PREDESTINATION, SALVATION & SECURITY

It’s really hard for me to understand why people choose to make God less than He is, and I believe most of the arguments I have heard regarding this subject do just that.  The key thing to remember is to take the whole counsel of God and not just part of it and remember that God does not contradict Himself.  I believe that those who say that man has no choice regarding placing one’s faith in God are limiting God’s power to accomplish His purposes without using preprogrammed creatures.  Those who say you can lose your salvation are limiting God’s power and ability to finish the work that He has begun in the life of the believer.  

God is sovereign; His Word is clear on that point.  His plan and purposes will be accomplished. 

 

Isaiah 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand….

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

In His sovereignty God decided to give man the freedom of choice, a will.  My God is so big that in spite of the choices men would make throughout history, God has accomplished and continues to accomplish His purposes.  He doesn’t need the crutch of a robotic creation that cannot think and choose.  He is so big and so omniscient, that He could implement His whole plan before the foundation of the world in spite of and including the choices that men would make—we’re talking billions of people and thousands of years!

God is not willing that any should perish.  God does not lie.  These verses alone show that God hasn’t sovereignly chosen some people for eternal life and others for eternal damnation.

Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

These verses indicate that man has a will, an ability to make the choice to repent.  They also state that God is not willing that any should perish.  God desires ALL to come to repentance.

The question will surely surface, “Well, what about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart?”  When we read that God hardens someone’s heart, we can understand that He is giving them over to their own desires to accomplish His purposes.  That principle is stated by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans.

Romans 1:21-25 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Building on the scriptural foundation that has been established, we can move on to the dreaded word—“predestination.”  I would like to use an excerpt from my study in the book of Romans at this point.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

 “to them that love God” – As I looked at the Greek, this love is an act of the will as a matter of principle, duty, and propriety.  It is a response to truly knowing and embracing all the truth about God and His provision for us.

“to them who are the called” – The Greek for the word called speaks of an invitation and an appointment.  The scripture doesn’t contradict itself.  The LORD makes it clear in scripture that He is not willing that any should perish.

John tells us that ALL will be taught of God.

John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

The desire of the teacher is that his students learn.  And Paul started this book to the Romans saying that man was without excuse.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse….

All that said to say this.  Salvation isn’t just for some people; Christ died for all; but only those who accept the invitation, who learn the lesson, will be appointed to salvation.  Sadly, those who reject that invitation will be eternally damned.

“according to His purpose” – A wonderful truth.  We are His for a purpose.  Life has meaning.  The experiences God allows to touch us have a reason—not just any reason, a special purpose in the plans of God.  What a comfort and privilege!

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

To foreknow means to know beforehand.  Predestinate is to “limit in advance, determine before.”  Because He is God, He knew everything that ever would happen before He ever created one thing.  (That truth alone poses many questions that I can’t begin to discuss.)  The fact is that He knew in advance every person’s response to Him—whether it would be in faith and obedience or rejection and disobedience.  Those who fell into the category of faith and obedience were predestined to be likened to His Son Jesus.  Conformed means to be “jointly formed, similar.”  I think this is talking about being redeemed in a glorified body and restored in fellowship as was intended from the creation.  Jesus’ obedience to His Father and resurrection from the dead made Him the “firstborn among many brethren.”  Although the scripture states that there will be few in comparison to the potential who will find salvation (Matthew 7:14), this verse assures us that from the human perspective, the LORD will have many brethren—people who choose salvation. 

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 

The above verse uses a different Greek word for called than is used in verse 28; this word simply means “to call forth, to bid.”  It makes me think of the LORD as He called each of His 12 disciples.  Those who have been predestined are called, singled out for service because of their acceptance of His invitation, and are justified; they are declared innocent and righteous, which means that they are no longer under condemnation. 

How does one accept God’s invitation?  Through faith, through belief in Jesus as the Son of God and acceptance of His sacrifice for your sin on the cross. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Is there more than one way to get saved?  No.  Jesus declared that He was the only way.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Why would one choose to come to God in faith?  Because he recognizes his need; he recognizes that he is a sinner in need of salvation.  Why do we go to a doctor?  Because we know we are sick.  Once you recognize that you are a sinner and you understand that Jesus can deliver you from that sin, all you have to do is repent and believe.  

