ISAIAH 57
Peace promised to righteous verse 1- 2
The righteous perishes – and no man lays it to heart
and merciful men are taken away
none considering that the righteous
is taken away from the
evil to come
He shall enter into peace – they shall rest in their beds
each one walking in his uprightness
Seed of falsehood described verse 3- 4
BUT draw near hither – you sons of the sorceress
the seed of the adulterer and the whore
Against whom do ye sport yourselves?
against whom make you a wide mouth
and draw out the tongue?
Are you not children of transgression
a seed of falsehood
Unfaithfulness of those who worship idols verse 5- 7
Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree
slaying the children in the valleys
under the clefts of the rocks?
Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion
they – they are your lot
EVEN to them have you poured a drink offering
you have offered a meat offering
Should I receive comfort is these?
upon a lofty and high mountain have you set your bed
even thither went you up to offer sacrifice
Practices of those who worship idols verse 8- 10
Behind the doors also and the posts
have you set up your remembrance
for you have discovered yourself to another than me
and are gone up
You have enlarged your bed – and made you a covenant with them
you loved their bed where you saw it
And you went to the king with ointment
and did increase your perfumes
and did send your messengers far off
and did debase yourself even unto hell
You are wearied in the greatness of your way
yet said you not
There is no hope – you have found the life of your hand
THEREFORE you were not grieved
God challenges the protection of idols verse 11- 14
And of whom have you been afraid and feared
that you have lied and have not remembered ME
nor laid it to your heart?
have not I held MY peace even of old
and you fear ME not?
I will declare your righteousness – and your works
for they shall not profit you
When you cry – let your companies deliver you
BUT the wind shall carry them all away
vanity shall take them
BUT he that put his trust in me shall possess the land
and he shall inherit my holy mountain
And shall say
Cast you up – cast you up – prepare the way
take up the stumbling block
out of the way of my people
God protects HIS children verse 15- 21
For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity
whose name is Holy
I dwell in the high and holy place
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit
to revive the spirit of the humble
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones
For I will not contend for ever – neither will I be always wroth
for the spirit should fail before ME
and the souls which I have made
For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth – and smote him
I hid me – and was wroth
and he went on forwardly in the way of his heart
I have seen his ways – and will heal him
I will lead him also
and restore comforts to him
and to his mourners
I create the fruit of the lips
Peace – Peace – to him that is far off
and to him that is near – says the LORD
and I will heal him
BUT the wicked are like the troubled sea
when it cannot rest
whose waters cast up mire and dirt
There is no peace – says my God – to the wicked
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 The righteous perish, and no may lays it to heart: and the merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. (622 “taken away” [acaph] means to assemble, be gathered, and to be collected.)
DEVOTION: Isaiah lived in a time when those who were evil thought it was good for the righteous to die. They didn’t want to hear their message. They didn’t want to hear Isaiah’s message. They wanted to be left alone to do all the evil they possibly could with no interference and no guilt.
In the countries where there are Moslems and Christians today we find the same thing happening. The Moslems want the Christians to die or move away. They don’t want them around. They are bombing churches. They are kidnapping Christian girls to have the convert or die. They don’t want anyone around them that would give a faithful witness for the LORD. Recently, we have seen this activity in Kenya. They have bombed church services. There are at least four pastors in Kenya who receive the devotionals and they write regularly of all that is happening in their nation.
The sad fact is that in Isaiah’s day it was their fellow Israelites who wanted the faithful believers dead. They didn’t want to be convicted of their sins. It was easier to get rid of their fellow countrymen than to stop sinning.
There is a future time when the people of the world will rejoice when those who are followers of Christ are killed. The two witnesses, Moses and Elijah, are killed. The people celebrate by sending gives to each other. They have a wonderful time of celebration at the death of those who are faithful to the LORD.
One author, H.A. Ironside, states that this passage is like the one in I Thessalonians where those who are believers are taken from the world before the Tribulation begins.
God is concerned with those who are HIS children. HE protects them during good times and bad times. Israel is going through a bad time and HIS solution to the problem of righteous people living is to assemble them and bring them into HIS presence in death.
