1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,080 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,080 –> 00:00:15,900 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website at www.openthebible.org. 3 00:00:15,900 –> 00:00:17,559 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,559 –> 00:00:19,660 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:19,660 –> 00:00:24,020 Please open your Bible at Isaiah 53. 6 00:00:24,020 –> 00:00:29,920 We have two more weekends in this marvelous chapter that tells us what Jesus accomplished 7 00:00:29,920 –> 00:00:34,880 in His life, His death, and His resurrection. 8 00:00:34,880 –> 00:00:40,779 The first eight verses of this chapter focus on the life and the death of the Lord Jesus 9 00:00:40,779 –> 00:00:42,360 Christ. 10 00:00:42,360 –> 00:00:48,619 Isaiah tells us about how the Son of God would come into the world, how He was despised, 11 00:00:48,619 –> 00:00:54,860 how He was rejected, how He was oppressed and pierced, and crushed, and wounded. 12 00:00:54,860 –> 00:00:59,779 He was cut off out of the land of the living. 13 00:00:59,779 –> 00:01:05,739 And then we saw that verse nine is really the turning point of this whole chapter. 14 00:01:05,739 –> 00:01:11,820 The people who condemned Jesus consigned Him to a grave with the wicked. 15 00:01:11,820 –> 00:01:13,660 That’s what they thought He deserved. 16 00:01:13,660 –> 00:01:16,080 But it’s not what happened. 17 00:01:16,199 –> 00:01:22,000 A man by the name of Joseph of Arimathea came forward. 18 00:01:22,000 –> 00:01:28,519 And Jesus was given an honoured burial in a new tomb. 19 00:01:28,519 –> 00:01:33,440 And then last week, we looked at verse ten, where the focus is on the resurrection of 20 00:01:33,440 –> 00:01:35,480 the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 00:01:35,480 –> 00:01:39,720 We saw that Jesus will get the will of God done. 22 00:01:39,720 –> 00:01:42,540 He will bring many children to birth. 23 00:01:42,540 –> 00:01:45,339 He will have many offspring. 24 00:01:45,339 –> 00:01:49,160 And they, like him, are going to live forever. 25 00:01:49,160 –> 00:01:54,220 And I felt last week, because we looked at verse ten together, you know, this could easily 26 00:01:54,220 –> 00:01:57,080 be the end of the chapter. 27 00:01:57,080 –> 00:01:58,580 Jesus is risen. 28 00:01:58,580 –> 00:01:59,779 He lives forever. 29 00:01:59,779 –> 00:02:02,900 The will of God will prosper in his hand. 30 00:02:02,900 –> 00:02:06,239 What more is there to say after that? 31 00:02:06,239 –> 00:02:10,580 But the Holy Spirit is not done. 32 00:02:10,580 –> 00:02:16,699 He has more to teach us about what Jesus has accomplished. 33 00:02:16,699 –> 00:02:26,399 Now, in ten verses, Isaiah has taken us, then, through the life, the death, the burial, and 34 00:02:26,399 –> 00:02:29,500 the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 35 00:02:29,500 –> 00:02:35,839 So, the natural question at this point is, what is Jesus doing now? 36 00:02:36,759 –> 00:02:42,259 And that is the focus of verse eleven, which is before us today. 37 00:02:42,259 –> 00:02:51,800 Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied. 38 00:02:51,800 –> 00:02:59,360 By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, 39 00:02:59,360 –> 00:03:05,199 and he shall bear their iniquities. 40 00:03:05,199 –> 00:03:11,960 Out of the anguish of his soul, Jesus will see and be satisfied. 41 00:03:11,960 –> 00:03:22,000 Now, what could possibly come from the appalling suffering of Jesus that would be so good, 42 00:03:22,000 –> 00:03:26,979 that Jesus would look back at all that he suffered on the cross and say that it was 43 00:03:26,979 –> 00:03:30,139 well worth it. 44 00:03:30,139 –> 00:03:36,279 And, you know, the resurrection is not an adequate answer to that question. 45 00:03:36,279 –> 00:03:42,059 I mean, think, for example, about the Holocaust. 46 00:03:42,059 –> 00:03:49,759 There were people who survived that awful evil, but no one who endured the Holocaust 47 00:03:49,759 –> 00:03:56,160 would ever dream of saying that they were satisfied because they survived it. 48 00:03:56,979 –> 00:04:04,860 No, what we’re being told here in this verse is that something came out of the anguish 49 00:04:04,860 –> 00:04:16,279 of Jesus and that what came out of his suffering was so good, that Jesus was glad that he endured it. 50 00:04:16,279 –> 00:04:22,480 Now, what could possibly come out of Jesus’ suffering that would lead him to say, 51 00:04:22,480 –> 00:04:30,880 I am satisfied, I am glad that I did that, it was well worth it? 52 00:04:30,880 –> 00:04:34,320 And Isaiah answers that question in this verse. 53 00:04:34,320 –> 00:04:41,720 He tells us that Jesus will make many to be accounted righteous. 54 00:04:41,720 –> 00:04:47,920 That’s what comes out of the death of Jesus that is so satisfying to him. 55 00:04:47,940 –> 00:04:53,420 He will make many to be accounted righteous. 56 00:04:53,420 –> 00:05:01,160 Now other translations use the word justified here, by his knowledge my righteous servant 57 00:05:01,160 –> 00:05:04,519 will justify many. 58 00:05:04,519 –> 00:05:10,959 But the ESV Bible that we use in the church is especially helpful here because it gives 59 00:05:11,000 –> 00:05:19,200 us the meaning of the word justified, which is accounted righteous. 60 00:05:19,200 –> 00:05:23,859 Isaiah then tells us in this verse, here’s the verse in a nutshell. 61 00:05:23,859 –> 00:05:31,480 He tells us that Jesus is satisfied because his people are justified. 62 00:05:31,480 –> 00:05:38,660 Out of the sufferings of Jesus, will come a vast company of redeemed people who will 63 00:05:38,839 –> 00:05:43,440 be reconciled to God and will enjoy him forever and ever. 64 00:05:43,440 –> 00:05:49,739 When Jesus looks at these people, while he is satisfied. 65 00:05:49,739 –> 00:05:57,100 Now we’re going to ask three questions of this wonderful verse today. 66 00:05:57,100 –> 00:06:01,320 We’re going to ask the question, why are we justified? 67 00:06:01,320 –> 00:06:04,480 And then, how are we justified? 68 00:06:04,480 –> 00:06:08,260 And then lastly, who will be justified? 69 00:06:08,260 –> 00:06:15,679 And then we’ll seek to apply what this verse teaches us to our own lives today. 70 00:06:15,679 –> 00:06:19,980 First then, why are we justified? 71 00:06:19,980 –> 00:06:21,279 And notice what Isaiah says. 72 00:06:21,279 –> 00:06:26,140 Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied. 73 00:06:26,200 –> 00:06:36,100 By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous. 74 00:06:36,100 –> 00:06:44,420 So Jesus makes us right with God by counting us righteous. 75 00:06:44,420 –> 00:06:49,640 And I want to link this today with a verse in the New Testament that I think is one of 76 00:06:49,640 –> 00:06:53,019 the most astonishing verses in all of the Bible. 77 00:06:53,040 –> 00:06:59,019 And that is Romans chapter 4, and verses 4 and 5, where we read this, 78 00:06:59,019 –> 00:07:09,179 to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith 79 00:07:09,179 –> 00:07:13,540 is counted as righteousness. 80 00:07:13,540 –> 00:07:18,640 Now do you notice as you look at these two verses that the Apostle Paul is using the 81 00:07:18,779 –> 00:07:25,540 same language as Isaiah, counted as righteous. 82 00:07:25,540 –> 00:07:34,359 And I want you to notice from Romans in chapter 4 who it is that God counts righteous. 83 00:07:34,359 –> 00:07:42,480 The Apostle Paul says that God justifies the ungodly, the ungodly. 84 00:07:42,480 –> 00:07:48,140 I mean it’s one of these verses that you look at and you say, is that really right? 85 00:07:48,140 –> 00:07:56,380 Surely it should say God will justify the godly because they are righteous. 86 00:07:56,380 –> 00:08:00,940 But think for a moment about what that would actually mean. 87 00:08:00,940 –> 00:08:08,899 If God justified the godly because they are righteous, then in order to be justified, 88 00:08:08,899 –> 00:08:14,940 in order to be right with God, we would have to become godly. 89 00:08:14,940 –> 00:08:21,579 So not just a little godly, we would have to become godly through and through, and godly 90 00:08:21,579 –> 00:08:24,619 all the time. 91 00:08:24,619 –> 00:08:31,720 We’d have to pray more, we’d have to witness more, we’d have to serve more, we’d have to 92 00:08:31,720 –> 00:08:38,000 give more, and if we didn’t, we would not be justified. 93 00:08:38,000 –> 00:08:44,299 And how could any of us ever become godly enough for God to justify us? 94 00:08:44,299 –> 00:08:51,859 We are sinners by nature and by practice, and if the teaching of the Bible were that 95 00:08:51,859 –> 00:08:59,159 God justifies the godly, there would be no hope for any one of us at all. 96 00:08:59,159 –> 00:09:01,799 None at all. 97 00:09:01,799 –> 00:09:06,580 So thank God, try and take this in today as we look at the Bible and what it actually 98 00:09:06,580 –> 00:09:09,000 says. 99 00:09:09,000 –> 00:09:14,359 Forget God, that the Bible does not teach that God justifies the godly because they 100 00:09:14,359 –> 00:09:15,919 are righteous. 