Anchored in Truth™ Striving Not to Build 'Great' Churches, but 'True' Churches

2/20/2010

Posted By Ken Askew

Text:  Isaiah 45:22

Brother Barry began by painting a word picture of the morning Charles Spurgeon came to saving faith at the proclamation of this very verse.  “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!  For I am God, and there is no other.” (ESV)  This text sets forth the duty of all men to believe the gospel. It is a command; otherwise it would not be a sin to disobey.  It is a duty of all men to believe the gospel.

The Simplicity of the Gospel

Look.  How simple.  This word refers to Numbers 21 and the story of the wandering and sinful nation in the wilderness.  There, the people were commanded to “look” unto God.  Now, through Isaiah, God commands again “look” to me for salvation.  Isaiah also prophetically points to John’s gospel where again we see the command to look unto God for salvation.  This is the simplicity of the duty of all men to believe.

But there are some among us who would complicate the gospel.  Two suggestions:

1. Overemphasis on introspection:  The command is to look, not to lament.  Have I been under enough conviction?  Am I lowly enough?  Good questions perhaps, but the command is to look!

2. Overemphasis on learning:  Do I really know enough?  Have I really fully understood the gospel?  Is my grasp of theology comprehensive enough?  Looking back on my salvation, I’m not sure I understood my sin correctly; I didn’t understand enough.  Again, this confuses the simplicity of the command; look!  Sometimes we create tension and imbalance in the hearts of people who hear us by confusing the simplicity of the command to simply look unto God.

The Exclusivity of the Gospel

“I am God and there is none else.”  There is no other name but Christ by which man can be saved.   We must confirm the exclusivity of this duty of all men to believe.

The Universality of the Gospel

All the ends of the earth are to look unto God.  It is not just for Jews or Gentiles; it is for everyone.  The God of the bible is not just the God of western religion.  The gospel and command to believe is for the whole world!

Now, two items that are not explicit, but implicit in the text:

The Impossibility of All men to believe the gospel

Thinking of Isaiah’s day, the people had become what they revered.  They worshipped deaf and dumb idols. Idolatry was a problem and the people had begun to appear like the idols they worshipped.  They were literally unable to obey the command to look.  Many examples exist in scripture.  The man with a withered hand was commanded to stretch forth his hand; something a well man might do but not a man with a withered hand.  But when Jesus commanded him, he did and his hand was made whole.  What about “Lazarus come forth!”  Had Jesus not been specific every tomb on the face of the earth may have come to life.  Point:  Lazarus did what was impossible at Jesus’ bidding.

The Responsibility which this duty places on us all.

“If it is the duty of all to believe, it is our duty to preach the gospel to all men.”  If we don’t want to be tagged as hyper-Calvinist, we must not act like one, talk like one or walk like one.  We must exercise and act on our responsibility to evangelize.   Call it what you will; evangelizing, witnessing, etc.; you must share the gospel.  We are to share the gospel intentionally.  We should be praying for a lost world.  “Some of you need to get out of your study and get on the street!”  “When is the last time you wept over your city?”

Spurgeon looked and lived.  Look and be saved; Look and believe the gospel and you will live forevermore!

Truth Matters articles are available online at www.truthmatters.us.  Comments may be sent to kenaskew@me.com.