Wednesday, April 1, 2009

What About the Work of Jehovah

I would like to look at a brief passage of scripture and highlight the work of Jehovah. In chapters 41-43 of Isaiah we see a brief but declarative account of the work of Jehovah. This is certainly not an exhaustive study of this topic but one that I hope will encourage you, strengthen you and challenge you.

Jehovah is Redeemer - Is. 41:14; 43:14
Jehovah is Creator of all creation - Is. 41:20; 42:5; 43:15
Jehovah is Savior - Is. 43:3,11
Jehovah alone is God - Is. 42:8; 43:11-12
Jehovah is LORD = Redeemer = Holy One of Israel = Creator = King - Is.43:15
Jehovah forgives sins and remembers them no more - Is. 43:25

Who is Jehovah? Isaiah 41:4 teaches us that Jehovah is the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Revelation 22:12-13 teaches us that Jesus is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. Therefore, we can rightly conclude from Scripture that Jehovah is Jesus, Jesus is Jehovah.

Jesus is Redeemer - Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14
Jesus is Creator of all creation - Colossians 1:15-17
Jesus is Savior - II Tim. 1:10; Titus 2:13; II Peter 3:18
Jesus is God - Matthew 26:63-64; Mark 14:61-62; John 1:1; Romans 1:4;
Jesus is King - Mark 15:2; Revelation 19:16
Jesus forgives sins - John 1:29; Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 1:7; I John 2:2

It is interesting that as we read Isaiah 43:25 we are reminded that Jesus does forgive sin and He remembers them no more. This passage is likened to Psalm 103:11-2 and Micah 7:19. When God forgives God removes our sin as far as the east is from the west and cast them into the depths of the sea, praise be to Jesus.

We are also reminded in Isaiah 43:25 that Jesus forgives our sin for His glory and not ours. I am afraid and guilty that we too often focus on the great benefits (forgiveness of sin and eternal life) of salvation and forget that salvation is not for our benefit but for God's glory and for His honor.

I praise God for what we do receive in redemption - forgiveness, eternal life, joy, peace, justification, reconciliation, ... - but let us never lose sight of the truth that salvation is a work of God, by God and for God's glory.

Have a great Easter and I pray that you will bask in the amazing, overwhelming, and incredible grace of God.

1 comment:

Bo Lumpkin said...

Good to see a new post. I always get a blessing out of them. Where would we be without Jesus and His forgiveness?.... Lost and without hope.