101 00:09:15,919 –> 00:09:24,039 It teaches that God justifies the ungodly and he does it despite our unrighteousness. 102 00:09:24,039 –> 00:09:30,020 Try and take in this most amazing good news. 103 00:09:30,020 –> 00:09:35,859 God justifies the ungodly. 104 00:09:36,179 –> 00:09:43,940 See, what that means is God justifies, makes right with himself, people who have not lived 105 00:09:43,940 –> 00:09:46,460 as they should. 106 00:09:46,460 –> 00:09:50,900 God justifies people who have not prayed as they should. 107 00:09:50,900 –> 00:09:55,979 God justifies people who have not served as they should. 108 00:09:55,979 –> 00:10:03,020 God justifies people who have not loved as they should, have not loved God with all their 109 00:10:03,140 –> 00:10:07,700 heart and have not loved their neighbor as themselves. 110 00:10:07,700 –> 00:10:11,000 And think about this. 111 00:10:11,000 –> 00:10:18,460 God justifies people who have not believed as they should. 112 00:10:18,460 –> 00:10:27,039 Yes we must believe if we are to be justified, but which of us believes as we should? 113 00:10:27,039 –> 00:10:33,000 The truth is, isn’t it, that we stumble along with our many questions, our many doubts and 114 00:10:33,000 –> 00:10:40,239 our many fears, Lord I believe, but help me with my unbelief. 115 00:10:40,239 –> 00:10:46,059 Jesus justifies sinners. 116 00:10:46,059 –> 00:10:55,020 He makes many who are not righteous to be accounted righteous. 117 00:10:55,020 –> 00:10:57,440 So there’s the first question. 118 00:10:57,440 –> 00:10:59,840 Why are we justified? 119 00:10:59,840 –> 00:11:04,559 And the answer to that question quite clearly from what Isaiah is telling us here is that 120 00:11:04,559 –> 00:11:09,760 Jesus makes us right with God by counting us righteous. 121 00:11:09,760 –> 00:11:14,880 Now, the second question, how is that possible? 122 00:11:14,880 –> 00:11:19,640 How can Jesus count us righteous when we’re not? 123 00:11:19,640 –> 00:11:26,000 How can he justify us when we all know that even at our best, we still fall far short 124 00:11:26,000 –> 00:11:29,299 of the life to which God calls us? 125 00:11:29,299 –> 00:11:34,820 And there are two answers to this question, and both of them are in this wonderful verse 126 00:11:34,820 –> 00:11:37,520 from Isaiah in chapter 53. 127 00:11:37,520 –> 00:11:39,559 How are we justified? 128 00:11:39,559 –> 00:11:44,239 First answer, by the righteous life of Jesus. 129 00:11:44,239 –> 00:11:46,140 Notice that Isaiah says here, 130 00:11:46,140 –> 00:11:56,859 By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous. 131 00:11:56,900 –> 00:12:02,460 So you see, Jesus is described here, and this is very important, as the righteous One. 132 00:12:03,719 –> 00:12:09,059 What Isaiah is telling us is that the Lord Jesus Christ joined the human family. 133 00:12:10,000 –> 00:12:16,880 And when he joined the human family, he lived the perfect life that none of us has been 134 00:12:16,880 –> 00:12:18,179 able to live. 135 00:12:19,200 –> 00:12:23,219 But notice that the word righteous occurs twice in this verse. 136 00:12:23,219 –> 00:12:24,919 That’s very significant. 137 00:12:24,940 –> 00:12:28,280 Isaiah describes Jesus as the righteous One. 138 00:12:29,159 –> 00:12:35,640 And then he goes on to speak of the many who will be accounted righteous. 139 00:12:36,719 –> 00:12:43,359 So where does this righteousness that leads to the many being accounted righteous come 140 00:12:43,359 –> 00:12:45,200 from? Well, it’s perfectly obvious, isn’t it? 141 00:12:45,219 –> 00:12:47,159 It comes from the righteous One. 142 00:12:47,380 –> 00:12:50,840 It comes from Jesus himself. 143 00:12:50,840 –> 00:13:00,580 When you trust yourself to Jesus, God counts the perfect righteousness of his own dear 144 00:13:00,580 –> 00:13:02,280 son as yours. 145 00:13:02,460 –> 00:13:09,299 And we are justified by the righteous life of Jesus. 146 00:13:10,539 –> 00:13:12,140 And that’s the first part of the answer. 147 00:13:12,299 –> 00:13:13,239 And here’s the second. 148 00:13:13,239 –> 00:13:14,219 It’s in this verse. 149 00:13:15,219 –> 00:13:19,700 We are justified by the sin-bearing death of Jesus. 150 00:13:20,000 –> 00:13:21,000 Notice what he says, 151 00:13:21,000 –> 00:13:27,460 By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous and 152 00:13:27,460 –> 00:13:31,739 he shall bear their iniquities. 153 00:13:32,820 –> 00:13:39,859 And if you look ahead, you’ll see in verse 12 that he repeats the same truth again that 154 00:13:39,859 –> 00:13:42,940 Jesus bore the sin of many. 155 00:13:43,739 –> 00:13:45,400 He bore our sin. 156 00:13:46,179 –> 00:13:47,960 He bore our iniquities. 