Isaiah 45:17

DISCOURSE: 941
THE EXTENT AND CERTAINTY OF ISRAEL’S SALVATION

Isaiah 45:17. Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

AS in the dispensations of God’s providence we behold a mixture of mercy and judgment, so in the records of his grace we see promises and threatenings continually interwoven. Declarations so opposite, standing in immediate contrast with each other, give to each other a double force and energy, more especially when, as in the passage before us, compared with the preceding verse, they are expressed in similar terms. In this view the promise in the text deserves particular attention. In considering it we shall shew,

1. Who they are that are comprehended under the name “Israel”—

We are not to limit this name to the Jews; nor even to comprehend all the Jews under it; since “all are not Israel that are of Israel [Note: Romans 9:6.]:” it includes those,

1. Who worship God—

[This name was originally given to Jacob by God himself on account of his having “wrestled all night” in prayer till he obtained the blessing he desired [Note: Genesis 32:24; Genesis 32:28.]. From him it passed to his natural descendants; but has in all ages more eminently characterized his spiritual seed, who, like him, “worship God in spirit and in truth.” Our Lord, seeing Nathanael, called him an “Israelite indeed;” and, on finding how much Nathanael was surprised by such an appellation from a stranger, assured him that “he had seen him under the fig-tree [Note: John 1:47.].” Most probably Nathanael, supposing that no human eye beheld him, had been praying there to God: and our Lord, adverting to this circumstance as well as to his integrity, addressed him by a name that marked his character in both respects. Thus every true Israelite is frequent at the throne of grace; and God, who seeth in secret, will testify of him, In such and such a place I saw thee lifting up thy heart to me, and imploring my blessing with thy whole soul.]

2. Who worship God alone—

[There were some among the Jews who feared the Lord, and yet served other gods [Note: 2 Kings 17:33 and Zephaniah 1:5.]: so amongst ourselves there are many who would be thought to fear God, while they are endeavouring to reconcile the inconsistent services of God and mammon. But Israel stand directly opposed to such characters in the context [Note: ver. 16.]: they not only will not make or worship idols of wood or stone, but they will harbour no idols in the heart: they will not provoke the Lord to jealousy by any hidden abominations [Note: Ezekiel 14:3.], but labour to be “Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile.”]

Now since it is promised to such persons that they shall be saved, it will be proper to inquire,

II.

In what way they shall be saved—

The Lord Jesus Christ is the person mentioned in the text as the author of their salvation [Note: Compare ver. 23. with Romans 14:10.]: and they must be saved,

1. By the merit of his blood—

[Whatever integrity of heart any man may possess, or however fervent ho may be in his supplications before God, he must be saved in the same way as any other sinner, and enter in at the same door with publicans and harlots. His very best services are polluted; and he needs to be cleansed from “the iniquity of his holy things” as much as from the vilest transgressions. Nor is there any other fountain opened for sin but that which was opened upon Mount Calvary: nothing but the blood of Christ can ever cleanse from sin: the holiest man that ever lived must be “accepted in the beloved;” “nor is there salvation for him in any other:” even Paul himself, notwithstanding all his legal and evangelical obedience, desired to be “found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith in Christ [Note: Philippians 3:9.].” And “in the same adorable Lord must all the seed of Israel be justified, and must glory [Note: ver. 25.].”]

2. By the efficacy of his grace—

[It is not by any efforts of their own that Israel are enabled to differ from others: “they are saved, not by the exercise of created power, but in the Lord their God [Note: Hosea 1:7.].” They must all adopt the same humiliating confession, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength [Note: ver. 24.].” Are they strong? it is in the Lord, and in the power of his might [Note: Ephesians 6:10.]: do they gain the victory? they must thank God for giving it them through Jesus Christ our Lord [Note: Romans 7:25.]. “In him all their fresh springs are found;” “out of his fulness they receive continually grace for grace:” and if this lock were shorn, they would instantly become weak as other men [Note: Alluding to Judges 16:17.]. Being fully assured of this, they evince that they are the true Israel, by worshipping God in the spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in the flesh [Note: Philippians 3:3.]

