A SPECIAL NEWS REPORT
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53:1-12
Text: Isaiah 53:1
Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Introduction: You should be careful about believing every report you hear. Many “news” reports are not true. A longtime news reporter for CBS television news is under great pressure right now because he chose to broadcast an unsubstantiated report that proved to be from forged documents.
You should also be careful about refusing to believe reports. You might choose to reject a warning that could save your life.
Isaiah asked, “Who hath believed our report?” According to the New Testament book of Romans, this question is a prophecy that the report of the gospel of Christ would be rejected by many people, especially the Jews to whom Christ came.
Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
That report is the gospel. The gospel is defined by Paul:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Interestingly enough, the word, gospel, means “good news.” Most news that is broadcast these days is BAD news. I have GOOD news for you.
The greatest Old Testament prophecy of the good news of the gospel is in today’s scripture reading. I urge you to believe this report. To reject it is to give up hope of salvation in eternity.
The Jews wouldn’t believe the gospel. I want us to look this morning in Isaiah 53 and other places in scripture at the truths the Jews rejected. Many Gentiles are rejecting the report. Have you rejected the report? I urge you to listen and take heed to
A SPECIAL NEWS REPORT
I. THE REPORT TELLS OF THE INABILITY OF THE LAW
Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
A. The law could not bring perfection
1. Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
B. The law could not bring peace with God
1. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
C. The law could not bring permanent pardon
1. Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
II. THE REPORT TELLS OF THE INIQUITY OF OUR LIVES
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
To reject the fact that your main problem is SIN is to reject:
A. Your own defilement
1. Isaiah 64:6
B. Your own destiny without Christ
C. Your own deliverance
1. This is a must.
2. Christ died for SINNERS.
III. THE REPORT TELLS OF THE INCARNATION OF THE LORD
Isaiah 53:2-3 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is
despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
They rejected
A. His arrival – V. 2
1. The virgin birth
B. His appearance – V. 2
1. Of a servant
C. His adoration
IV. THE REPORT TELLS OF IMPORTANCE OF THE LAMB OF GOD
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
A. He satisfied the demands of the law
B. He settled the sin question
C. He set the captives free
D. He secured believers forever
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Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church |