157 00:13:47,960 –> 00:13:51,400 That means he took them upon himself. 158 00:13:54,760 –> 00:14:04,780 Now, the Gospels tell us the tragic story of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. 159 00:14:06,599 –> 00:14:12,299 And you better remember that when Jesus was condemned to death, Judas was filled with 160 00:14:12,299 –> 00:14:14,739 remorse. He really regretted what he had done. 161 00:14:15,700 –> 00:14:21,500 And so he went to the chief priests, the religious leaders of the day, because he wanted to return 162 00:14:21,500 –> 00:14:26,580 the money that they had paid him to betray the Lord Jesus Christ. 163 00:14:26,580 –> 00:14:45,140 And then Matthew records what the chief priests said to Judas. 164 00:14:57,119 –> 00:15:01,520 Jesus says to the lady, It’s on you, Judas. 165 00:15:03,960 –> 00:15:08,400 Your sin is on you. 166 00:15:08,659 –> 00:15:17,000 That’s what they said, and that led Judas Iscariot to complete and utter despair. 167 00:15:19,039 –> 00:15:25,140 The religious leaders of the day told him that his sin was on him period. 168 00:15:26,580 –> 00:15:29,239 Don’t live with it. 169 00:15:29,239 –> 00:15:32,219 He went out and he ended his life. 170 00:15:32,219 –> 00:15:36,460 Now who can blame him? 171 00:15:36,460 –> 00:15:45,940 If our sins were finally on us, there would be no hope for any of us whatsoever. 172 00:15:48,940 –> 00:15:53,020 Imagine for a moment arriving at the gates of heaven. 173 00:15:53,020 –> 00:15:58,619 And there you stand before God Almighty. 174 00:15:58,619 –> 00:16:02,359 And in absolute fear and trembling you say, 175 00:16:02,359 –> 00:16:06,640 I have sinned and God replies, 176 00:16:06,640 –> 00:16:12,099 what is that to us, that’s your responsibility. 177 00:16:12,099 –> 00:16:20,179 Well if that were to happen there would be no hope whatsoever. 178 00:16:20,179 –> 00:16:31,380 Spurring the guilt of your own sin is a burden that ultimately no one can bear. 179 00:16:31,380 –> 00:16:37,080 But Isaiah has already told us where hope is found. 180 00:16:37,080 –> 00:16:39,539 Back in verse 6, 181 00:16:39,539 –> 00:16:41,559 All we like sheep have gone astray, 182 00:16:41,559 –> 00:16:48,599 and the LORD has laid on him, on Jesus, the iniquity of us all. 183 00:16:49,479 –> 00:16:54,260 And do you see he’s now coming back to this wonderful truth again in verse 11? 184 00:16:54,260 –> 00:16:55,979 And he says, 185 00:16:55,979 –> 00:16:59,840 And he, Jesus, shall bear our iniquities. 186 00:16:59,840 –> 00:17:03,320 They will not be on us, they will be on him! 187 00:17:03,320 –> 00:17:07,619 And then he says the same thing yet again in verse 12 188 00:17:07,619 –> 00:17:12,099 He bore the sins of many. 189 00:17:12,959 –> 00:17:16,020 See, justice says, 190 00:17:16,140 –> 00:17:21,380 Well, your sin is your responsibility, it’s all on you. 191 00:17:21,619 –> 00:17:25,439 But you see, Jesus comes to us in mercy. 192 00:17:25,439 –> 00:17:26,939 And he says, 193 00:17:26,939 –> 00:17:30,640 I will bear your sins. I’ll take them from you. 194 00:17:30,640 –> 00:17:33,280 And I’ll put them on my own shoulders. 195 00:17:33,280 –> 00:17:38,780 Your sins will be on me. 196 00:17:38,939 –> 00:17:42,660 The Lord has laid on him 197 00:17:42,880 –> 00:17:47,619 the iniquity of us all. 198 00:17:47,920 –> 00:17:55,420 Martin Luther once described what it meant for our sins to be laid on Jesus 199 00:17:55,420 –> 00:17:58,540 and for him to bear our iniquities. 200 00:17:58,540 –> 00:18:01,739 Let me read to you what he said. 201 00:18:01,959 –> 00:18:05,180 Our most merciful father, 202 00:18:05,180 –> 00:18:10,839 seeing that we were overwhelmed and oppressed with the curse of the law 203 00:18:11,060 –> 00:18:15,699 and that we could never be delivered from it by our own power, 204 00:18:16,079 –> 00:18:19,540 he sent his only son into the world 205 00:18:19,540 –> 00:18:23,540 and laid upon him the sins of men saying, 206 00:18:23,540 –> 00:18:27,680 you be Peter, that denier, 207 00:18:28,260 –> 00:18:32,260 you be Paul, that persecutor, 208 00:18:32,260 –> 00:18:35,979 you be David, that adulterer, 209 00:18:35,979 –> 00:18:40,420 you be the sinner that did eat the apple in paradise, 210 00:18:40,520 –> 00:18:43,939 you be that thief which hanged upon the cross, 211 00:18:43,939 –> 00:18:48,000 you be the person who committed the sins of all men, 212 00:18:48,000 –> 00:18:50,500 see therefore that you pay 213 00:18:50,500 –> 00:18:54,500 and satisfy for them. 214 00:18:57,599 –> 00:18:59,880 Think about this, it is very wonderful. 