1575. III. The Lord Thy God, Thy Saviour

III. The Lord Thy God, Thy Saviour

"For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour" (Isa_43:3).

1. Isaiah's first statement as seen in our key text is that Israel's God is a Holy God. This is true of the Christ of the Gentiles.

Consider these words: "Ye denied the Holy One and the Just" (Act_3:14). The Lord Jesus knew no sin, He was the Lamb without spot and without blemish (see 1Pe_1:19).

2. Isaiah's second statement is that Israel's God was her Saviour. In Eph_3:11-13, we read: "I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no Saviour, I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am He."

We may assure our hearts of one thing, that there is no Saviour but One, and that is God. This Isaiah certifies.

We may assure our hearts, according to Isa_42:8 that God has said: "I am the Lord; that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another."

Let us ask ourselves, therefore, Is the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the Gentiles trust, the same as the Lord God of Israel?

Their God is a Saviour; is Jesus Christ not a Saviour?

"Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Mat_1:21). This was the announcement of Gabriel to Mary. Did God give His glory to another? Impossible! Therefore the Saviour of Mat_1:21 is the same as the Saviour of Isa_43:3.

Hear the words of Zacharias, as the Holy Spirit speaks through him: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation" (Luk_1:68-69).

What was the message of the angels to the shepherds concerning the birth of Christ?

"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luk_2:11).

Israel's God was her Saviour, and Isaiah proclaimed there was no other Saviour, and that He would not give His glory to another, and yet Israel's God sent His angel to Mary, and His angel to the shepherds proclaiming that Jesus Christ, Mary's Babe, was Saviour.

No wonder that a multitude of the Heavenly host gave glory to God.

One other thing we must notice: Isaiah said, "I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: * * before Me there was no God * * beside Me there is no Saviour." Peter said, upon the occasion of the healing of the lame man, "There is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Act_4:12).

Do the Gentiles have one Saviour, and the Jews another? Impossible–the Bible is one Book, the Saviour of the Jew is the Saviour of the Gentile: therefore the conclusion is certain, the Christ of the New Testament is the Lord God of Isaiah's prophecy.

3. Isaiah's third statement is that Christ is God: "Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am He; * * I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King" (Isa_43:12-13, Isa_43:15).

Every word spoken above is spoken of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

"In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col_2:9).

Jesus Christ continually used the expression, "I am He," or "I am." He said: "Before Abraham was, I am" (Joh_8:58).

That the Lord Jesus Christ is King, we know.

When the Pharisees rebuked the disciples for pronouncing Him their King, He said, "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out" (Luk_19:40).

When He comes again to the inhabited earth, He will come as King of kings, and Lord of lords (see Rev_19:16).

Oh, that Israel might now receive Him!

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR