Turn To See The Lord's Salvation

TURN TO SEE THE LORD’S SALVATION (Outline)

ISAIAH 45:21-25 - December 26 2004 - CHRISTMAS 1

INTRO: Watch out! Look out! Be careful! These words of warning bring almost immediate action. A person might even cringe or duck because of what could be coming. Today’s text reminds us to pay attention, pay attention to the word of God and the Savior, Christ Jesus. Believers are to turn to the Lord and be saved. For this very reason believers gather around the word of God – in person, by read-ing or even listening on the radio. "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts"(2 PETER 1:19). May the Lord move us to pay attention so that God’s light shines in the dark places of our sinful hearts and is replaced by the rising of the morning star. Today’s text reminds us: TURN TO SEE THE LORD’S SALVATION. I. There is no other God. II. We worship our Savior.

I. THERE IS NO OTHER GOD

A. Isaiah was God’s prophet to bring God’s message to the people of God.

1. Found necessary to get God’s people turned away from idol worship to worshiping God.

2. The facts of history would speak for themselves. Verse 21a. The Lord had done all things.

B. The present was also in the Lord’s control was the very obvious conclusion drawn from the past.

1. Come to the pay attention section of text. Verse 21b. No other God.

2. Repeats this very important message. Verse 22. Turn from the false to the true – now!

C. Simply put – there was no god like the Lord God. Verse 23a. All promises always true.

D. Isaiah says to us: Pay attention. Look back in your life and see the loving care of the Lord God Almighty. Observe in the present the Lord God Almighty’s loving concern. This is the Lord our God who cares for mankind with infinite care – from the very creation of the world to the very end of this world and beyond. To Adam and Eve God promised a Savior. We see that promised fulfilled in the New Testament and that event still celebrated today. God’s promises are trustworthy! "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ’Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ’Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God"(2 CORINTHIANS 1:20). God’s promises are fulfilled in Christ. We say Amen, thank you Jesus as we turn to see the Lord’s salvation.

E. America celebrates its freedom of religion. There are no restrictions placed on the various faiths and followers in this great land of ours. This is a good thing. It is also a bad thing when all too many chose not to follow Christ. We have seen man-made religions come and go. Some have drawn people to their deaths because of their Messiah complex. At times Christianity is considered to restrictive be-cause of conviction. Christians are convinced that Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life. Many others would say that is too narrow. The early apostles also faced the same opposition. Their answer, as well as ours, remains the same. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved"(ACTS 4:12). Turn to see the Lord’s salvation.

F. There is no other God by which men must be saved. This message needs to be repeated and preached in this age and nation of religious plurality. Many religions try to take away (and actually succeed) the certainty of eternal salvation. The false gods of this world hold their followers captive with threats of punishment, vengeance and certain destruction. Not the true God. For the Lord God Almighty, the triune God is the only true God. There is no other. Our Lord loves his creation. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time"(1 TIMOTHY 2:5,6). The Savior, our Sav-ior, Jesus was born at just the right time for the salvation of the world.

TRANS: Turn to see the Lord’s salvation in the manger at Bethlehem. There is no other God. Our lives reflect that simple truth as II. We worship (and praise) our Savior.

II. WE WORSHIP (AND PRAISE) OUR SAVIOR

A. Isaiah wanted God’s people to focus on the true God rather than all the false gods among them.

1. Turn to me and be saved. The Lord’s promises are true: past, present and future.