215 00:19:02,339 –> 00:19:06,520 God the Father said to his son, 216 00:19:06,780 –> 00:19:10,660 I’m gonna put my name in, you be Colin 217 00:19:12,319 –> 00:19:14,199 or my wife’s name, you be Karen, 218 00:19:14,199 –> 00:19:15,619 you put your name in there, 219 00:19:17,760 –> 00:19:19,420 you take his place, 220 00:19:21,260 –> 00:19:23,760 you take her place, 221 00:19:25,140 –> 00:19:27,160 you bear his sins, 222 00:19:28,619 –> 00:19:32,099 you bear her sins and see that you pay 223 00:19:32,099 –> 00:19:34,839 and satisfy for them fully. 224 00:19:36,979 –> 00:19:39,260 Jesus took our place. 225 00:19:39,260 –> 00:19:41,380 And this is the very heart of the message 226 00:19:41,380 –> 00:19:43,459 of Isaiah in chapter 53 227 00:19:45,020 –> 00:19:47,160 expressed so wonderfully in verse five, 228 00:19:47,160 –> 00:19:50,420 he was pierced for our transgressions. 229 00:19:51,680 –> 00:19:54,199 He was crossed for our iniquities. 230 00:19:55,180 –> 00:19:59,800 Upon Him was the Chastisement that brought us peace 231 00:20:00,680 –> 00:20:04,339 and by His wounds we are healed. 232 00:20:05,339 –> 00:20:09,500 The reason that we are counted righteous 233 00:20:10,380 –> 00:20:13,699 is that Jesus bore our sins. 234 00:20:14,619 –> 00:20:16,339 He carried them. 235 00:20:16,339 –> 00:20:19,400 Our sins were laid on Him. 236 00:20:19,400 –> 00:20:21,859 And because they were laid on Him, 237 00:20:21,859 –> 00:20:24,199 that means they’re no longer on us. 238 00:20:25,459 –> 00:20:27,079 And that is why in the New Testament 239 00:20:27,079 –> 00:20:28,520 we read these wonderful words, 240 00:20:28,520 –> 00:20:33,199 there is therefore now no condemnation 241 00:20:33,199 –> 00:20:36,979 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 242 00:20:39,760 –> 00:20:41,420 So how are we justified? 243 00:20:43,400 –> 00:20:48,400 We are justified by the righteous life of Jesus. 244 00:20:48,760 –> 00:20:53,079 And we are justified by the sin-bearing death of Jesus. 245 00:20:54,000 –> 00:20:57,439 God counts our sins as His 246 00:20:57,439 –> 00:21:00,939 and His righteousness as ours. 247 00:21:01,900 –> 00:21:05,160 Upon a life, I did not live. 248 00:21:06,000 –> 00:21:09,660 Upon a death, I did not die. 249 00:21:09,660 –> 00:21:13,800 Another’s life, another’s death, 250 00:21:13,800 –> 00:21:17,760 I hang my whole eternity. 251 00:21:19,859 –> 00:21:23,560 You have already lived the life 252 00:21:23,560 –> 00:21:27,180 that God calls you to live, you know that? 253 00:21:27,180 –> 00:21:29,979 You’ve already lived it because Jesus lived it for you. 254 00:21:31,180 –> 00:21:33,500 And you have already died the death 255 00:21:33,500 –> 00:21:35,260 that was due to you on account of your sins. 256 00:21:35,260 –> 00:21:40,260 You’ve died that death because Jesus died it for you. 257 00:21:43,060 –> 00:21:44,459 Why are we justified? 258 00:21:45,479 –> 00:21:49,540 We are justified because God counts us righteous. 259 00:21:50,819 –> 00:21:52,859 How are we justified? 260 00:21:52,859 –> 00:21:57,859 God counts us righteous because of Jesus’ righteous life 261 00:21:58,819 –> 00:22:03,060 and because of Jesus’ sin-bearing death. 262 00:22:04,459 –> 00:22:05,780 And now the third question, 263 00:22:07,660 –> 00:22:09,160 who will be justified? 264 00:22:10,439 –> 00:22:12,739 Who will be justified? 265 00:22:12,739 –> 00:22:15,500 Notice in this marvelous verse, 266 00:22:15,500 –> 00:22:18,060 by his knowledge, 267 00:22:19,420 –> 00:22:21,380 shall the righteous one, my servant, 268 00:22:21,380 –> 00:22:25,020 make many to be accounted righteous 269 00:22:25,060 –> 00:22:29,560 and he shall bear their iniquities. 270 00:22:30,900 –> 00:22:33,339 By his knowledge. 271 00:22:34,219 –> 00:22:35,979 Now Isaiah has told us 272 00:22:37,060 –> 00:22:39,140 how Jesus justifies us, 273 00:22:39,140 –> 00:22:41,579 and what he’s telling us here 274 00:22:41,579 –> 00:22:44,380 is how this wonderful justification 275 00:22:44,380 –> 00:22:46,819 actually becomes ours. 276 00:22:47,739 –> 00:22:50,540 It’s by his knowledge 277 00:22:50,540 –> 00:22:53,920 or by the knowledge of him. 278 00:22:55,420 –> 00:22:58,060 E.J. Young who’s written a very fine commentary 279 00:22:58,060 –> 00:23:00,060 on the Book of Isaiah says 280 00:23:00,060 –> 00:23:03,180 that this refers to a practical knowledge 281 00:23:03,180 –> 00:23:04,260 of the servant, 282 00:23:04,260 –> 00:23:07,420 that is, of Jesus on the part of others. 283 00:23:07,420 –> 00:23:11,859 A knowledge he says that approximates faith 284 00:23:13,000 –> 00:23:16,260 and faith is sometimes spoken off 285 00:23:16,260 –> 00:23:18,239 in terms of knowledge. 