1 00:00:00,660 –> 00:00:03,240 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:03,240 –> 00:00:09,840 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN365 for visit 3 00:00:09,860 –> 00:00:13,440 our website, openthebible.org. 4 00:00:13,440 –> 00:00:14,400 Let’s get to the message. 5 00:00:14,540 –> 00:00:15,900 Here is Pastor Colin. 6 00:00:15,900 –> 00:00:19,400 Well, please open your Bible at Isaiah 7 00:00:19,440 –> 00:00:22,500 and chapter 53, this marvelous chapter 8 00:00:22,559 –> 00:00:25,139 that takes us to the very heart of all 9 00:00:25,160 –> 00:00:29,200 that Jesus Christ has accomplished throughout the year. 10 00:00:29,459 –> 00:00:33,500 Now, we’ve seen that God’s great purpose is to bring 11 00:00:33,540 –> 00:00:38,080 about a great restoration of all that was lost 12 00:00:38,099 –> 00:00:41,700 by the entrance of sin into the world. 13 00:00:41,740 –> 00:00:43,720 And Isaiah begins there, he tells us 14 00:00:43,740 –> 00:00:48,740 that Jesus bore our griefs and He carried our sorrows. 15 00:00:49,639 –> 00:00:51,540 Now griefs and sorrows are obviously 16 00:00:51,580 –> 00:00:55,720 the effects of the entrance of sin into the world. 17 00:00:56,220 –> 00:00:57,740 And so Isaiah is telling us 18 00:00:57,779 –> 00:01:02,619 that Jesus took all of the effects of sin on himself, 19 00:01:02,660 –> 00:01:07,300 all the blights, human life for us in this world. 20 00:01:07,320 –> 00:01:09,099 We live in a fallen world 21 00:01:09,120 –> 00:01:12,300 where griefs and sorrows abound, 22 00:01:12,339 –> 00:01:15,639 but God has promised a new creation, 23 00:01:15,660 –> 00:01:18,540 a world that is going to be free from sin 24 00:01:18,580 –> 00:01:21,440 and from all of its ugly effects, 25 00:01:21,480 –> 00:01:25,080 a world where dead still desire to live, 26 00:01:26,040 –> 00:01:29,440 a world where death and mourning and crying and pain 27 00:01:29,480 –> 00:01:31,120 will be no more, 28 00:01:31,139 –> 00:01:35,440 a world where God himself will be present with us 29 00:01:35,480 –> 00:01:41,519 and we will wipe away all tears from our eyes. 30 00:01:41,559 –> 00:01:44,300 There will be a great restoration. 31 00:01:44,320 –> 00:01:47,199 This is the good news of the Bible’s story, 32 00:01:47,220 –> 00:01:48,599 and it will come about 33 00:01:48,620 –> 00:01:53,360 because Jesus carried our griefs and our sorrows. 34 00:01:53,519 –> 00:01:55,919 We will be filled with life from thatβ 35 00:01:55,959 –> 00:01:59,320 and we will be full of Tampa, 36 00:01:59,360 –> 00:02:02,360 our greatest mess. 37 00:02:02,400 –> 00:02:06,000 Consider that if you follow the words of Isaiah 38 00:02:06,040 –> 00:02:10,600 for which there is no other refuge, 39 00:02:10,639 –> 00:02:14,080 we will be purified from our state, 40 00:02:14,100 –> 00:02:17,539 born in him on the three legs of the mountain, 41 00:02:17,580 –> 00:02:21,179 and we will be exempt from our sins, 42 00:02:21,220 –> 00:02:23,139 and we will be up one over the end of the world 43 00:02:23,660 –> 00:02:26,000 all our equalities. 44 00:02:26,039 –> 00:02:29,380 Upon him was the Chastisement that brought us peace, 45 00:02:29,399 –> 00:02:32,679 and with his wounds we are healed. 46 00:02:32,699 –> 00:02:36,279 So Jesus purchased our restoration. 47 00:02:36,320 –> 00:02:37,820 And how did he do this? 48 00:02:37,839 –> 00:02:41,820 He did it by substitution. 49 00:02:41,860 –> 00:02:43,720 Now that’s verse 4 and verse 5, 50 00:02:43,759 –> 00:02:46,279 and today we’re asking a question 51 00:02:46,320 –> 00:02:48,320 that will take us even further. 52 00:02:48,360 –> 00:02:50,600 What, then, did it mean 53 00:02:51,419 –> 00:02:54,759 and what does this mean for us today? 54 00:02:54,800 –> 00:02:57,759 And Isaiah tells us in verse 6 55 00:02:57,800 –> 00:03:00,000 that is our focus today. 56 00:03:00,039 –> 00:03:04,179 All we, like sheep, have gone astray. 57 00:03:04,199 –> 00:03:07,699 We have turned everyone to his own way, 58 00:03:07,740 –> 00:03:12,380 and the Lord has laid on him 59 00:03:12,419 –> 00:03:15,759 the iniquity of us all. 60 00:03:15,779 –> 00:03:18,779 Now the word that describes 61 00:03:19,380 –> 00:03:21,479 what God did here 62 00:03:21,500 –> 00:03:24,440 is the word imputation, 63 00:03:24,479 –> 00:03:30,539 and to impute is simply to charge or to count. 64 00:03:30,580 –> 00:03:32,759 It is a word that is used several times, 65 00:03:32,779 –> 00:03:35,580 mainly in older translations of the Bible. 66 00:03:35,619 –> 00:03:41,320 For example, in Psalm 32 verse 2 we read these words. 67 00:03:41,360 –> 00:03:46,860 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute inequity, 68 00:03:46,899 –> 00:03:48,399 or it could be translated 69 00:03:48,479 –> 00:03:52,419 against whom the Lord does not count inequity. 70 00:03:52,460 –> 00:03:55,839 In other words, you are blessed 71 00:03:55,860 –> 00:04:02,199 if God does not count or charge your sins against you. 72 00:04:02,240 –> 00:04:03,880 And of course, that leads to the question, 73 00:04:03,899 –> 00:04:11,440 well, how could God in justice not charge our sins against us? 74 00:04:11,479 –> 00:04:16,880 And the answer is that Jesus became our substitute 75 00:04:17,200 –> 00:04:22,239 and God charged our sins to Jesus. 