Isaiah 45:22 Look to me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. The object of salvation is to bring a man into harmonious communion with God. I. ALL MEN NEED TO BE SAVED. We need to be saved — 1. From our propensity to wrong-doing. 2. We need also to be saved from our spirit of unrest. 3. From our weakness in being overcome by pain and trouble. 4. From our fear of death. II. GOD DOES NOT FORCE ANY MAN TO BE SAVED AGAINST HIS WILL. In the occurrences of this life we may have to employ force sometimes to save the body of a fellow-creature against his will. But God cannot act so, because He is God, and would have men love Him. The only way God has of compelling us to follow Him is through the attraction of His love, as shown in Jesus Christ, who laid down His life on the Cross for love of us. Love is the strongest power in the universe, for God is Love. III. THE POWER AND SIMPLICITY OF THE SALVATION OFFERED TO US. 1. Its power. Salvation does not exist anywhere except in God. We ministers are only like the boys with handbills inviting you in to buy salvation from our Master without money. 2. The simplicity of the salvation. It is to be had for a look; but it must be — (1) A penitent look. (2) A look of entreaty, the sort of look that a man has who is trying to save himself from drowning, and seeing you, calls to you for help. (3) A look of hope. (4) A look of faith. IV. IT IS A UNIVERSAL INVITATION, embracing, "all the ends of the earth." You know what the "ends" are. When a coat becomes frayed, or a shawl worn, the ends are of no use and you cut them off. The outcasts of men, of what use are they? This salvation is for the despised ones, for the very "ends" that the world throws away; and, better still, it is for you. (W. Birch.) Parallel Verses KJV: Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.WEB: "Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. |
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