286 00:23:18,239 –> 00:23:21,199 Jesus said this is eternal life, 287 00:23:21,800 –> 00:23:24,739 that they know you, 288 00:23:25,599 –> 00:23:29,140 the only true God and Jesus Christ, 289 00:23:29,140 –> 00:23:30,579 whom you have sent. 290 00:23:31,520 –> 00:23:34,319 Now you see this knowledge of the Lord 291 00:23:34,319 –> 00:23:37,380 is what Isaiah is referring to here. 292 00:23:37,380 –> 00:23:39,880 We are justified by faith 293 00:23:41,199 –> 00:23:43,160 and faith is described 294 00:23:43,160 –> 00:23:45,979 in many different ways in the Bible. 295 00:23:45,979 –> 00:23:48,920 Faith is looking to Jesus. 296 00:23:48,920 –> 00:23:51,599 Faith is trusting in Jesus. 297 00:23:51,599 –> 00:23:54,920 Faith is finding hope in Jesus. 298 00:23:54,920 –> 00:23:58,420 Faith is knowing Jesus. 299 00:23:59,479 –> 00:24:02,839 Jesus justifies those who know him. 300 00:24:02,839 –> 00:24:05,640 He justifies those who look to him. 301 00:24:05,640 –> 00:24:07,719 He justifies those who trust him. 302 00:24:07,719 –> 00:24:11,880 He justifies those who believe in him. 303 00:24:12,800 –> 00:24:16,500 And notice that those who know Jesus 304 00:24:16,500 –> 00:24:18,359 by faith are described, 305 00:24:18,380 –> 00:24:22,239 not as a few, but as many. 306 00:24:22,239 –> 00:24:24,420 By his knowledge shall the righteous one, 307 00:24:24,420 –> 00:24:28,140 my servant make many to be accounted righteous 308 00:24:28,140 –> 00:24:31,119 and he shall bear their inequities. 309 00:24:31,119 –> 00:24:32,180 Many. 310 00:24:33,339 –> 00:24:36,619 See, the son of God will be satisfied. 311 00:24:36,619 –> 00:24:40,540 He is satisfied because of many. 312 00:24:40,540 –> 00:24:44,479 He will not be disappointed by the outcome of his suffering. 313 00:24:45,420 –> 00:24:47,439 At the end of the Bible, 314 00:24:47,439 –> 00:24:51,520 the apostle John was given this marvelous vision 315 00:24:51,520 –> 00:24:55,119 that is recorded in the book of Revelation. 316 00:24:55,119 –> 00:24:57,160 He’s given a glimpse of heaven 317 00:24:57,160 –> 00:25:02,160 and he saw there a vast crowd that no one could number 318 00:25:02,719 –> 00:25:06,079 and they’re drawn from people of every tribe 319 00:25:06,079 –> 00:25:10,020 and every nation and their sins are forgiven 320 00:25:10,020 –> 00:25:12,959 and they’re rejoicing in the presence of God, 321 00:25:12,959 –> 00:25:15,959 the Lamb of God, the Son of God is their shepherd 322 00:25:15,959 –> 00:25:20,280 and God wipes away all tears from their eyes. 323 00:25:21,959 –> 00:25:26,099 Listen, Jesus did not endure all the agony of the cross 324 00:25:26,099 –> 00:25:27,479 so that a few people could have 325 00:25:27,479 –> 00:25:29,699 an extra dimension to their lives. 326 00:25:31,040 –> 00:25:36,040 No, Jesus died so that many would be accounted righteous. 327 00:25:37,660 –> 00:25:41,839 He died so that a vast multitude of people 328 00:25:41,839 –> 00:25:44,020 would be redeemed and brought into 329 00:25:44,020 –> 00:25:46,219 the glorious presence of God 330 00:25:46,219 –> 00:25:50,319 to enjoy Him forever and forever. 331 00:25:50,319 –> 00:25:52,859 And Jesus sees that crowd. 332 00:25:52,859 –> 00:25:54,140 He sees that crowd. 333 00:25:55,560 –> 00:26:00,560 He knows that everyone has been redeemed 334 00:26:01,000 –> 00:26:05,359 by His blood and He is satisfied. 335 00:26:06,239 –> 00:26:09,180 And when He sees what comes from His suffering, 336 00:26:09,180 –> 00:26:12,160 He counts it, well, well worth it. 337 00:26:14,219 –> 00:26:18,260 Now, friends, this word many is really, really important. 338 00:26:18,260 –> 00:26:21,739 Think of what it tells us, many. 339 00:26:23,199 –> 00:26:26,319 Many means that it will not be a few 340 00:26:27,900 –> 00:26:31,579 and many means that it will not be all. 341 00:26:33,060 –> 00:26:38,060 The Bible never teaches that everyone will be justified, 342 00:26:39,540 –> 00:26:43,319 many will be justified 343 00:26:43,319 –> 00:26:45,579 and they’ll be justified through the knowledge of him, 344 00:26:45,579 –> 00:26:49,520 through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 345 00:26:50,540 –> 00:26:53,119 Many will be justified, many. 346 00:26:54,839 –> 00:26:56,040 And so, the greatest question you ever face 347 00:26:56,040 –> 00:26:58,439 in all of your life is simply this, 348 00:26:58,439 –> 00:27:00,300 how can you be among the many? 349 00:27:01,380 –> 00:27:04,540 And the Bible gives the clearest possible answer 350 00:27:04,540 –> 00:27:06,540 to that question. 