We can have confidence in the LORD doing what is best for us throughout our lifetime. If we need to be in HIS presence HE will take us there. It is a great HOPE for all of us who are trying to serve the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Continue to spread this hope to all those who are going through rough times. Not only here in this country but around the world. God CARES!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 11 And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied, and have not remembered ME, nor laid it to your heart? Have not I held MY peace even of old, and you fear ME not? (3576 “lied” [kazab] means deceive, to tell an untruth, pretend with intent to deceive, to prove oneself a liar, or cheat)
DEVOTION: We find that the children of Israel could fall into the same sins of those around them. There could be a group who said they were following the LORD but were not telling the truth.
These individuals were withholding reverence that was due to the LORD and giving it to others while still saying that they were worshiping the LORD. They were not deceiving God but only themselves and sometimes those people around them.
Today some people call themselves “Christian” but they are not worshiping the LORD in spirit and in truth. They are just going through the motions instead of making real commitments to the LORD.
They may look right and say things that are right but in their hearts they are not worshiping the LORD but serving themselves only. This was true of those in the Old Testament and can be true even today.
God wants us to worship HIM in spirit and in truth. HE wants us to be genuine in our love for HIM. If it is not genuine than heaven is not the place they will spend eternity but the lake of fire is waiting for them when the die.
Each of us knows our own heart and our actions speak louder than words. If we are not confessing our sins daily and worshiping the LORD daily we are not following HIM correctly. Yes, we still sin on a daily basis but confession to the LORD that is genuine forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
CHALLENGE: Keep short accounts with the LORD. Know your heart whether you are genuine in our worship and confession of sin. God knows what is going on even when some people are faking it!!!!
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: 15 For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (1792 “contrite” [daka] and 1793 [dakka] means dust, humiliated, break in pieces, to crumble, beat to pieces, crushed, humble, oppress, or smite.)
DEVOTION: The LORD is the high and lofty One. HE has eternity planned. HE is holy. The people HE calls HIS own were worshiping false gods. They are not willing to listen to HIM. Those who are true followers are frustrated with all the evil that they are surrounded with on a daily basis. The only escape seems to be death.
There is a statement in verse one that says “the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.” In this case it would mean captivity. In the future it might mean the Tribulation period.
The LORD says that those who are will him have a humble spirit. They are also said to have a crushed spirit. This crushed spirit is not one that forsaken. It is one that realizes that the only way to please the LORD is to submit to HIM. Their desires have to be put on the altar. They have to be servants. A servant is one who is willing to serve a master. The LORD is the master of these individuals.
Once they realize that they are servants, they can experience revival in their inward parts. Once the inward parts are revived, they can express this revival in their outward actions. The LORD then gives them peace. HE also gives them HIS presence. HE will heal them.
However, the wicked have no peace. They are always stirred up. They are always restless. They are always causing mire and dirt to come to the top.
We need to be ones that have been humiliated by the LORD, so that, we can service him with a humble heart.
Our pride gets in the way of service otherwise. Are we the type of servants we should be for the LORD? Has HE humbled us or crushed us, so that, we realize we are totally dependent on HIM?
Today I talked with a friend who has gone through a divorce and watched his “friends” from Christian college and seminary turned their backs on him. He has continued to serve the LORD in his workplace. He has continued to go to church but still there are those who hold him accountable for a past divorce. It has crushed him but he still is serving the LORD.
As believers we are to be encouragers of those who are trying to serve the LORD. In Isaiah’s days they just wanted the faithful to die. Sometimes it seems that even believers would rather that other believers who have failed would just die instead of encouraging them to come closer to the LORD. This is wrong and they will answer for their actions.
God works with those who are crushed and still serve HIM and so should we.
CHALLENGE: If you know of someone you used to love that has fallen away from the LORD try to restore them rather than ignore them. In your actions you are “covering a multitude of sins” of a brother. With a result that he could be a fruitful servant of the LORD again.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: There is a storm that is threatening the East coast as I write this devotion. It has caused people to leave the beach areas and low-lying areas in case of flood waters and torrential rains. Some people are drawn to the ocean during these times to watch and to frolic in the angry waves and restless currents. They defy the odds and go out to surf and to watch the surging, angry sea. It is like the restless waves and troubled waters reflect their souls and they see mirrored in the waters their souls! The storms of life reveal the dirt and mire that has laid dormant and still until the churning begins. The Lord reminds us that the wicked are like the troubled sea and the revealing of the dark and unseen is only revealed in the storm.
Are you troubled by the adversity and difficulty of your life? Has the storm churned up some sediment and unconfessed sin from the past?
Today is the day to have that cleansed and to begin anew! After the storm the waters take on a different hue and the ocean often becomes tranquil and still. So our souls can as well as we turn to the Lord and have Him settle the storm.