76 00:04:22,279 –> 00:04:24,019 Our sins, we’re told in this verse, 77 00:04:24,040 –> 00:04:29,320 six that’s before us today, were actually laid on Him. 78 00:04:29,339 –> 00:04:33,160 And because they were laid on Him, 79 00:04:33,179 –> 00:04:36,859 they no longer lie on us. 80 00:04:36,899 –> 00:04:39,899 So the message of these remarkable verses 81 00:04:39,920 –> 00:04:41,260 that take us to the very heart 82 00:04:41,299 –> 00:04:44,799 of what Jesus accomplished on the cross in summary is this, 83 00:04:44,799 –> 00:04:48,600 that Jesus has purchased our restoration, 84 00:04:48,619 –> 00:04:52,040 and the way that He did it was by substitution 85 00:04:52,059 –> 00:04:54,739 and by imputation. 86 00:04:54,760 –> 00:04:59,679 Our sins were laid on Him. 87 00:04:59,700 –> 00:05:01,500 Now, the verse that’s before us today 88 00:05:01,540 –> 00:05:04,739 is stunningly simple, 89 00:05:04,779 –> 00:05:06,679 and yet at the same time 90 00:05:06,720 –> 00:05:10,920 it is unfathomably profound. 91 00:05:10,959 –> 00:05:13,079 I want to make three very simple 92 00:05:13,440 –> 00:05:15,739 observations from it. 93 00:05:15,779 –> 00:05:19,380 First, what we have done, 94 00:05:19,399 –> 00:05:21,720 second, what God has done, 95 00:05:21,739 –> 00:05:26,640 and thirdly, what we must do. 96 00:05:26,679 –> 00:05:28,779 So, first then, what we have done, 97 00:05:28,820 –> 00:05:30,660 and notice the first part of the verse. 98 00:05:30,700 –> 00:05:34,220 All we like sheep have gone astray, 99 00:05:34,260 –> 00:05:39,299 we have turned every one to his own way. 100 00:05:39,320 –> 00:05:42,040 Now, notice that Isaiah describes here 101 00:05:42,040 –> 00:05:45,100 both our common condition 102 00:05:45,140 –> 00:05:47,359 and its individual expression. 103 00:05:47,399 –> 00:05:50,440 He tells us what is true of all of us, 104 00:05:50,480 –> 00:05:53,480 and then he tells us what is true of each of us. 105 00:05:53,500 –> 00:05:55,820 Notice what’s true of all of us, 106 00:05:55,839 –> 00:06:01,859 all we like sheep have gone astray. 107 00:06:01,880 –> 00:06:03,619 Now, we saw last time from verse 5 108 00:06:03,660 –> 00:06:07,600 that God describes this in words. 109 00:06:07,760 –> 00:06:11,959 Transgression which speaks of our defiance, 110 00:06:12,000 –> 00:06:15,940 iniquity that speaks of our twistedness, 111 00:06:15,959 –> 00:06:19,779 chastisement that speaks of our guilt, 112 00:06:19,799 –> 00:06:25,500 and woundedness that needs to be healed. 113 00:06:25,540 –> 00:06:28,839 Now, having used these words, 114 00:06:28,880 –> 00:06:32,959 God gives us this remarkably picture 115 00:06:32,980 –> 00:06:35,880 as an illustration. 116 00:06:35,880 –> 00:06:39,000 Here’s what our defiance, our twistedness, 117 00:06:39,040 –> 00:06:43,220 our guilt and our woundedness look like in practice. 118 00:06:43,239 –> 00:06:46,839 We’re all like wandering sheep. 119 00:06:46,880 –> 00:06:51,760 All we like sheep have gone astray. 120 00:06:51,779 –> 00:06:56,160 Now, remember that Isiah is speaking here to God’s people 121 00:06:56,200 –> 00:06:59,899 and he’s reminding us that we are sinners 122 00:07:00,100 –> 00:07:04,739 as much as those who have no time for God at all. 123 00:07:06,299 –> 00:07:07,579 Try and take that in 124 00:07:09,119 –> 00:07:10,720 because the reality is 125 00:07:10,739 –> 00:07:14,220 that when you’ve been a Christian for a few years 126 00:07:14,239 –> 00:07:15,779 or a few decades, 127 00:07:15,820 –> 00:07:18,959 it’s very easy to get the idea 128 00:07:18,980 –> 00:07:25,260 that somehow other people need a savior more than you do. 129 00:07:25,299 –> 00:07:26,859 It’s easy to get the idea 130 00:07:26,920 –> 00:07:30,260 that somehow our sins are less than the sins of others 131 00:07:30,299 –> 00:07:34,899 because, well, at least we’re making an effort to live for God. 132 00:07:35,760 –> 00:07:39,079 But do you see how Isaiah humbles us here? 133 00:07:40,339 –> 00:07:43,500 We who love the Lord 134 00:07:43,540 –> 00:07:46,540 have this in common with all humanity, 135 00:07:46,579 –> 00:07:50,040 we go astray. 136 00:07:51,140 –> 00:07:53,679 And notice that Isaiah includes himself. 137 00:07:54,679 –> 00:07:58,380 All we, like sheep, have gone astray. 138 00:07:58,399 –> 00:08:00,839 He doesn’t say all of you have gone astray. 139 00:08:00,880 –> 00:08:02,399 He’s not talking down to others. 140 00:08:02,440 –> 00:08:05,739 He knows that this is the reality of his own life as well. 141 00:08:05,779 –> 00:08:07,720 That’s why he says all we. 142 00:08:08,880 –> 00:08:13,059 And you may remember that earlier in his life 143 00:08:13,959 –> 00:08:18,660 Isaiah had a remarkable experience that shaped him. 144 00:08:18,679 –> 00:08:23,660 In the year that King Uzziah died, he says, in Chapter Six, 145 00:08:24,519 –> 00:08:27,019 I saw the Lord. 146 00:08:27,059 –> 00:08:31,459 Isaiah was given a glimpse of the holiness of God. 147 00:08:31,500 –> 00:08:35,099 And when he saw how holy God is, 148 00:08:35,140 –> 00:08:38,460 he also saw how sinful he was. 149 00:08:38,500 –> 00:08:41,640 I am a man of unclean lips, he said, 150 00:08:41,679 –> 00:08:46,080 and I dwell among a people of unclean lips. 151 00:08:46,940 –> 00:08:50,679 And then notice that Isaiah moves beyond 152 00:08:50,700 –> 00:08:55,679 the common condition to its individual expression. 