.”
2. Theses are the “sure mercies of David,” Acts 13:34, “And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.”
CONCLUSION
There is a great deal to know about the Lord and His Word. This everlasting covenant is generally called the Covenant of Grace. It started with Adam after he sinned against the Lord. God had all of the provisions ready.