CHALLENGE: Remember what the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” In the storm, come to the advocate who cares for your sin. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Drink offerings verse 6
Meat offerings verse 6
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
High and Lofty One verse 15
Inhabits eternity verse 15
Dwell in high and holy place verse 15
Holy verse 15
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 19
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evil verse 1
Sorceress verse 3
Seed of the adulterer and whore verse 3
Sport verse 4
Children of transgression verse 4
Wide mouth verse 4
Draw out the tongue against God verse 4
Seed of falsehood verse 4
Enflaming verse 5
Idols verse 5
Offering children to false gods verse 5
Offering sacrifice to false gods verse 7
False gods in home verse 8
Covenant with false gods verse 8
Afraid verse 11
Lied verse 11
Not fear the LORD verse 11
False righteousness verse 12
False works verse 12
False prayers verse 13
Stumblingblock verse 14
Iniquity verse 17
Covetousness verse 17
Forward verse 17
Wicked verse 20, 21
No peace verse 21
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Righteous verse 1
Merciful verse 1
Peace verse 2, 19
Rest verse 2
Uprightness verse 2
Trust verse 13
Inherit verse 13
Contrite heart verse 15
Humble heart verse 15
Revival verse 15
Heal verse 18, 19
Lead verse 18
Restore comforts verse 18
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Hell verse 9
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QUOTES regarding passage
The apparent jumble of this passage reflects the ‘mix’ of life at ground level in a secular society: the ‘righteous’ having a difficult time (1), people caught up in cults (3–5) and in politics (9–10). Some find God near (15) and live with a peace and confidence not experienced by all (19–21). Yet the verses are not really a jumble but a presentation: the peace enjoyed by the righteous (1–2) contrasts with the lack of peace of the wicked (20–21); the prostitute and her family (3–13) contrasts with the Lord and his household (14–19). (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 399). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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57:1–2. The society then was so bad that the righteous people in Israel (also called devout and those who walk uprightly) had to die in order to find peace. Observing the evil all around apparently frustrated them. They could do nothing to turn the nation back to the Lord. The only way the righteous could be spared from such frustration was to die. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1112). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The leaders of the nation (Isa. 56:9–57:2). It was the godless conduct of the leaders that caused Judah to fall to Babylon (Lam. 4:13–14). Had the prophets, priests, and rulers turned to God in repentance and faith, He would have intervened on their behalf; but they persisted in their rebellion. With biting sarcasm, Isaiah calls them “blind watchmen” who cannot see the enemy coming, and “sleeping dogs” who could not bark their warning even if they were awake! The leaders were not alert; they loved to sleep, and when they were awake, they loved to eat and drink.
Spiritual leaders are “watchmen” (Ezek. 3:17–21; 33:1–11) who must be awake to the dangers that threaten God’s people. They are “shepherds” who must put the care of the flock ahead of their own desires. When the foreign invaders (“beasts of the field”) come, the shepherds must protect the flock, no matter what the danger might be. See Acts 20:18–38 for the description of a faithful spiritual ministry.
God permitted the unrighteous leaders to live and suffer the terrible consequences of their sins, but the righteous people died before the judgment fell. The godly found rest and peace; the ungodly went into Captivity, and some of them were killed. Rebellious people do not deserve dedicated spiritual leaders. When His people reject His Word and prefer worldly leaders, God may give them exactly what they desire and let them suffer the consequences.
Idolaters (Isa. 57:3–13). During the last days of Judah and Jerusalem, before Babylon came, the land and the city were polluted with idols. King Hezekiah and King Josiah had led the people in destroying the idols and the high places; but as soon as an ungodly king took the throne, the people went right back to their old ways. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah told the people that God would punish them for breaking His Law, but they persisted in the ways of the godless nations around them.
God sees idolatry as adultery and prostitution (v. 3). The people knew it was wrong, but they arrogantly practiced their sensual worship (“inflaming yourselves with idols”) without shame. You would find them everywhere: visiting the shrine prostitutes under the green trees in the groves; offering their children in the fire in the valley; worshiping under the cliffs and by the smooth boulders; sacrificing up in the mountains; and committing fornication behind the doors of their houses. Publicly and privately, the people were devoted to idols and immorality.