153 00:08:55,880 –> 00:08:59,179 And he tells us now what is true of each of us. 154 00:08:59,219 –> 00:09:04,219 We have turned everyone to his own way. 155 00:09:05,280 –> 00:09:10,260 All of us have in common that we are sheep who go astray, 156 00:09:10,299 –> 00:09:13,559 but each of us has his own distinct way 157 00:09:14,539 –> 00:09:18,919 or her own distinct way of straying. 158 00:09:18,940 –> 00:09:23,400 Your way of straying will likely be quite different 159 00:09:23,419 –> 00:09:25,419 from the way of straying of the person 160 00:09:25,460 –> 00:09:27,539 who’s sitting next to you. 161 00:09:27,559 –> 00:09:30,619 And it’s always easier to see someone else’s 162 00:09:30,659 –> 00:09:33,739 way of straying than it is to see your own. 163 00:09:33,760 –> 00:09:34,900 Try and take this in. 164 00:09:34,940 –> 00:09:39,940 Every sinner has a distinct way of going astray. 165 00:09:40,780 –> 00:09:42,020 For some it’s pride. 166 00:09:42,059 –> 00:09:45,799 For others, it’s lust. 167 00:09:45,820 –> 00:09:48,119 For some, it’s greed. 168 00:09:48,159 –> 00:09:51,059 For others, it’s laziness. 169 00:09:51,099 –> 00:09:51,840 Think about this. 170 00:09:51,859 –> 00:09:56,039 In Jesus’ famous story, the prodigal son rebelled. 171 00:09:56,080 –> 00:10:00,640 He wanted to get as far from the Father as he possibly could, 172 00:10:00,679 –> 00:10:02,539 and he gave himself, the Bible says, 173 00:10:02,580 –> 00:10:05,380 to reckless living. 174 00:10:05,419 –> 00:10:08,520 He looked at how his father lived, and he said, 175 00:10:08,539 –> 00:10:11,440 I’m going to go in exactly the opposite direction. 176 00:10:11,460 –> 00:10:15,460 Whatever my father would not do, that’s what I’m going to try. 177 00:10:16,559 –> 00:10:21,500 But you remember that the prodigal son had an elder brother 178 00:10:21,520 –> 00:10:23,679 who never rebelled. 179 00:10:23,700 –> 00:10:28,260 He was a very dutiful son, stayed at home, 180 00:10:28,280 –> 00:10:31,919 worked really hard for his father. 181 00:10:31,940 –> 00:10:35,119 And yet in Jesus’ story, 182 00:10:35,559 –> 00:10:38,840 this older brother’s heart was filled with resentment. 183 00:10:38,859 –> 00:10:42,020 He felt in the light of all that he’d done for the father 184 00:10:42,039 –> 00:10:44,780 that the father owed him something better. 185 00:10:46,239 –> 00:10:50,159 All we like sheep have gone astray. 186 00:10:51,479 –> 00:10:55,559 We have turned everyone to his own way. 187 00:10:56,760 –> 00:11:01,979 Sheep go astray in different directions. 188 00:11:01,979 –> 00:11:06,979 Think about it, wolves hunt in packs but sheep, 189 00:11:07,159 –> 00:11:09,700 they like their own space. 190 00:11:09,719 –> 00:11:12,840 If you look at sheep on a hillside, 191 00:11:12,859 –> 00:11:16,460 you’ll find that they’re just dotted all over the place, 192 00:11:16,479 –> 00:11:18,580 isolated from one another. 193 00:11:18,599 –> 00:11:23,679 When the shepherd’s not there, each turns to its own way. 194 00:11:25,580 –> 00:11:30,479 Which reminds us that when we get away from the shepherd, 195 00:11:32,979 –> 00:11:35,919 we find ourselves at a distance from one another. 196 00:11:37,239 –> 00:11:40,719 If you find that you are becoming more distant 197 00:11:40,739 –> 00:11:44,239 from other members of God’s flock, 198 00:11:44,260 –> 00:11:49,059 it may mean that you are wandering away from the shepherd. 199 00:11:50,280 –> 00:11:53,000 Now, of course, it’s always possible 200 00:11:53,020 –> 00:11:55,799 that it’s all the other sheep that have wandered away 201 00:11:55,820 –> 00:11:58,039 and only you are close to the shepherd. 202 00:11:58,059 –> 00:12:03,080 But if you find yourself more distanced 203 00:12:03,760 –> 00:12:07,760 from other believers, ask yourself this question honestly, 204 00:12:09,219 –> 00:12:14,219 am I wandering away from the shepherd? 205 00:12:15,840 –> 00:12:19,039 All we like sheep have gone astray, 206 00:12:19,080 –> 00:12:24,299 we have turned, everyone to his own way. 207 00:12:24,320 –> 00:12:28,599 Here’s the truth about each and every one of us, 208 00:12:28,599 –> 00:12:32,460 we are all like wandering sheep, 209 00:12:32,460 –> 00:12:36,880 who even now, if it were not for the shepherd 210 00:12:36,880 –> 00:12:41,299 would wander off to our own everlasting destruction, 211 00:12:43,320 –> 00:12:44,400 what we have done. 212 00:12:45,760 –> 00:12:48,400 That’s the first thing, and here’s the second. 213 00:12:48,400 –> 00:12:50,619 I want you to see in this verse, 214 00:12:50,619 –> 00:12:52,239 what God has done. 215 00:12:53,080 –> 00:12:56,099 In the light of our wandering, 216 00:12:56,099 –> 00:13:01,020 in the light of our straying off in our own distinct ways, 217 00:13:01,020 –> 00:13:02,340 what has God done? 218 00:13:02,340 –> 00:13:06,419 The Lord has laid on Him 219 00:13:07,299 –> 00:13:11,460 the inequity of us all. 220 00:13:13,700 –> 00:13:16,619 Now, suppose that we go out 221 00:13:16,619 –> 00:13:18,880 for a meal together, 222 00:13:18,880 –> 00:13:23,320 and when we’re done, the waiter brings the bill 223 00:13:23,320 –> 00:13:26,280 and you say, oh, let me take care of that. 224 00:13:26,280 –> 00:13:30,500 And then I say, no, no, no, I’d be glad to do this. 225 00:13:30,500 –> 00:13:31,979 And you know what this is like. 226 00:13:31,979 –> 00:13:35,940 You know, you take out your purse or your wallet 227 00:13:35,940 –> 00:13:39,200 and I fumble around sort of looking for mine. 228 00:13:39,200 –> 00:13:42,000 That’s an old Scottish trick, by the way, 229 00:13:42,000 –> 00:13:44,099 look in the wrong pocket first. 