The scripture goes on to tell us that salvation is a gift of God.  

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Because of the context of the following verse (v9), I believe that salvation is the gift being referenced since it is being compared to something one could work for or earn on your own.  But—Even if you put the emphasis on the faith that saves being a gift from God, the truth doesn’t change.  A gift has to be accepted before it becomes your possession.  The foundational truths already stated prohibit this gift only being available to some and not all.

Salvation is a gift; and the scripture tells us that God doesn’t take back His gifts.  He doesn’t change His mind.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Everything regarding our salvation is accomplished by God.  We cannot take credit for any part of that provision.  

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ….

God is the one responsible for the work of salvation in our lives as believers.  Once we accept His gift, He will continue the work that He has started until our future is secured by the return of Jesus Christ as King.  We can have confidence and trust in this fact.  What Jesus has started will be finished (from the Greek for perform).  He’s not like us.

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Those who come to God through faith in Jesus are saved to the uttermost—thoroughly, wholly, taking us to the conclusion of our faith.  How is that possible?  Because Jesus as our high priest is always making intercession for us.  We know from other scripture that any prayer made according to God’s will, will be answered…..and we know that Jesus intercedes (prays) for us according to the will of the Father.  Not only the Savior, but the Spirit is interceding for us according to the will of the Father as well.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is the Author (originator, creator) and Finisher (completer) of our faith.  He is now seated in a position of authority at the throne of God.  If He is the one who accomplishes it, then it must be considered done.

Jude 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

The Greek for keep states to “guard, preserve.”  Jude is obviously giving praise to God our Savior (Jesus).  He is comforting the believers with the assurance that their God is able to keep them from falling (into continual sin) and present them faultless (unblemished, without blame) before the throne (of God the Father).  Interestingly, the Greek for falling states “without sin.”  That tells me that God will keep us clean and righteous in spite of the times that we fail. Forgiveness is ours for the asking.

1John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And finally, a statement of support from the Old Testament.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

As an exclamation point, the believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit until he is redeemed.

Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Believers are sealed (stamped for security or preservation) with the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit dwelling in us is the earnest (the pledge or security for the rest that is to come) of our inheritance (eternal life).

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Again, the Holy Spirit is our SEAL until the day of redemption.

We get our thinking messed up because people claim to know the truth and even participate as part of the family for a while--and then walk away from it.  John makes it very clear, that those who are part of God’s family will remain a part of the family.

1John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Those who “leave” are revealing themselves as imposters, as unbelievers.  They may have made a profession and gone through the motions, but they never really had a change of heart.

How does the scripture say a believer can be identified?  This is crucial to the question of security in my mind because there are so many who are claiming Him falsely. 

The believer loves Jesus and keeps His sayings (teachings, commands).  He is obedient.

John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

The true believer will bear fruit; fruit is born as a result of obeying the Word of God and following the leadership of the Spirit.  In fact, God will work in the life of the believer to make him more fruitful.

John 15:1-2 & 6 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit….If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

The question begs, “What kind of fruit?”

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

The child of God will experience His chastening.  He will not allow our sin to go unpunished.

Hebrews 12:6-8 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

A person with true faith will show it in his life through actions in obedience to the Word of God.  These are not works that earn salvation; these are works that prove salvation.

James 2:17 & 26 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone….For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

John is very clear and supports the truth shared by James—those who truly know Jesus, true believers, will obey Him.

1John 2:3-5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

A true child of God will not practice sin.  A true child of God will practice righteousness.  Webster defines “practice” as “frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance.”  This is talking about the way you live, not about isolated sins.  The Christian is subject to sin as long as we are in this unglorified body, a physical body born with the sin nature.  Paul addresses this very issue in the book of Romans.

Romans 7:22-25 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Are there those that identify themselves as doing the work of God whom God will reject?  Yes.

Mathew. 7:15-23 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Jesus is identifying true believers as those who are doing the will of His Father in heaven.  Satan has the ability to work through people as a counterfeit and a deceiver—even as an angel of light.  These counterfeits will be rejected by the Savior since they are not doing the works of the Father in heaven, but the works of their father, Satan.

2Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The challenge—Examine yourselves.  Are you producing the fruits of the Spirit?  Are you showing your love for the Savior through obedience to His Word?  Are you comfortable in your sin or do you experience God’s chastening?

2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

UPDATE - ISAIAH 53

Such a powerful section of scripture.  How the Jewish people can read it and not see Jesus is truly hard to understand.  Satan's power of deception is so strong.  May you be blessed as you consider all that Jesus endured to provide salvation for you and me--salvation that will allow us to live eternally with Him in heaven.

Is. 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 

Whose report?  It would seem that Isaiah is speaking as representative of the prophets or maybe even the Trinity in this verse and then as representative of the Jewish people in the next several verses.

What report?  The report being given in the last chapter—Israel being restored in relationship to YHWH and occupying a place of blessing and prosperity.  In particular, the message of the last three verses declaring that Messiah will be King of kings; but before that happens, He will be beaten beyond recognition and put to death for the atonement of the sins of the nations—including the Gentiles.  This makes me think of verses from my recent study in 1Corinthians.

1Corinthians 1:23-25 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The truth of this message is unbelievable according to man’s way of thinking, but is the embodiment of love and wisdom in God’s thoughts.  

The answer to the second question in the verse is found in 52:10.

Isaiah 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

(See comments in previous chapter.)

Is. 53:2 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. 

“He,” Jesus, will grow up before “Him,” God the Father.  Jesus came to earth as a baby (a tender plant); He had to grow into a man just as any other male child born on this earth.  

“a root out of a dry ground” – I think this is a reference to the land of Israel as a spiritual desert.  He grew up spiritually healthy in spite of His environment.

Jesus was not an especially handsome man.  People weren’t drawn to Him because of His looks.  The beauty of the man Jesus came from within—not from His outward appearance.  This is not surprising in light of the truth declared in other scriptures.

1Samuel 16:7b …for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1Peter 3:3-4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Is. 53:3 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. 

Jesus began His years of ministry as a young man, and many were drawn to hear Him because of the miracles He performed.  Many became true believers and followers of Jesus, but the majority of the people rejected Him—especially once He began to declare Himself the Son of God.  They were completely blind to the truth of the scriptures and thought He was blasphemous for even suggesting such a thing.  The spiritual leaders of the nation in particular despised Him.  They were threatened by the popularity He attained through the working of miracles, and they resented the fact that He performed these miracles on the Sabbath.  They were so bound in legalism that they had totally perverted the intent of the law.  Because of the power these leaders exerted in society, many were afraid to step out in faith to follow Jesus; they were afraid of the social repercussions.

“a man of sorrows…grief” – There are many incidents in the New Testament that speak about the LORD’s compassion for the people.  He felt their pain, their grief.  Most of His miracles were miracles of healing that relieved pain and suffering.  Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus.  Jesus was in agony in the garden of Gethsemane before His arrest.  He didn’t want to endure the cross, yet He wanted more to do the Father’s will.

Mark 14:35-36 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

“we hid…our faces” – I believe this has to be a reference to having to turn from the view of a man that was beaten beyond recognition.

“despised…esteemed him not” – Even Pilate could find no fault in Jesus.  He yielded to the will of the crowd to protect his own position.

Matthew 27:24-25 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

The people were determined to crucify the Savior, to the point of cursing their own children if they were wrong.

Is. 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 

“borne” = lift, suffer, carry (away), forgive, pardon, wear—Webster: Carried; conveyed; supported; defrayed.

“defray” = 1. To pay or discharge; to serve in payment of; to provide for, as a charge, debt, expenses, costs, etc.  2. To avert or appease, as by paying off; to satisfy; as, to defray wrath.

“griefs” – anxiety, disease, sickness, weakness

I thought the definitions from the Hebrew and Webster were especially helpful.  The word borne not only included the idea of carrying and suffering, but the idea of forgiveness and pardon.  The word defray was particularly specific; Jesus averted God’s wrath from us by paying our sin debt and satisfying God’s justice.  As I continued to think on this verse, I realized that our griefs, anxieties, diseases, sicknesses, weaknesses and sorrows are all a result of sin.  This thought immediately led me to a verse in 1Peter.

1Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

By baring our sins in His body on the cross, He was also baring our griefs and sorrows.  The main point being—Christ died in my stead.  He sacrificed Himself to give me an abundant life.

Although I am making personal application, I am reminded that Isaiah is speaking to the Jewish people specifically.  The Jewish leaders and all those that supported them in their determination to crucify the Savior felt justified in their actions.  They assumed that He was getting His just punishment and judgment from God.

“esteem” = “to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (gen.) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think…”

This certainly wasn’t what I expected when looking up the Hebrew for esteem.  This seems to paint a very descriptive word picture of what was going on in the minds of the Pharisees in particular as they sought to get Jesus killed.  They were weaving a fabricated story with malicious intent to bring about the death of an innocent man.  They tried to justify their actions by arguing that they were defending the honor of God by judging the One they considered a blasphemer.

Is. 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. 

The wounding, bruising and stripes are all physical inflictions upon the body of Christ before He ever got to the cross.  The Hebrew for bruised was very graphic—to beat to pieces, break in pieces, crush.  Transgressions are acts of willful rebellion and disobedience to God; iniquities are a reference to the moral evil and wickedness that are a result of our sin nature.  

Chastisement speaks of reproof, instruction, correction, and discipline; Webster goes on to add punishment through the inflicting of pain.  I thought the second definition from Webster was very applicable—“To reduce to order or obedience; to correct or purify; to free from faults or excesses.”  Christ was punished to bring us to a position of obedience and purity—to make us righteous, free from faults.  Because of His sacrifice, we can have peace (safety, happiness, health and prosperity).   Because of His sacrifice, we are healed (spiritually).  This again brings to mind the verse from 1Peter referenced above.

Is. 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. 

“gone astray” = deceive, (cause to, make to) err, seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the way.

As I look at the first two clauses in this verse I get a picture of two different kinds of sheep.  The first one wanders off from where he should be because of deceit, or bad judgment, or seduction, or physical impairment.  The second is making a deliberate choice to go off on his own and choose a path independent of the shepherd.  These directly relate to the sinners and transgressors in the previous verse.

“laid” = to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity:—come (betwixt), cause to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay…

“impinge” = To fall or dash against; to touch upon; to strike; to hit; to clash with

More often than not, the Hebrew sends my mind spinning in many directions.  YHWH, God the Father, laid our sin on Jesus, His Son.  Paul declared this truth in his letter to the Corinthians.  As I read through the different translations, I wasn’t really satisfied with any of them.  I think you need a couple of them to get the complete picture.

CJB - 2Corinthians 5:21 God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.”

NIV - 2Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In my mind it is important to recognize that in becoming our sin offering He became our sin.  He was there in our stead.  This is something the Jews that lived under the sacrificial system of the law understood much more completely than do we who live under grace.  

By laying our sin on Jesus, God the Father effectively created a separation between Himself and His Son that had never before existed.  

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

I don’t think we can truly understand how violent and terrible this was for Father or Son.  Jesus didn’t just suffer the judgment for my sin or your sin; He suffered judgment for the sins of every person who has ever lived or will ever live on planet earth.  His sacrifice was for all.

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

1Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

After willingly and obediently becoming our sacrifice, Jesus became our intercessor before the Father.  

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Is. 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 

Oppressed doesn’t sound so bad; however, the Hebrew gives a clearer picture—He was driven like an animal and tyrannized.  He was afflicted; the Hebrew included humbling oneself and submitting.  No matter how unjust or cruel His treatment, He endured it without complaint or fighting back.  He is pictured as a lamb being taken to slaughter and as a sheep being taken to have its wool shaved off—completely submissive. 

Is. 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 

I really liked the reading of the Complete Jewish Bible for this verse.

After forcible arrest and sentencing, he was taken away; and none of his generation protested his being cut off from the land of the living for the crimes of my people, who deserved the punishment themselves.

The Hebrew for declare includes speaking out in complaint.  That is a very sad statement and fits in with the gospel accounts.  They are clear that Peter made a point to deny Him several times.  We know that His mother, John and some other faithful women followers were at the cross and grieving; but nowhere do we hear anyone speaking out on His behalf except Pilate.

The most important point being made in this verse is that Jesus was beaten and killed for our (Isaiah is specifically referencing the Jews) willful sins.