But they were also guilty of consorting with pagan leaders and trusting them for protection instead of trusting God (v. 9). To trust a pagan ruler and his army was the same as trusting the false god that they worshiped (see 30:1–7; 31:1–3). They found false strength in their political alliances and refused to admit that these treaties were hopeless (57:10). God would expose their sin and judge it; and when that happened, their collection of idols (“companies” in v. 13, KJV) would not save them.
Anything that we trust other than the Lord becomes our god and therefore is an idol. It may be our training, experience, job, money, friends, or position. One of the best ways to find out whether we have idols in our lives is to ask ourselves, “Where do I instinctively turn when I face a decision or need to solve a problem?” Do we reach for the phone to call a friend? Do we assure ourselves that we can handle the situation ourselves? Or do we turn to God and seek His will and His help?
When the storm starts blowing, the idols will blow away like chaff (v. 13). They are “vanity,” which means “nothingness.” The storm does not make a person; it shows what the person is made of and where his or her faith lies. If we make the Lord our refuge, we have nothing to fear.
The proud and greedy (Isa. 57:14–21). God has a word of encouragement for the faithful remnant: The highway will be built and the obstacles removed, so that the exiles might return to the land and serve the Lord. (On the “highway theme,” see 11:16.) God will dwell with them because they are humble in spirit. (See 66:2; Pss. 34:18; 51:17.) Pride is a sin that God hates (Prov. 6:16–17) and that God resists (1 Peter 5:5–6). God was “enraged” by Israel’s “sinful greed” and repeatedly chastened them for it; but they would not change (Isa. 57:17). How often He had “taken them to court” and proved them guilty, yet they would not submit. But now that was over. The time had come for God to heal them, guide them, and comfort them. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (pp. 148–150). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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There is always a danger of thinking of those who die before the fulfillment of promises of future blessing as having lost them. The Thessalonians too were concerned that some of their number died before the Second Coming of Christ. So Paul wrote: “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). He went on to show that they would have their part in the rapture with the rest and would share in the glory when the Lord Jesus Christ descended to take the kingdom.
So here, there were those in Israel who would think the promises are for the future, and as one after another died their fellow believers feared they would not enter into their blessing. When times of persecution came and many were put to death, they would feel they had missed so much, and would not be here for the kingdom at all. But “the righteous are taken away from the evil to come,” and though taken away from here, God has provided something for them. Everyone shall rest in his uprightness before God—they will have their place of blessing. There is no need to grieve for those who have gone before; they are under the care of the blessed Lord; they have gone Home to be with Him.
Then he goes on to stress again the importance of godliness. (Ironside, H. A. (1952). Expository notes on the prophet Isaiah. (pp. 322–323). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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The righteous; just and holy men, who are the pillars of the place and state in which they live; yea, as the Jews call them, the pillars of the world. No man; few or none of the people. So he showeth that the corruption was general, in the people no less than in the priests. Layeth it to heart; is duly affected with this severe stroke and sad sign of God’s displeasure. Merciful; or, godly; the same whom he now called righteous, whose duty and practice it is to exercise both mercy or kindness, and justice. From the evil to come; from those dreadful calamities which are coming upon the nation. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, p. 456). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)
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Ver. 1. The righteous perisheth, &c.] Not eternally; he may fear he shall, by reason of sin and temptation; he may say his strength and hope are perished; and his peace and comfort may perish for a time; but he can’t perish everlastingly, because he is one that believes in Christ, and is justified by his righteousness, from whence he is denominated righteous; and such shall never perish, but have everlasting life: but the meaning is, that he perisheth as to his outward man, or dies corporeally, which is called perishing, Eccl. 7:15 and so the Targum renders it, “the righteous die.” Or it may be rendered, the righteous man is lost; not to himself, his death is a gain to him; but to the church, and to the world, which yet is not considered: and no man layeth it to heart; takes any notice of it, thinks at all about it, far from being concerned or grieved; instead of that, rather rejoice, and are pleased that they are rid of such persons; which will be the case when the witnesses are slain, Rev. 11:10. The Targum is, “and no man lays my fear to heart;” or on his heart; whereas such providences should lead men to fear the Lord, and to seek to him, and serve him, as it did David, Psal. 12:1: and merciful men are taken away; or gathered; out of the world, to their own people, to heaven; these are such who obtain mercy of the Lord, and shew mercy to others, holy good men: the former character may respect the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, this his grace implanted in them, discovered by acts of mercy and goodness; for one and the same persons are intended: none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come; that there are evil times coming, great calamities, and sore judgments upon men; and therefore these righteous ones are gathered out of the world, and are gathered home, and safely housed in heaven, that they may escape the evil coming upon a wicked generation; and who yet have no thought about it, nor are they led to observe it as they might, from the removal of good men out of the world; see 2 Kings 22:20. All this may be applied to the martyrs of Jesus in times of Popish persecution; or to the removal of good men by an ordinary death before those times came. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, pp. 333–334). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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The Ordinances of Men
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” (1 Peter 2:13-14)
The phrase “ordinances of man” literally means “human creations.” Since only God can really create, that means we must regard laws of legislatures or presidential orders or even kingly decrees as having divine authority. Therefore, in order to maintain a good witness before men, God expects us to submit to all these man-made laws and directives.