351 00:27:06,560 –> 00:27:09,280 In John 1, to as many 352 00:27:09,280 –> 00:27:11,599 as received him, 353 00:27:11,599 –> 00:27:14,579 to those who believed in his name, 354 00:27:14,579 –> 00:27:16,479 he gave the right 355 00:27:17,339 –> 00:27:20,319 to be called children of God. 356 00:27:21,199 –> 00:27:24,939 The Son of God will justify many. 357 00:27:26,479 –> 00:27:29,380 He can justify you 358 00:27:29,380 –> 00:27:31,959 because he bore the sins of many. 359 00:27:32,819 –> 00:27:36,800 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ 360 00:27:37,959 –> 00:27:40,140 and you will be saved. 361 00:27:43,920 –> 00:27:45,439 So we’ve looked together 362 00:27:46,880 –> 00:27:49,239 at why we’re justified. 363 00:27:49,239 –> 00:27:51,040 God counts us righteous. 364 00:27:51,040 –> 00:27:53,479 We’ve looked at how it happens. 365 00:27:53,479 –> 00:27:56,560 It’s through the righteous life of Jesus 366 00:27:56,560 –> 00:27:58,640 and the sin-bearing death of Jesus. 367 00:27:58,660 –> 00:28:02,359 And we’ve looked at who will be justified. 368 00:28:02,359 –> 00:28:05,239 It will be those who know him 369 00:28:05,239 –> 00:28:08,319 and they will be many. 370 00:28:10,199 –> 00:28:12,020 But I want to end on this note 371 00:28:13,040 –> 00:28:16,680 that Jesus will be satisfied 372 00:28:16,680 –> 00:28:20,959 because his people are justified. 373 00:28:20,959 –> 00:28:23,300 Out of the anguish of his soul, 374 00:28:23,300 –> 00:28:24,140 Isaiah says, 375 00:28:24,579 –> 00:28:29,479 He shall see and be satisfied. 376 00:28:31,699 –> 00:28:34,140 Now, you may find yourself wondering, 377 00:28:34,140 –> 00:28:37,280 can that really be true, really? 378 00:28:38,180 –> 00:28:40,199 I mean, when Jesus looks at us, 379 00:28:40,199 –> 00:28:42,479 can he really be satisfied? 380 00:28:44,140 –> 00:28:46,239 Isaiah says he shall see. 381 00:28:47,260 –> 00:28:49,479 And Jesus sees all things. 382 00:28:50,420 –> 00:28:52,619 He knows each and every one of us completely. 383 00:28:52,619 –> 00:28:54,819 Nothing ever escapes his attention. 384 00:28:54,819 –> 00:28:57,900 And we know that even at our best, 385 00:28:57,900 –> 00:28:59,339 we are a long way 386 00:28:59,339 –> 00:29:00,859 from what God calls us to be. 387 00:29:00,859 –> 00:29:04,739 So how can Jesus be satisfied? 388 00:29:06,020 –> 00:29:07,260 And you may have wondered this. 389 00:29:07,260 –> 00:29:08,760 When the Lord Jesus Christ 390 00:29:08,760 –> 00:29:10,040 looks down from heaven, 391 00:29:10,040 –> 00:29:12,660 is he not at least sometimes disappointed? 392 00:29:14,260 –> 00:29:16,859 Are there not times when he says, 393 00:29:16,859 –> 00:29:19,219 I am not satisfied, 394 00:29:20,219 –> 00:29:22,500 When I think of all that I suffered 395 00:29:22,500 –> 00:29:23,699 and endured on the cross, 396 00:29:23,699 –> 00:29:26,140 I was hoping for something better than this. 397 00:29:29,540 –> 00:29:34,219 Well, it is true that we live in between times. 398 00:29:35,619 –> 00:29:39,280 God’s redeeming work in us has begun 399 00:29:39,280 –> 00:29:41,979 and it is not yet complete, 400 00:29:41,979 –> 00:29:44,380 and we all fall short in many ways. 401 00:29:45,780 –> 00:29:48,660 So, we can all find good reason 402 00:29:48,660 –> 00:29:50,339 to be dissatisfied. 403 00:29:51,660 –> 00:29:55,500 Christians can grieve the Holy Spirit, 404 00:29:56,599 –> 00:29:58,140 and no doubt we do that often. 405 00:30:00,079 –> 00:30:02,219 So, it is very easy 406 00:30:03,380 –> 00:30:05,619 to get into a state of mind 407 00:30:06,599 –> 00:30:09,380 where you are habitually disappointed 408 00:30:09,380 –> 00:30:10,979 in other believers 409 00:30:12,219 –> 00:30:15,579 and perpetually dissatisfied with the church. 410 00:30:15,579 –> 00:30:16,880 Very easy to get there. 411 00:30:17,500 –> 00:30:19,280 You find yourself saying, 412 00:30:19,280 –> 00:30:24,280 well, God’s people are not what they ought to be. 413 00:30:24,540 –> 00:30:25,380 And you know what? 414 00:30:25,380 –> 00:30:27,199 If you say that, you’re right. 415 00:30:27,199 –> 00:30:28,959 You’re absolutely right. 416 00:30:30,959 –> 00:30:34,959 But when all of that has been given its proper weight, 417 00:30:34,959 –> 00:30:36,420 this remains true. 418 00:30:37,979 –> 00:30:40,959 That Christ loves His people 419 00:30:42,439 –> 00:30:44,500 and that they are a joy to His heart. 420 00:30:45,420 –> 00:30:50,420 When Jesus looks at His people, He is satisfied. 421 00:30:52,739 –> 00:30:55,300 In Psalm 147, we have these wonderful words. 