For their abundant consolation God declares,

III.

The extent and certainty of their salvation—

As to the certainty of their salvation, no words can more fully express it, than those which are now before us—

[God absolutely declares that “Israel shall be saved:” lest we should limit our expectations to some temporal benefit, he assures us that the salvation he will afford them, shall be “everlasting:” and lest we should still be slow of heart to believe, he repents his assertion in terms as strong and energetic as language can afford, or imagination can conceive. The same truth is confirmed in every page of the sacred volume, and that too in the richest variety of expression, in order more effectually to engage our minds and establish our faith. And has God spoken all these things merely to deceive us? “Has he said, and will he not do it; has he spoken, and will he not make it good?” Let this then be received as an infallible truth, that whatever may become of others, “Israel shall be saved;” nor shall any difficulties, any dangers, or all the conspiracies of earth and hell, ever make void this promise in any single instance to all eternity [Note: John 10:28.]

Nor can any thing be added to enhance the greatness of their salvation—

[It shall be so perfect, that there shall be nothing wanting to complete it. Their “sins shall all be cast into the very depths of the sea.” However high their expectations may be raised, they shall “never be ashamed;” nor, however strong their confidence may be, shall they “ever be confounded.” They shall appear before God with holy boldness: they may even now, as they shall also at the bar of judgment, adopt the triumphant language of the apostle, “Who is he that shall lay any thing to my charge? It is God that justifieth: who is he that shall condemn? It is Christ that died.” Yea, they may lay claim to all that God himself can give in time and eternity; and, neither in time nor in eternity, shall they be disappointed of their hope. Their felicity shall begin the very instant they believe in Christ; and shall be coeval with their own existence.]

Address—
1.

The idolatrous worldling—

[It is not only “the maker of idols,” but he who “setteth up idols in his heart,” that is an idolater in the sight of God: if we “love and serve the creature more than the Creator,” we are as truly idolaters, as if we bowed down to stocks and stones; and do not the consciences of many testify, that their hearts are incomparably more set upon the world, than on God? If they compare their devotion before God with their zeal about earthly things, may they not see that they differ widely from from the true Israel? Shall we then say to them, that they shall be “saved with an everlasting salvation? Should we not speak more truly if we were even to reverse the terms, and declare the judgments of God against them? Yes, indeed; for though they now will scarcely admit a doubt or a fear respecting their eternal state, God has warned them, in the very words before the text, that “they shall be ashamed and confounded, all of them; they shall all go to confusion together.” But is there no way for their escape? Blessed be God, there is: if they believe in Christ, they shall yet be saved; for “there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus [Note: ver. 22.]:” and his command to them is, “Look unto me and be ye saved [Note: Romans 8:1.].” Let them but prostrate themselves at the foot of his cross, seeking redemption through his precious blood, and they shall yet become monuments of his pardoning mercy, and his sanctifying grace.]

2. The true Israelite—

[“Happy art thou, O Israel, O people saved by the Lord [Note: Deuteronomy 33:29.]!” What a mercy is it to have God himself saying respecting you, Israel shall be saved! Possibly you may meet with many troubles in your way to glory; but you need not regard them, as long as you have the promise that you shall survive them all. Perhaps, like Paul and those who were with him in the ship, you may be so tossed with tempest, as to be brought almost to despair: but God had promised that not a hair of their head should perish; and though they suffered shipwreck, yet was his word fulfilled to them: for all of them, some on boards and others on broken pieces of the ship, got safe to shore [Note: Acts 27:34; Acts 27:44.]. Thus shall it be with you also. You may, as thousands hare before you, suffer the loss of all earthly comforts; but God’s word shall not be broken: he has promised; and he is not only able, but determined to perform. Look forward then with comfort to death and judgment, and know that that day which shall be to others the beginning of sorrows, shall be to you the commencement of eternal joy.]