That even includes such unpopular laws as speed limits. Christians should not be tax cheats or anything that tends to undermine legitimate authority, and certainly should never break any of the multitude of laws that are based upon or consistent with the laws or commandments of God. We rightly must honor our leaders, not only great presidents such as Washington and Lincoln, but all who have positions of authority. Remember that “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1), even though there are occasions when (for good and justifiable reasons) God gives power to unworthy men.
Such ungodly leaders will be themselves judged by God in His own way and time. Our job is simply to “render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:7).
The one great exception to this principle, of course, is when their laws go against the laws of God. Then, “we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) and be willing to take the consequences. “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Moses appeals to the Israelites to live a life of faithful obedience to God.
INSIGHT
Thomas Jefferson once said, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” If true politically, how much more so spiritually. “Take heed,” Moses says three times in chapter 4. First, take heed and keep your soul diligently. Second, take heed that you not worship idols. Third, take heed that you not forget the covenant the Lord made with you.
These are all dangers for us today. How easily we get careless about the welfare of our souls. How easily we worship modern idols. How easily we forget the promises of the Lord. We, too, must take heed. The price of our spiritual strength is eternal vigilance. (Quiet Walk)
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WHAT WE COULD NOT DO FOR OURSELVES
I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. John 17:4
The work of salvation was something that Christ Himself had to do, and He could therefore speak of it as being done. “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” Now I want to put that in the form of a negative like this: The Lord Jesus Christ did not come into this world to tell us what we have to do; He came Himself to do something for us that we could never do for ourselves. These negatives are all so essential, because there are people who believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, but if you ask them what He came into this world to do, their answer will be that He came to tell us what we must do ourselves. Or they talk about good works and say that if we do this or that, we will make ourselves Christian and make ourselves right with God. No! Our Lord says here, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
The truth that we have to take hold of is that which is emphasized here, and the best way to understand it is to consider what it was He did, and, too, what He was doing beforehand. He came to do certain things Himself, and we are saved by what Christ has done for us, and not by what He tells us to do. The work of salvation is His work and His doing, and He came specifically to do it; and here, in these words, He looks ahead, as it were, to His death on the cross, as well as back to what He has already done. Under the shadow of the cross, he reviews the whole work, and He is able to say, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” “I have completed it.” So a very good way of testing whether we have a right or wrong way of looking at salvation is to ask ourselves whether we see Christian salvation as something that is exclusively and entirely the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Thought to Ponder: Christ came to do something for us that we could never do for ourselves. (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 100-101, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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There is Peter who was the first to recognize Jesus as the Christ; Peter who denied he was even a friend. There was Peter who steeped out of the boat, and Peter who almost drowned when his faith short-circuited. Jeus called him “the Rock” one time, “Satan” another. Peter was so muc like us – one step forward, two steps back, animated by wild faith and paralyzing doubt. He was a man of highs and lows, mountains and valleys, and that’s why he make a perfect study for times like these. (p. 48-49)
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It’s also fitting that it’s a tale of restoration because that’s what Jesus does. He is always reconciling, always reconstructing, always bringing people home. (p. 49)
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Three is a number of completion, and Peter understands himself to be a complete failure in following Jesus. (p. 51)
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What Jesus is saying to Peter is this: “Peter, it’s not aobut some abstract love that you have, and how that love might be measured on some emotional scale. It is aobut your willingness to do what I do – to care for My children.” Jesus instructed Peter to feed the lambs; tend them; feed the sheep. These words feed and tend refer to proving spiritual nurture to the soul, or building someone up by promoting their spiritual welfare, in the way a shepherd would care for his flock. “This is what I do” Jesus is saying, “You do it too.” (p. 53) (Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah)
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