230 00:13:44,099 –> 00:13:46,500 And perhaps by the time you get to the right one, 231 00:13:47,020 –> 00:13:49,679 then the other person will already have got a hand 232 00:13:49,679 –> 00:13:52,719 on their wallet, or on their purse. 233 00:13:52,719 –> 00:13:55,000 But do you know the picture? 234 00:13:55,000 –> 00:13:57,059 The bill is on the table. 235 00:13:58,119 –> 00:14:01,659 It’s going to be charged to someone. 236 00:14:01,659 –> 00:14:05,940 It’s going to be imputed to someone’s account. 237 00:14:05,940 –> 00:14:07,659 Someone is going to pay for it. 238 00:14:07,659 –> 00:14:10,580 Either it’s going to be on your credit card 239 00:14:11,599 –> 00:14:14,479 or it’s going to be on mine. 240 00:14:15,400 –> 00:14:17,599 And do you see what we are being told 241 00:14:17,599 –> 00:14:20,940 in this amazing verse of scripture? 242 00:14:20,940 –> 00:14:25,940 That God has taken all that would have been charged to us 243 00:14:28,039 –> 00:14:31,900 and he has charged it to Jesus instead. 244 00:14:33,000 –> 00:14:38,000 And this is what it meant for Jesus to be our substitute. 245 00:14:38,500 –> 00:14:43,280 God laid our sins on Him. 246 00:14:45,479 –> 00:14:48,159 Now to help us grasp this, 247 00:14:48,159 –> 00:14:52,700 God has given us a very wonderful illustration 248 00:14:52,700 –> 00:14:55,119 in the Old Testament Scriptures. 249 00:14:55,119 –> 00:14:58,659 You can read it in Leviticus and chapter 16, 250 00:14:58,659 –> 00:15:01,559 where we’re told about the day of Atonement. 251 00:15:01,559 –> 00:15:03,539 It was a remarkable occasion 252 00:15:03,539 –> 00:15:08,539 when God’s people gathered outside the tent of meeting 253 00:15:09,340 –> 00:15:13,679 and a live goat was brought forward 254 00:15:14,219 –> 00:15:17,280 and presented to the High Priest. 255 00:15:17,280 –> 00:15:21,039 Then we read in the Scripture that Aaron, 256 00:15:21,039 –> 00:15:26,039 the High Priest shall lay both his hands 257 00:15:26,239 –> 00:15:30,159 on the head of the live goat. 258 00:15:30,159 –> 00:15:32,039 And then notice what he was to do, 259 00:15:32,039 –> 00:15:34,640 laying both hands on the head of this goat. 260 00:15:34,640 –> 00:15:39,640 He is to confess over it all the inequities of the people, 261 00:15:39,880 –> 00:15:42,960 all their transgressions, all their sins. 262 00:15:42,960 –> 00:15:45,200 That must’ve been a very long prayer indeed. 263 00:15:46,080 –> 00:15:49,080 He had to announce holding on to the head of this goat 264 00:15:50,520 –> 00:15:53,919 all the sins, iniquities and transgressions 265 00:15:53,919 –> 00:15:56,679 of all of the people of God. 266 00:15:58,000 –> 00:16:01,599 Then notice what the scripture says next. 267 00:16:01,599 –> 00:16:06,599 And he shall put them on the head of the goat 268 00:16:07,039 –> 00:16:12,039 and send it away into the wilderness. 269 00:16:15,799 –> 00:16:19,239 So he calls out these sins by name. 270 00:16:19,239 –> 00:16:20,119 He names them. 271 00:16:20,119 –> 00:16:24,140 He confesses them with his hands on the head of the goat 272 00:16:25,000 –> 00:16:29,340 and as he does so, there’s an act of transfer. 273 00:16:29,340 –> 00:16:31,880 There’s a movement with regards to the guilt 274 00:16:31,880 –> 00:16:35,099 and the responsibility of these sins. 275 00:16:36,059 –> 00:16:38,460 They’re being moved from one place to another. 276 00:16:38,460 –> 00:16:40,840 They’re being put on the head of the goat, 277 00:16:40,840 –> 00:16:42,380 taken off the people 278 00:16:42,380 –> 00:16:44,619 and then the goats is to be taken right away 279 00:16:44,619 –> 00:16:46,580 from all of the people of God. 280 00:16:48,940 –> 00:16:52,219 Now what the High Priest did on the Day of Atonement 281 00:16:52,219 –> 00:16:54,619 is a marvelous picture. 282 00:16:54,619 –> 00:16:59,619 It is an illustration of what God himself has done for us. 283 00:16:59,880 –> 00:17:04,880 God himself has transferred our transgressions, 284 00:17:07,599 –> 00:17:10,680 our iniquities, our sins, he’s moved them. 285 00:17:11,619 –> 00:17:14,380 He’s taken them off us 286 00:17:14,380 –> 00:17:15,439 and where have they gone? 287 00:17:15,439 –> 00:17:20,439 He has laid them on his own dear son, Jesus Christ. 