Scripture: Isaiah 1

I. You regain God’s gracious privileges by repenting of political sins.

A. Isaiah prophesied to 4 different kings of Judah (vs. 1). Isaiah begins by telling Judah what is plain to everyone: our country is broken. Judah has rebelled against God (vs. 2). They have sinned. They of all people, the ones who had received gift after gift of grace from God, had rebelled against Him. Judah looked like a beaten up, broken slave (vs. 5-6). There was no health in this nation – just bruises and sores and wounds. The land of Judah was desolate (vs. 7).

B. Four words show the privileges Judah had received: they were God’s nation, people, offspring and children (vs. 4). Four negative words describe Judah now: sinful, full of iniquity, evildoers and corrupt. The church’s privileges are like Judah’s. 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

II. You regain God’s gracious privileges by repenting of religious sins.

A. Deliberate sin is the opposite of faith in God. Judah was guilty of too much religion (vs. 11). Their sacrifices were vain offerings. They meant nothing to God. God hates religion that is just going through the motions. In verses 16-17, God offers a solution to the problem of Judah committing religious sins. God is calling His people in these verses to do something that he mentions in one word in vs. 27: repent.

B. To repent means to turn: to turn away from sin and toward God. When God by His grace convicts you of sin, you need to repent. Judah needed to turn away from violence against people (vs. 15). They were doing evil to helpless and hopeless people. They were oppressing some of God’s chosen people. Judah, your sins they are many. But God’s mercy is more. God’s mercy is greater than all your sin. He can and He will pay for your sin by redeeming you (vs. 27).

III. You regain God’s gracious privileges by repenting of social sins.

A. God’s goal for Jerusalem is faithfulness (vs. 21 and 26). After God restores His repentant people they will be called once again the faithful city. Jerusalem had become unfaithful to God in the way that they treated God’s people (vs. 21-23). Jesus redeems repentant sinners. 1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”

Application:
If you know you are far from God today, repent. Trust that Christ alone can make you clean.       

Sources:
Isaiah
Commentaries by J.A. Motyer, David Jackman, and Bob Fyall.

Sermon Discussion Questions

1) What are the charges God brings against Judah and Jerusalem? Why were God’s people in such a predicament, and why was this such a shock to them?

2) What is the solution to Judah’s problem? What is the choice God puts before Judah (Vs. 19-20)?

3) What is the future for those who persist in sin and rebellion? What alternative does God offer His people (vs. 27-31)?