Is. 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 

I wasn’t really happy with any of the nine translations I read for this verse.  It’s wording is a bit confusing.  The word grave is a reference to the tomb and the word death references Hades, the place of the dead.  I think I got tripped up by equating “the rich” with Joseph of Arimathea (the rich man in whose grave Jesus was buried).  The key seems to be that He was put to death with those who were wicked and deserving of death.  When He went to Hades, He would have gone to the section we know as Abraham’s Bosom. 

Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Note that Hades is translated “hell” in Luke 16.  Paul speaks of the LORD going to Hades in his letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:9-10 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Knowing that Abraham’s Bosom was the section designated to people of faith, we can then understand that Jesus indeed fellowshipped with those who were truly “rich” in Hades.  These are they who would experience the joy of eternity with the Savior.

The last half of the verse emphasizes that Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God as John the Baptist had declared.

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.

He had not done anything violent (or wrong or unjust) and had never spoken deceitfully (or falsely or fraudulently or treacherously).

Is. 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

 

“it pleased the LORD” – This is a hard phrase for me to digest.  God the Father was pleased (desired and took delight) with the bruising (beating to pieces, crushing) and grief (pain, weakness, wounding) of His Son.  I can hardly see through the tears even as I type this.  It’s easier for me to put the focus of His pleasure on the obedience of His Son—His Son’s desire to do the will of His Father over His own will.  The thing is—the Father would never have put such a plan into place were it not for my sin.  I know my heart; I would never have chosen such a selfless act of unconditional love and sacrifice involving my son.  God’s love is so amazing!  The lengths to which He has gone to have a relationship with me as His child is totally beyond my understanding.  I know how many times I have failed Him—sometimes ignorantly, but more often than not by willful choice.  I am so unworthy, yet He considers me of great value, a special treasure.  This is one truth I’m not sure I’ll ever understand—even in heaven.

Jesus was both our complete sin and trespass offering (described in Leviticus 

4-6).  Again, the Jewish people understood this far better than we.  The main difference being that the offering of Jesus was sufficient once for all.

“he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days” – I had to stop and think about this phrase quite a while.  I finally realized that the word his was throwing me; it is not in the original.  It doesn’t matter so much with the first phrase as it does with the second.  Jesus would see his seed, His offspring; that is a reference to His spiritual offspring—not physical.  “He shall prolong days” I think is a reference to the time that the Father would allow for the offspring to be a great multitude.  As I was reminded when reading through one commentary, to have many children was considered a special blessing to the Jews; and the Father wants to greatly honor His Son.

The last clause of this verse is a declaration of victory and success; there is no doubt of the Father’s will being accomplished.  No matter how deceptive Satan and his legions are and no matter that men choose to rebel against and deny Him, God’s plan will be carried out in every detail.  I thought it was interesting that the Hebrew for prosper stated “to push forward.”  Jesus is the One Who will accomplish the plans of the Father through His workings with and among people on this earth.  

Is. 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 

“my righteous servant” = Jesus, the Son of God

When Jesus sees what He has accomplished through His very painful and sorrowful obedience to the Father, He will be satisfied (to the full, satiated).  It’s only because the Savior was obedient in following the Father’s will to truly “know” such pain and sorrow that many will be justified (made righteous—just as if I’d never sinned).  How?  By becoming the final sin offering.  (See 2Corinthians 5:21 above)

Is. 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Frankly, I didn’t like any of the translations I read.  Something doesn’t set right with me in understanding that the Father is giving the Son a portion or division of the spoils of victory.  When I looked at the Hebrew for divide, it included “separate self.”  No I don’t know Hebrew, but it makes more sense to me for it to read something like, “Therefore I will separate Him to receive great (multiplied by the myriad) reward, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong.”  

Maybe I’m wrong, but I see Christ as the Victor and as the One Who will divide His kingdom with the strong (those who by faith are overcomers).   This seems to be the truth stated in Revelation

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

The Father shared His throne with the Son, and the Son will share His throne with those who follow Him in faith.  Why will the Father reward His Son so magnificently?  Because of His obedience.  He willingly laid down His life despite being unjustly condemned and treated like a common criminal.  He became my sin, our sin, the final sufficient sin offering for all who would come to Him in faith.  Even as He was suffering on the cross, he prayed for those who had rejected Him.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.