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. I. THE NATURE OF THE COMMAND, or what it is to look at the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. The very idea of looking to the Saviour, implies a looking off ourselves, our idols, our sins, our righteousnesses, and our unrighteousnesses. It is to look off our duties, our prayers, our tears, our humiliations, our resolutions, and simply and singly to look to Christ for salvation. 2. To look at Christ for salvation implies a conscious need of salvation. 3. To look at Christ is to look at Him not only as the very Christ of God, but as the Son of God. 4. To look at Christ is to look to Him for a whole salvation. II. THE NECESSITY OF THE PRECEPT. We have a natural disinclination to it; we naturally look at any other object. When in the world, and of the world, this is grossly the case. Our friends, our families, our prospects, profits, our pleasures, our sins, form our world. If we withdraw from its grossness, and are mingled Up with its more decent enjoyments, and add something of religion; its forms, its ceremonies, its worship, quite occupy us. Our little orbit of vision is full, quite full; we can look at nothing else. A mere hand before the eyes hides the sun. We think ourselves far better than many, far from being so vile as some; and even after the Holy Spirit has convinced us of sin, yet still what backwardness to look to Christ! III. THE BLESSED EFFECT OF OBEYING THE PRECEPT. Salvation. 1. How wonderful is this salvation — that one real look at Christ has eternal life in it; that if the vilest sinner do but look at Him, he is saved even at the eleventh hour! 2. The longer thou livest, the more the Spirit will open the depravities of thy nature to thee. As He does this, pray that He may open the very grace and glories of Jesus to thee. 3. When, through the power of the Holy Spirit, this peace is established in thy conscience, through the precious blood of the Cross, seek its increase into the full assurance of hope, in all the ways of holy walking, still looking to Jesus for all the supplies of His grace and Spirit. (J. H. Evans, M. A.) 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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