FREE SALVATION
Isaiah 55:1-3
Morning Meditation 3/12/2014
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."
This is a great gold mine of salvation in Isaiah. I wonder if Isaiah knew the spiritual wealth that was coming from his pen as he wrote these words.
First, of all let's look at--
THE ARTICLES FOR SALE
1. The first mentioned is to take the "milk." Milk, emblematic speaks of the essentials of life. It is used especially for new born babes.. 1 Peter 2:2 says, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" Milk is essential for the growth of babes in Christ.
2. The second mentioned is to take the "wine." Wine in the Bible is emblematic of that which cheers and inspires. Paul deals with this also in relation to the filling of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" Some people take this verse and twist it to mean that one can drink in moderation. This is not what Paul means at all. All of us know that wine does cheer a person. Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit will do for our spiritual lives what wine does to the body. There is nothing spiritual about wine but it does teach a spiritual lesson.
3. This is for growth and happiness. The Lord wants His people to be a rejoicing people. What He had done for us in saving us is priceless.. Next, let's look at--
THE PRICE TO BE PAID
1. What the LORD offers here is free. He says, "Buy without money and without price." As the song says, "Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling."
2. Any price, in the form of good works, that one offers to God to pay for his salvation is an insult to His marvelous grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. God bestows salvation on man freely. He does it all himself. Hebrews 1:3, "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
3. There are those who are working feverishly in churches across this country thinking that what they are doing is going to be enough to satisfy God for their sins. A man who believes that is self deceived. Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Man will go to heaven by faith in the finished work of Christ or he won't go at all.
Matthew 7:21-23, "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." Finally, let's look at--
THE CUSTOMERS INVITED
1. This offer is to the thirsty: "Ho, everyone that thirsteth!" All of us know what it is to be thirsty. Thirst in the Scriptures speaks of desire. I might say strong desire. It is a longing, a craving for satisfaction.. One of the things this brings out is that God saves no one against his will. No one is saved accidentally. Some soul winners have tried to trick people into calling on the name of the Lord for salvation. They succeeded in getting some to repeat the words but they didn't succeed in winning them to Christ. John quotes Jesus in John 7:37, "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."
2. This offer is to the bankrupt: "He that hath no money." Here is a man who is thirsty, he knows he needs salvation, but he has nothing to offer to obtain this salvation. The good news is we have been bought with a price and that price was paid at Calvary.
3. God asks the question through Isaiah: Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread? Why do you labor for that which satisfieth not? There is no satisfaction in one's soul unless he has truly been born again. Good works will not fill that void. God's offer is for free salvation.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