288 00:17:21,800 –> 00:17:25,939 The Lord has laid on him 289 00:17:26,880 –> 00:17:30,420 the iniquity of us all. 290 00:17:32,900 –> 00:17:37,300 Now, literally translated what Isaiah says here 291 00:17:38,300 –> 00:17:43,300 is that God has made to meet on him 292 00:17:44,719 –> 00:17:47,319 the iniquity of us all. 293 00:17:47,319 –> 00:17:51,939 Dr. Alec Mateer, a renowned Old Testament scholar 294 00:17:51,939 –> 00:17:54,459 translates the verse this way. 295 00:17:54,459 –> 00:17:57,000 We’ve all like sheep gone astray, 296 00:17:57,000 –> 00:17:59,880 we’ve turned everyone to his own way 297 00:17:59,880 –> 00:18:01,319 and God, 298 00:18:02,300 –> 00:18:03,540 and God, 299 00:18:04,420 –> 00:18:08,479 God brought together on him 300 00:18:09,680 –> 00:18:13,479 the iniquity of us all. 301 00:18:15,359 –> 00:18:16,780 Think about a room 302 00:18:18,199 –> 00:18:21,859 in which dirt and dust 303 00:18:22,739 –> 00:18:24,160 are spread everywhere 304 00:18:25,560 –> 00:18:27,439 and you get out the vacuum cleaner 305 00:18:28,640 –> 00:18:30,319 and you hoover this up 306 00:18:30,319 –> 00:18:33,199 so that what was spread in many places 307 00:18:33,199 –> 00:18:36,040 is now gathered into one place 308 00:18:36,040 –> 00:18:39,579 and when you are done you empty out the bag 309 00:18:39,579 –> 00:18:42,859 with all of this muck that you have gathered. 310 00:18:44,859 –> 00:18:47,000 That is what God has done 311 00:18:48,040 –> 00:18:50,000 with regards to our sins, 312 00:18:50,880 –> 00:18:53,979 our self-absorbed rebellion, 313 00:18:54,819 –> 00:18:56,979 our self-pitying resentment, 314 00:18:58,400 –> 00:19:00,780 our self-indulgent laziness, 315 00:19:01,739 –> 00:19:04,660 our self-righteous presumption, 316 00:19:04,660 –> 00:19:08,219 what has God done he’s gathered it all up 317 00:19:09,599 –> 00:19:11,079 into one place 318 00:19:12,020 –> 00:19:13,760 and then what has he done with it? 319 00:19:14,819 –> 00:19:17,939 He has laid it in its entirety 320 00:19:20,079 –> 00:19:22,180 on his own son Jesus. 321 00:19:23,339 –> 00:19:28,339 God made him who had no sin 322 00:19:29,979 –> 00:19:33,140 to be sin for us 323 00:19:34,099 –> 00:19:39,099 so that in him we might become the righteousness of God 324 00:19:42,680 –> 00:19:45,160 and that’s exactly what Isaiah’s saying here. 325 00:19:45,160 –> 00:19:49,339 The Lord has laid on him 326 00:19:50,119 –> 00:19:54,079 the iniquity of us all. 327 00:19:54,079 –> 00:19:56,219 And you see, that is why Isaiah says 328 00:19:56,219 –> 00:19:59,000 he was pierced for our transgressions, 329 00:19:59,000 –> 00:20:01,920 he was crushed for our inequities. 330 00:20:01,920 –> 00:20:06,160 The chastisement that brought us peace was upon him. 331 00:20:08,400 –> 00:20:12,400 Martin Luther described very vividly 332 00:20:12,400 –> 00:20:16,400 how our merciful father, seeing that we were oppressed 333 00:20:16,400 –> 00:20:19,880 and overwhelmed by the very curse of the law, 334 00:20:19,880 –> 00:20:20,800 what did he do? 335 00:20:20,800 –> 00:20:24,400 He sent his son into the world 336 00:20:25,880 –> 00:20:29,540 and laid our sins upon him. 337 00:20:30,859 –> 00:20:33,640 And he pictures God, the Father, 338 00:20:33,640 –> 00:20:38,040 giving direction to God, the Son, 339 00:20:38,040 –> 00:20:41,479 which is we’re going to say next time 340 00:20:41,479 –> 00:20:46,479 God, the Son completely and willingly embraced. 341 00:20:47,800 –> 00:20:49,280 God, the Father, as it were, 342 00:20:49,280 –> 00:20:50,920 says to God, the Son, 343 00:20:51,800 –> 00:20:55,599 you be Peter, that denier. 344 00:20:57,079 –> 00:21:02,079 You be Paul, that blasphemer and that persecutor. 345 00:21:03,079 –> 00:21:06,280 You be David, that adulterer. 346 00:21:07,319 –> 00:21:11,719 You be the one who did eat the apple in the garden. 347 00:21:11,719 –> 00:21:16,719 You be the thief, who did hang on the cross. 348 00:21:17,599 –> 00:21:22,599 You in short be the person who has committed the sins of all 349 00:21:24,560 –> 00:21:28,920 and see then that you pay for them completely. 350 00:21:32,520 –> 00:21:35,160 Now, here’s what this means for us. 351 00:21:35,160 –> 00:21:36,699 And it is remarkable. 352 00:21:37,880 –> 00:21:42,579 Our sins, brother, sister, our transgressions, 353 00:21:43,420 –> 00:21:48,420 our iniquities have been laid in their entirety 354 00:21:48,579 –> 00:21:51,140 on Jesus Christ. 355 00:21:52,180 –> 00:21:54,180 And since they’ve been laid on him, 356 00:21:55,800 –> 00:21:59,180 they no longer lie on us. 357 00:21:59,180 –> 00:22:00,800 Which is why in the New Testament 358 00:22:00,800 –> 00:22:02,540 we read these wonderful words there, 359 00:22:02,540 –> 00:22:06,099 There is therefore now no condemnation 360 00:22:07,099 –> 00:22:11,000 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 361 00:22:12,920 –> 00:22:15,599 An English pastor by the name of Bill Bygroves 362 00:22:15,599 –> 00:22:20,219 wrote a poem that reflects on these remarkable words 363 00:22:20,219 –> 00:22:27,540 of Isaiah, that God the Father laid our sins on Jesus. 364 00:22:29,219 –> 00:22:32,579 All my sin of every kind 365 00:22:33,540 –> 00:22:37,859 And all the thoughts that stain my mind 366 00:22:38,060 –> 00:22:44,579 And all the evil I designed was laid on him 367 00:22:44,579 –> 00:22:48,020 And all the ways my feet have strayed 368 00:22:48,020 –> 00:22:51,300 And all the idols I have made 369 00:22:51,300 –> 00:22:55,099 And all the times I have not prayed 370 00:22:55,459 –> 00:22:57,140 were laid on him 371 00:22:58,380 –> 00:23:01,859 And all those told and acted lies 372 00:23:01,859 –> 00:23:04,900 And all the sins of compromise 373 00:23:04,900 –> 00:23:08,459 And all that I legitimize 374 00:23:08,459 –> 00:23:11,020 was laid on him 375 00:23:11,020 –> 00:23:14,540 And all that sinks me in the mire 376 00:23:14,540 –> 00:23:19,140 And all those times of base desire 377 00:23:19,140 –> 