422 00:30:55,300 –> 00:30:59,900 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, 423 00:31:00,819 –> 00:31:04,920 in those who hope in His steadfast love. 424 00:31:07,260 –> 00:31:10,660 And you might be struggling to take this in and saying, 425 00:31:10,660 –> 00:31:12,479 really, how can this be? 426 00:31:12,959 –> 00:31:16,520 How can Jesus take pleasure when His own people 427 00:31:16,520 –> 00:31:19,739 are still so far from what He calls us to be? 428 00:31:20,819 –> 00:31:21,920 And here’s the answer. 429 00:31:23,319 –> 00:31:28,319 Because when we see Him, we will be like Him. 430 00:31:30,119 –> 00:31:35,119 And Jesus already sees and enjoys what one day we will be. 431 00:31:35,699 –> 00:31:39,479 So you know, if you are troubled 432 00:31:39,479 –> 00:31:44,479 because you imagine Jesus constantly looking down on you 433 00:31:44,560 –> 00:31:47,280 with disapproval and disappointment, 434 00:31:47,280 –> 00:31:49,199 try to take this in. 435 00:31:50,880 –> 00:31:55,880 He takes pleasure in those who fear Him. 436 00:31:56,660 –> 00:32:01,660 And those who find hope in Him are a joy to his heart. 437 00:32:05,680 –> 00:32:10,040 Jesus is not living in perpetual dissatisfaction. 438 00:32:10,040 –> 00:32:11,239 That is good news. 439 00:32:12,199 –> 00:32:15,439 When Jesus looks at His people, 440 00:32:15,439 –> 00:32:18,859 He rejoices in what we will be. 441 00:32:18,859 –> 00:32:23,859 And now we want to become more like Jesus. 442 00:32:24,060 –> 00:32:27,319 And part of becoming more like Jesus 443 00:32:27,319 –> 00:32:30,319 is that we find joy 444 00:32:30,319 –> 00:32:34,020 in what our brothers and sisters will one day be. 445 00:32:35,520 –> 00:32:38,719 You know, sometimes Christians disappoint 446 00:32:38,719 –> 00:32:40,979 and even hurt one another, 447 00:32:43,000 –> 00:32:47,959 but if you could see what the brother or sister 448 00:32:48,719 –> 00:32:52,199 who hurts or disappoints you will one day be, 449 00:32:52,199 –> 00:32:55,060 you would be overwhelmed with joy. 450 00:32:57,040 –> 00:32:59,040 And that is the experience 451 00:32:59,040 –> 00:33:01,579 of the Lord Jesus Christ right now. 452 00:33:02,959 –> 00:33:04,819 He knows what we will be. 453 00:33:06,000 –> 00:33:07,760 He sees it right now. 454 00:33:10,020 –> 00:33:14,319 And as he beholds the vast company of redeemed people 455 00:33:14,319 –> 00:33:16,739 made perfect in his presence, 456 00:33:18,000 –> 00:33:19,319 he is satisfied. 457 00:33:22,920 –> 00:33:24,579 Let’s pray together. 458 00:33:28,520 –> 00:33:29,420 Our Father, 459 00:33:29,859 –> 00:33:33,280 we live in a constantly dissatisfied world, 460 00:33:42,219 –> 00:33:45,959 and we ask that because of the amazing grace 461 00:33:51,199 –> 00:33:53,939 by which we are counted righteous 462 00:33:56,500 –> 00:33:58,599 through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 463 00:33:58,599 –> 00:34:00,680 because of his perfect life 464 00:34:00,680 –> 00:34:03,839 and because of his sin bearing death, 465 00:34:06,199 –> 00:34:09,280 Father, we pray that because of this, 466 00:34:11,840 –> 00:34:14,419 you will birth a new gratitude, 467 00:34:15,719 –> 00:34:16,540 a new joy, 468 00:34:18,659 –> 00:34:19,659 a new peace, 469 00:34:22,139 –> 00:34:23,479 a new happiness, 470 00:34:25,500 –> 00:34:27,239 a new sense of praise 471 00:34:29,239 –> 00:34:31,320 a new sense of privilege, 472 00:34:32,620 –> 00:34:36,199 a new sense of being blessed in our hearts. 473 00:34:39,260 –> 00:34:43,340 Forgive us, Father, for our constant complaining, 474 00:34:45,439 –> 00:34:49,520 forgive us, Father, for our habitual picking up 475 00:34:49,520 –> 00:34:51,260 on all that is wrong, 476 00:34:52,939 –> 00:34:55,540 and grant that we may become more and more 477 00:34:55,719 –> 00:34:58,260 like our glorious Lord Jesus Christ 478 00:34:59,199 –> 00:35:01,679 until the redeeming work that you have begun 479 00:35:01,679 –> 00:35:03,679 in us is complete. 480 00:35:04,979 –> 00:35:09,979 And then we shall rejoice with full satisfaction 481 00:35:11,699 –> 00:35:14,659 in all that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ. 482 00:35:14,659 –> 00:35:18,739 Hasten that day for these things we ask in Jesus name. 483 00:35:20,419 –> 00:35:21,260 Amen. 484 00:35:22,280 –> 00:35:23,520 You’ve been listening to a sermon 485 00:35:23,520 –> 00:35:25,919 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 486 00:35:25,919 –> 00:35:30,679 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 487 00:35:30,679 –> 00:35:35,020 or visit our website, openthebible.org.