THERE IS LIFE IN A LOOK

ISAIAH 45:2

A. AN IMPORTANT TRUTH: "FOR I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE"
  1. The above words express the idea that God, and God alone, is competent to save man from sin: Acts 4:12
  2. It is not in man to save himself:
    1. He cannot change his nature - Jer. 13:23
    2. He cannot atone for his sin - Jer. 2:22
B. A SIMPLE DIRECTION: "LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED"
  1. Man's most serious mistake:
    1. He looks in the wrong direction for help - Ps. 146:3; Jer. 17:5
    2. A mark of the last days - 2 Tim. 4:1-4
  2. Our look to God is an expression of our seeking salvation from Him:
    1. "I will lift up mine eyes to the hills" - Ps. 121:1, 2
    2. You make a promise to anyone and he will look to you for the fulfillment of your promise.
    3. A man, in a shipwreck, looks to the lifeboat to save himself from drowning.
  3. Our look is at once the easiest and also the most difficult way to be saved:
    1. It is the least effort consuming - There is life in a look!
      1. The children of Israel that were bitten by the serpents were directed to look at the "fiery serpent" made by Moses of brass, to be saved - Num. 21:6-9
      2. The servant of the man of God was directed to look to the mountain to see the host of heaven surrounding the prophet - 2 Ki. 6:15-17
    2. It is most difficult because it requires childlike faith in God's promises -
      1. Naaman learned this truth - 2 Ki. 5
      2. The young ruler missed it - Matt. 19
      3. Moses saw it - Heb. 11:24-26
C. A UNIVERSAL INVITATION: "LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH"
  1. The gospel of Jesus Christ offers that invitation to all the world:
    1. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations" - Matt. 28:18-20
    2. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world" - Matt. 24:24
    3. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" - Acts 1:8
  2. Salvation is sufficient for all the needs of earth:
    1. The atonement is sufficient for all the ills of the human race - 1 John 2:1-3
    2. It is God's will that all men should be saved - 1 Tim. 2:1-5
    3. The reception of the gospel of our salvation in all the world is predicted in Bible prophecy - Isa. 61:1-11
  3. It follows:
    1. That all glory of salvation must be ascribed to God -
      1. Rev. 11:13; 14:7; 15:4
      2. Ps. 84:11; 115:1
    2. That is what nine of the lepers that had been cleansed forgot - Luke 17:13-18
    3. That the salvation of sinners depends upon heeding the direction given by God -
      1. Naaman had to learn this truth - 2 Ki. 5:9-14
      2. The blind man followed the Lord's direction and he was healed - John 9:7, 11
    4. Our solemn duty is to direct sinners to Jesus Christ, our only Saviour - Acts 4:12; John 12:32


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