00:23:22,900 And all that needs a cleansing fire 378 00:23:22,900 –> 00:23:24,180 was laid on him 379 00:23:25,420 –> 00:23:27,739 And all my misdirected powers 380 00:23:27,739 –> 00:23:31,920 And all my many wasted hours 381 00:23:31,979 –> 00:23:34,459 And all my dreams of ivory towers 382 00:23:34,459 –> 00:23:36,540 were laid on him 383 00:23:38,020 –> 00:23:41,300 And all the times I’ve grieved the spirit 384 00:23:42,800 –> 00:23:46,199 And all the nature I inherit 385 00:23:46,199 –> 00:23:50,959 And all the punishment I merit 386 00:23:50,959 –> 00:23:52,640 were laid on him 387 00:23:54,199 –> 00:23:59,040 Laid on him, God’s own dear son 388 00:23:59,040 –> 00:24:02,800 Laid on him, the Holy One 389 00:24:03,920 –> 00:24:08,280 When God blotted out the Midday sun 390 00:24:08,280 –> 00:24:12,739 My sins were laid on him 391 00:24:15,800 –> 00:24:19,219 Now we’ve looked together at what we’ve done 392 00:24:19,219 –> 00:24:22,239 All of us, like sheep, we’ve gone astray 393 00:24:22,239 –> 00:24:26,800 and each of us has done it in our own distinct way 394 00:24:27,680 –> 00:24:29,640 And what has God done? 395 00:24:29,640 –> 00:24:33,420 He has laid on his own dear Son Jesus 396 00:24:33,420 –> 00:24:36,280 the iniquity of us all 397 00:24:36,280 –> 00:24:40,800 and here’s the last thing today 398 00:24:40,800 –> 00:24:45,119 as we seek to apply the remarkable truth 399 00:24:45,119 –> 00:24:46,359 of this verse 400 00:24:46,359 –> 00:24:48,339 that takes us to the very heart of the gospel 401 00:24:48,339 –> 00:24:50,599 How should we use this? 402 00:24:50,599 –> 00:24:52,760 What difference is it going to make 403 00:24:52,760 –> 00:24:54,739 in your life this week? 404 00:24:55,500 –> 00:24:58,099 Here’s what we need to do 405 00:24:58,099 –> 00:25:04,420 First, enjoy greater peace 406 00:25:04,420 –> 00:25:07,939 All we like sheep have gone astray 407 00:25:07,939 –> 00:25:10,420 we have turned everyone to his own way 408 00:25:10,420 –> 00:25:13,660 and the Lord has laid on him 409 00:25:13,660 –> 00:25:15,619 the iniquity of us all 410 00:25:15,619 –> 00:25:18,099 now take that in today 411 00:25:18,099 –> 00:25:20,339 and use it 412 00:25:20,699 –> 00:25:26,180 so that you will enjoy greater peace 413 00:25:26,180 –> 00:25:30,339 Isaiah is reminding us of the painful truth 414 00:25:30,339 –> 00:25:33,099 that each of us strays from God 415 00:25:33,099 –> 00:25:35,300 in his or her own way 416 00:25:35,300 –> 00:25:41,739 we sometimes refer to this as our besetting sin 417 00:25:41,739 –> 00:25:43,699 Here you are as a Christian believer 418 00:25:43,699 –> 00:25:47,060 you love Christ, you really do 419 00:25:47,060 –> 00:25:50,140 you want to follow him 420 00:25:50,140 –> 00:25:53,459 but there is an area of weakness in your life 421 00:25:53,459 –> 00:25:56,219 and it stalks you 422 00:25:56,219 –> 00:25:58,459 it haunts you 423 00:25:58,459 –> 00:26:00,420 there have been times when you have felt 424 00:26:00,420 –> 00:26:02,939 that you were doing better in this regard 425 00:26:02,939 –> 00:26:04,699 but then back it comes 426 00:26:04,699 –> 00:26:08,859 and you find yourself defeated by it all over again 427 00:26:08,859 –> 00:26:12,099 it’s your besetting sin 428 00:26:12,099 –> 00:26:16,859 it’s your own way of straying from God 429 00:26:16,939 –> 00:26:20,339 and it grieves you very deeply 430 00:26:21,380 –> 00:26:25,020 now Isaiah wants you to know 431 00:26:25,020 –> 00:26:30,140 that Jesus died not only for your sins in general 432 00:26:30,140 –> 00:26:35,339 but for your besetting sin in particular 433 00:26:35,339 –> 00:26:39,500 we have turned everyone to his own way 434 00:26:39,500 –> 00:26:44,180 and the Lord has laid on him 435 00:26:44,180 –> 00:26:47,339 the iniquity of us all 436 00:26:47,339 –> 00:26:50,859 the sins that were gathered up 437 00:26:50,859 –> 00:26:54,459 and laid by God on Jesus Christ his son 438 00:26:54,459 –> 00:27:00,979 included your own way of straying from God 439 00:27:00,979 –> 00:27:06,260 God knows that you have this battle 440 00:27:06,260 –> 00:27:07,939 and that is why he sent his son 441 00:27:07,939 –> 00:27:11,599 into the world not only for sin in general 442 00:27:11,599 –> 00:27:15,640 but for your besetting sin in particular 443 00:27:15,640 –> 00:27:17,619 so that your besetting sins 444 00:27:17,619 –> 00:27:21,119 would not in the end condemn you 445 00:27:21,119 –> 00:27:24,939 and peace comes from knowing and believing 446 00:27:24,939 –> 00:27:28,500 that your sins including the ones 447 00:27:28,500 –> 00:27:31,000 that trouble you most 448 00:27:31,000 –> 00:27:36,859 were truly laid on the Lord Jesus Christ 449 00:27:36,859 –> 00:27:39,439 See if you come to God 450 00:27:39,439 –> 00:27:41,900 and you say please accept me 451 00:27:41,900 –> 00:27:45,959 because I’m doing my best to live the Christian life 452 00:27:45,959 –> 00:27:48,859 well, you see what you’re doing 453 00:27:48,859 –> 00:27:50,939 you’re actually trusting your best effort 454 00:27:50,939 –> 00:27:52,199 to live the Christian life 455 00:27:52,199 –> 00:27:55,560 if you’re saying accept me for that reason 456 00:27:55,560 –> 00:27:56,839 and of course that will never work 457 00:27:56,839 –> 00:27:57,839 you’ll never have peace 458 00:27:57,839 –> 00:27:59,880 because you know that even your best effort 459 00:27:59,880 –> 00:28:01,420 to live the Christian life 460 00:28:01,420 –> 00:28:05,160 could and should be better 461 00:28:05,160 –> 00:28:06,160 or if you come to God 462 00:28:06,160 –> 00:28:09,000 and say please accept me 463 00:28:09,140 –> 00:28:13,000 because I believe in Jesus 464 00:28:13,000 –> 00:28:16,199 or because I have repented of my sins 465 00:28:16,199 –> 00:28:18,739 or because I’m devoted to serving you 466 00:28:18,739 –> 00:28:21,819 well, you’re not going to have great deal of peace 467 00:28:21,819 –> 00:28:24,199 because you’ll know that your faith in Jesus 468 00:28:24,199 –> 00:28:26,219 should be stronger 469 00:28:26,219 –> 00:28:27,760 and your repentance towards Jesus 470 00:28:27,760 –> 00:28:28,760 should be deeper 471 00:28:28,760 –> 00:28:30,680 and your service towards Jesus 472 00:28:30,680 –> 00:28:34,140 should be fuller 473 00:28:34,140 –> 00:28:36,040 but you see if you say to God 474 00:28:36,040 –> 00:28:41,260 God, please accept me 475 00:28:41,260 –> 00:28:47,459 because my sins were laid on Jesus 476 00:28:47,459 –> 00:28:49,199 well you will have peace 477 00:28:49,199 –> 00:28:51,640 because you are standing on solid ground 478 00:28:51,640 –> 00:28:53,239 it was God Himself who did this 479 00:28:53,239 –> 00:28:55,920 He made the transfer 480 00:28:55,920 –> 00:28:58,939 He has laid your sins on Jesus 481 00:28:58,939 –> 00:29:02,920 Therefore they no longer lie on you 482 00:29:02,920 –> 00:29:06,020 God has counted your sins against 483 00:29:06,099 –> 00:29:09,280 Jesus, He died for them on that cross 484 00:29:09,280 –> 00:29:12,800 He bore them in his body on the tree 485 00:29:12,800 –> 00:29:15,920 and having counted your sins against Jesus 486 00:29:15,920 –> 00:29:17,800 God Himself can never again 487 00:29:17,800 –> 00:29:19,660 count them against you 488 00:29:21,359 –> 00:29:22,859 That is why in the New Testament 489 00:29:22,859 –> 00:29:24,479 we read these wonderful words 490 00:29:24,479 –> 00:29:29,359 Therefore, being justified by faith 491 00:29:29,359 –> 00:29:32,160 we have peace with God 492 00:29:32,160 –> 00:29:33,099 We have it 493 00:29:33,959 –> 00:29:40,400 through our Lord Jesus Christ 494 00:29:41,219 –> 00:29:45,140 So that’s the first wonderful application of this truth 495 00:29:45,140 –> 00:29:47,160 Enjoy greater peace 496 00:29:47,160 –> 00:29:53,920 but, with it, pursue deeper repentance 497 00:29:54,560 –> 00:29:57,640 You see, the Amazing Truth 498 00:29:57,640 –> 00:30:01,540 that God has laid your sins on Jesus 499 00:30:02,160 –> 00:30:07,079 will be your greatest incentive to fighting more strongly 500 00:30:07,079 –> 00:30:10,060 against the sins that beset you 501 00:30:10,060 –> 00:30:11,819 When you see that your sin, 502 00:30:11,819 –> 00:30:13,760 the one that bothers you 503 00:30:13,760 –> 00:30:15,760 the one that’s your hardest battle 504 00:30:15,760 –> 00:30:19,000 that that was actually laid on Jesus 505 00:30:19,000 –> 00:30:20,560 well, then you will know that you 506 00:30:20,560 –> 00:30:23,619 cannot continue in it any longer 507 00:30:25,359 –> 00:30:28,520 William Perkins was a preacher 508 00:30:28,760 –> 00:30:32,260 in England way back in the 16th century 509 00:30:32,260 –> 00:30:35,119 And he grasped in a very profound way 510 00:30:36,339 –> 00:30:39,660 this truth that the greatest incentive 511 00:30:39,660 –> 00:30:41,579 that we can have to repentance 512 00:30:41,579 –> 00:30:46,579 is to see that our sins really were laid on Jesus 513 00:30:46,939 –> 00:30:48,219 when he died on the cross 514 00:30:48,219 –> 00:30:49,520 and this is what he said 515 00:30:50,660 –> 00:30:55,660 Every man must be settled without doubt 516 00:30:56,439 –> 00:31:01,439 that he was the man that crucified Christ 517 00:31:03,959 –> 00:31:07,979 And he says this in helping us to know 518 00:31:07,979 –> 00:31:12,160 how we can be stronger and more successful 519 00:31:12,160 –> 00:31:16,520 in our battles against besetting sins 520 00:31:16,520 –> 00:31:17,920 And here’s his argument 521 00:31:18,959 –> 00:31:23,359 If you take seriously that your sins, 522 00:31:23,359 –> 00:31:25,520 your transgressions, your inequities, 523 00:31:25,560 –> 00:31:27,260 your guilt, your besetting sins, 524 00:31:27,260 –> 00:31:30,479 that they really were laid on Jesus, 525 00:31:30,479 –> 00:31:35,479 if you see that Jesus suffered because of your pride, 526 00:31:37,880 –> 00:31:42,880 your lust, your greed, your self-indulgence, 527 00:31:43,900 –> 00:31:48,800 then your heart will be stirred to deeper repentance 528 00:31:48,800 –> 00:31:52,540 because as believers you love the Lord Jesus Christ 529 00:31:53,380 –> 00:31:58,380 every man must be settled without doubt 530 00:32:00,079 –> 00:32:05,079 that he was the man that crucified Christ. 531 00:32:05,239 –> 00:32:06,459 Think about this. 532 00:32:06,459 –> 00:32:10,839 Who crucified Jesus? 533 00:32:10,839 –> 00:32:13,500 Well, you see, we allude to the part played 534 00:32:13,500 –> 00:32:18,500 by Judas Iscariot, King Herod, Pontius Pilate 535 00:32:23,540 –> 00:32:27,040 and me and me, 536 00:32:29,000 –> 00:32:34,000 it was my sin that nailed him there 537 00:32:35,780 –> 00:32:37,780 until it was accomplished. 538 00:32:39,160 –> 00:32:43,119 God laid my sin on his own dear son 539 00:32:43,119 –> 00:32:47,839 and Jesus said charge it to me. 540 00:32:48,660 –> 00:32:53,660 Well then how can I continue in that sin any longer? 541 00:32:57,500 –> 00:33:01,260 If you can see that the sins that have prevailed 542 00:33:01,260 –> 00:33:04,380 over you were truly laid on Jesus, 543 00:33:04,380 –> 00:33:08,920 you will be strengthened in your battle against them. 544 00:33:08,920 –> 00:33:12,119 If you love Jesus, 545 00:33:12,119 –> 00:33:14,180 you will hate what hurt him 546 00:33:15,180 –> 00:33:17,160 and hating what hurt him 547 00:33:18,239 –> 00:33:21,040 will deepen your repentance. 548 00:33:22,239 –> 00:33:26,839 There’s an old hymn that describes the effect 549 00:33:26,839 –> 00:33:31,579 of knowing that your sin was laid on Jesus. 550 00:33:32,839 –> 00:33:37,640 When I survey the wondrous cross 551 00:33:37,640 –> 00:33:41,000 on which the Prince of Glory died, 552 00:33:42,140 –> 00:33:46,000 my richest gain I count but loss 553 00:33:47,000 –> 00:33:52,000 and poor contempt on all my pride. 554 00:33:53,739 –> 00:33:56,300 See that’s the effect of this truth. 555 00:33:57,439 –> 00:34:02,099 It will lead you into greater peace 556 00:34:03,359 –> 00:34:07,900 and it will lead you into deeper repentance. 557 00:34:09,040 –> 00:34:10,879 And then one more very wonderful thing 558 00:34:10,879 –> 00:34:12,560 that it will very obviously do 559 00:34:12,659 –> 00:34:16,939 is it will enable you to embrace greater hope. 560 00:34:16,939 –> 00:34:21,399 God imputed our sins to Jesus, why? 561 00:34:21,399 –> 00:34:25,040 Well, in the big sweep of what Isaiah is telling us 562 00:34:25,040 –> 00:34:29,679 God has this plan and purpose that he will fulfill 563 00:34:29,679 –> 00:34:34,679 for a great restoration in which every trace of sin, 564 00:34:35,080 –> 00:34:37,560 every effect of it will be removed 565 00:34:37,620 –> 00:34:42,120 and in love, God is preparing you to be a part of it. 566 00:34:43,300 –> 00:34:45,959 And Jesus knew how many times you would fail 567 00:34:45,959 –> 00:34:48,540 in your battles before you were born 568 00:34:48,540 –> 00:34:53,540 and so your sins were laid by the father on his son. 569 00:34:55,100 –> 00:34:57,760 And when God the father did that for you, 570 00:34:57,760 –> 00:35:01,659 he guaranteed that your sins would not have 571 00:35:01,659 –> 00:35:04,459 the final victory over you. 572 00:35:05,239 –> 00:35:09,179 The future for all who are in Jesus Christ, friends, 573 00:35:09,179 –> 00:35:12,320 is absolutely glorious. 574 00:35:12,320 –> 00:35:17,320 He has purchased, for us, a complete restoration 575 00:35:19,179 –> 00:35:23,979 and he did it by substitution and by imputation. 576 00:35:23,979 –> 00:35:28,979 God gathered up our sins, and he laid them on Jesus. 577 00:35:29,139 –> 00:35:31,300 Jesus stood in our place, 578 00:35:31,300 –> 00:35:33,739 he was pierced for our transgressions, 579 00:35:33,739 –> 00:35:36,300 he was crushed for our iniquities, 580 00:35:36,300 –> 00:35:40,219 and what comes of all this for those who are in Christ 581 00:35:40,219 –> 00:35:43,199 is that we have peace with God 582 00:35:44,159 –> 00:35:47,520 and by his grace, we will be fully, 583 00:35:47,520 –> 00:35:51,459 finally, and completely healed one day. 584 00:35:52,340 –> 00:35:57,120 There will be no trace of sin on you, 585 00:35:57,120 –> 00:35:59,979 in you, or near you. 586 00:36:00,939 –> 00:36:03,879 You will live in the beauty of holiness. 587 00:36:05,000 –> 00:36:09,100 You will serve God as you always wished you could. 588 00:36:10,280 –> 00:36:13,459 And you will rejoice in the presence 589 00:36:13,459 –> 00:36:18,300 of the Lord forever and forever. 590 00:36:18,300 –> 00:36:20,139 Let’s pray together. 591 00:36:20,139 –> 00:36:25,139 Father, we can hardly take in the unfathomable truth 592 00:36:25,659 –> 00:36:29,020 that we have pondered together from your word today. 593 00:36:30,100 –> 00:36:34,580 But we lift our hearts in thanksgiving and in praise 594 00:36:35,979 –> 00:36:40,100 that you should send your son at unimaginable cost 595 00:36:40,100 –> 00:36:41,300 into the world, 596 00:36:41,300 –> 00:36:44,020 that Jesus should be willing to come 597 00:36:44,020 –> 00:36:46,919 and to suffer and die for us. 598 00:36:48,659 –> 00:36:50,879 Grant that this amazing truth, 599 00:36:51,840 –> 00:36:54,899 that all of our sins have been laid on him 600 00:36:55,840 –> 00:37:00,840 will have its proper effect in our lives. 601 00:37:03,199 –> 00:37:08,199 That we may in your mercy, enjoy greater peace, 602 00:37:09,699 –> 00:37:14,699 pursue deeper repentance and embrace greater hope 603 00:37:16,699 –> 00:37:19,439 until the day when faith is turned to sight 604 00:37:20,320 –> 00:37:23,979 and we shall enter into all that Christ has purchased for us 605 00:37:24,780 –> 00:37:29,139 forever and ever, hear our prayers, in Jesus name, amen. 606 00:37:32,979 –> 00:37:34,919 You’ve been listening to a sermon 607 00:37:34,919 –> 00:37:37,320 with Pastor Collin Smith of Open the Bible. 608 00:37:37,320 –> 00:37:41,239 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 609 00:37:42,620 –> 00:37:46,120 or visit a website, openthebible.org.