The LORD is HE who lifts up beggars from the dunghill and casts down the “well to do” and “religious” men of the Earth. CHRIST is the SAVIOR of sinners, and the scripture is clear that HE came to save sinners even as Paul declared, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1Tim 1:15) Now we are certain that all men without exception have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD. Yet we are equally certain that not all men are “sinners”. Joseph Hart said it best, “What comfort can a Saviour bring To those who never felt their woe? A sinner is a sacred thing; The Holy Ghost has made him so. New life from him we must receive, Before for sin we rightly grieve.” (#89, Gadsby’s Hymns)
It is impossible that a man should recognize what sin is and the true depths of sin which permeate his very being, apart from a work of grace by the SPIRIT of GOD, to open his eyes and cause him to see. This is what the LORD spoke to Nicodemus about saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) A man who is not born again (i.e.; given eternal LIFE which brings a new mind and/or understanding from above), may embrace many tenets of the Gospel and even acknowledge that CHRIST is the SAVIOR. Yet apart from this “new birth” he cannot grasp the great gulf that exists between himself and the LORD, due to, not only the sins that he has committed, but by the very fact that all of his righteousnesses are as dung before the LORD.
Many religious and well-respected members of the church community, deny their own unsuitableness to come into the presence of GOD, by expressing the notion that they can come to the LORD by an action of their own free will. Religious men will grow angry when told that they cannot be saved apart from the free grace of GOD being bestowed on them upon no basis but the sovereign will of GOD, who will show mercy to whom HE will, and harden whom HE will. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44) “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” (John 6:65)
Immediately after the LORD said those words, many of HIS followers turned back and walked no more with HIM. They had rejoiced in the miracles which HE performed and found help in many of the things which HE taught, but when HE plainly declared that HE alone enables men to come unto HIM, they hated HIS message. It is still true today. Great crowds will gather to be entertained, encouraged, and patted upon the back for their various good deeds and acts of obedience to the “LORD” as long as they feel they can determine their participation according to their own choice. But when religious men are clearly told that “Salvation is of the LORD” and not some cooperative effort on their own part with the LORD, they will not abide such “hard doctrine”, as they call it.
The reaction of “sinners” on the other hand is to put their faces to the ground like the Publican saying “GOD be merciful to me a sinner.” They have no reason to think that HE “should” show mercy to them and are convinced that they have nothing to bring unto HIM. They can make no boast, nor in anywise have hope in anything but HIS mercy. They are as Job who said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in (i.e.; patiently wait, hope, call upon) him.” (Job 13:15)
Thus, the LORD demonstrates HIS work in those whom HE is determined to save. HE will not lose even one of those who are given to HIM by HIS FATHER. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40)
The prophecies of the Old Testament all point to CHRIST in one fashion or another, since the whole theme of the Bible, from beginning to end, is the redemptive work of CHRIST in the behalf of that elect bride which was chosen in HIM from before the foundation of the world.
Both Isaiah and Micah prophesied, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isa 2:2; see Micah 4:1-3) Many are in a quandry as to when these “last days” shall come, thinking of it as a future event. Yet the scriptures clearly tell us that the coming of CHRIST in flesh and blood, as the PROPHET of GOD and the REDEEMER of sinners, ushered in the last days in which we currently dwell.“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 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.” (Heb 1:1-3) John said, “Little children, it is the last time.” (1John 2:18) “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2Cor 6:2) There is coming no other.
Isaiah prophesied of this same “mountain” in 25:6. This “mountain” is the Kingdom of GOD, manifested in CHRIST’s redemptive work as the SAVIOR of sinners. HE declared that HE would build this Kingdom which hell itself could not overturn. “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mat 16:18) This is a Kingdom which is not built with carnal stones and timbers, but rather with stones made alive by HIS eternal power. “Ye also, as lively stones, (there is no more inanimate object in the Earth than a stone, yet these stones are made to live) are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1Pet 2:5) “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (Psa 141:2) “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev 5:9-10)
The LORD made provision for the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness, feeding them with manna which they neither made themselves nor could they enhance its supply. HE also fed the five thousand and the four thousand in the same fashion. HE will provide that which not only sustains the sons of GOD but fills them, even as there were baskets of food left over. Thus, we read Isaiah’s prophecy of a grandiose feast which is spread for the sons of GOD in the present hour.
The LORD has given the sons of GOD a “feast of fat things” in the declaration of the gospel of HIS glory. It is in this proclamation that HE is pleased to bring “life and immortality to light”, (i.e.; to make it known that HE is the GIVER of LIFE.) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Rom 1:16) It is here that they are given “wine on the lees well refined” (i.e.; the very best wine). For it is here that they drink HIS blood which is the remission of their sin. It is here at this feast that they eat HIS flesh which was broken for them, beholding HIM as that LAMB slain in their behalf. Here they feed upon HIS doctrine with is “fat things full of marrow”. They are fed from HIS table and dare not eat at another, for they are satisfied with CHRIST as ALL in all. “I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.” (Psa 71:16) ”For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”(1Cor 2:2)
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