Isaiah 43 A New Work Series

Isaiah 43

A New Work

Redeemed You Vs. 1-7

My Witnesses Vs. 8-13

Transformed Vs. 14-21

Merciful Vs. 22-28

Intro:

Let me ask you a question: Are you a an Early Adapter or an Antique lover?

Would you rather tussle around in a thrift shop looking for bargains or buy it new off the shelf

Would you rather have a old classic car or the latest model

Do you squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom or strangle it from the middle?

That last question has nothing to do with where I’m going, just a personal survey

Cause all you middle tube squeezers need help

When it comes to new or old there isn’t a right answer

I am a new person and to be honest thrift stores scare me to death

My wife on the other hand is the polar opposite

She is like Punxsutawney Phil waiting for Garage Sale season to heat up

If thrift stores had customers of the month she would have her picture right up there

We could debate the pros and cons of new vs old all day

But what happens when something new comes about? Do we resist it or do we jump all over

This morning Isaiah is prophesying about a new work that God is going to do

Interestingly though this new work is intended to reestablish an old relationship

God introduces the work that his son is going to do

In an attempt to restore the relationship with God that He intended in the garden

God has a away of bringing the old and new together and making it work

This morning we see an OT version of the NT Gospel

Read Is 43:1-5

Transition:

Isaiah is often referred to as the Fifth Gospel

There is so much about Jesus and the Good News in these last 26 chapters that is seems like you are reading one of the Gospels

Last week we saw Jesus as a servant

Today we are going to see the Gospel laid out

The Gospel is God’s plan for Redemption, Opening our Eyes, Transforming our lives, and his infinite mercy

At the time Isaiah prophesied, Babylon was an up-and-coming world power.

Before they would be judged, they would be a world dominating super-power.

How could Israel be confident that God was up to the job of delivering them and judging Babylon?

All they had to do was look at God’s great works in the past, such as when He made a way in the sea - when He parted the Red Sea so Israel could cross and escape the Egyptian armies

Isaiah powerful brings up these images when he writes of the chariot and the horse, the army and the power of these enemies of God’s people, and how they shall lie down together … they are extinguished.

Just as God overwhelmed the Egyptian armies that had enslaved Israel, so would He judge the Babylonians also.

Redeemed You vs. 1-7

The first aspect of the gospel we see is the Christ Redeemed you

Not only did Israel have obligation to God as their Creator, by also as their Redeemer.

He is the one who bought them out of literal exile and spiritual slavery.

He redeemed them

English words derived from a Latin root meaning “to buy back,”

Thus meaning the liberation of a person, usually by payment of a ransom.

The redeemer bought an unfortunate relative out of their slavery and debt.

He rescued them, and paid the slave price or debt they could not pay.

When God calls Himself our Redeemer, it looks forward to the price that must be paid for our salvation.

Gal 4:4-5 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons

But Jesus didn’t just pay the tab of our sin

His redemption carries with it so much more

Vs. 1b I have called you by your name; You are mine: God twice owns His people.

He has right of ownership both as Creator and Redeemer.

His ownership is personal, because He says I have called you by your name.

His ownership is certain, because He seals it by saying You are mine.

Knowing we belong to the LORD is a wonderful answer to fear.

We can know that He holds us, protects us, guards us, and cares for us.

We can know that He would not have created, redeemed, and called us unless He intended to finish His work in us.

How can we be afraid when we know this God is for us, is looking out for our interests?

Vs. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you: