Posted on March 13, 2021 by Sabbath School Lessonavatar
Isa: 59:1-21
In Isaiah 58:3 the people asked God: “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but
you do not notice?” (NRSV).
Separation
Image © Rolf Jansson from GoodSalt.com
In contrast, Isaiah 59:1 implies another question, something like: “Why do we call for the Lord’s hand to
save us, but He does not? Why do we cry to Him, but He does not hear?” Isaiah answers that God is able
to save and hear (Isa: 59:1). His failure to do either, however, is another matter entirely.
Read Isaiah 59:2. What message is being given here that answers the question in Isaiah 59.1-2, NRSV).
Here is one of the clearest statements in the Bible regarding the effect of sin on the divine-human
relationship. Isaiah spends the rest of chapter 59 elaborating on this point, which is seen all through
human history: Sin can destroy our relationship with the Lord and thus lead to our eternal ruin—not
because sin drives God away from us but that it drives us away from God.
Read Genesis 3:8. How does this example reveal the principle expressed in the above paragraph?
Sin is primarily a rejection of God, a turning away from Him. The sin act actually feeds upon itself in that
not only is the act a turning away from God but the result of the act causes the sinner to turn away even
more from the Lord. Sin separates us from God, not because God wouldn’t reach out to the sinner
(indeed, the whole Bible is almost nothing but the account of God’s reaching out to save sinners) but
because sin causes us to reject His divine overtures to us. That is why it is so important that we tolerate
no sin in our lives.
Posted on March 14, 2021 by Sabbath School Lessonavatar
Isaiah 59:1-21 presents a startling picture of the problem of sin. Fortunately, the Bible also presents the
hope of Redemption.
To begin, the first question is, How many of us have sinned? The Bible is unequivocal: All of us have.
Redemption, therefore, cannot be based on lack of sin; it must be based on forgiveness (Jer: 31:34). Paul
agrees. All have sinned (Rom: 3:9-20, Romans 3:23); so, there can be no distinction on that basis (Rom:
3:22). Those who are justified can be judged as just, only because they receive by faith the gift of God’s
righteousness through the sacrifice of Christ.
Read Romans 3:21-24. What are these verses telling us about how we are saved? What hope should
they give us in the judgment?
Forgive and Reunite
Image © Rolf Jansson at Goodsalt.com
Most people think the question in the judgment is: Who has sinned? But that is not a question that
needs to be asked, because everyone has sinned. Instead, the question is: Who is forgiven? God is just
when He justifies “the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom: 3:26, NRSV). The deciding factor in the
judgment is, Who has received and continues to receive forgiveness by having faith in Jesus?
Now, it is true we are judged by works, but not in the sense that works save us. If so, then faith is made
void (Rom: 4:14). Instead, our works reveal whether we truly have been saved (James 2:18).
Why can’t works save us, either now or in the judgment? See Rom: 3:20, Romans 3:23.
It is too late for good works, or obedience to the law, to redeem anyone. The purpose of the law in a
sinful world isn’t to save but to point out sin. Instead, “faith working through love” (Gal: 5:6, NRSV), love
that is poured into the heart by God’s Spirit (Rom: 5:5), demonstrates that a person has living faith in
Jesus (see also James 2:26).
Works are an outward expression, the human manifestation of a saving faith. Hence, a true Christian
experience is one in which faith is expressed in a daily commitment to the Lord that is revealed by
obedience to the law. In the judgment, God uses works as evidence for His creatures, who cannot read
thoughts of faith as He can. But for the converted person, only works following conversion, when the life
is empowered by Christ and the Holy Spirit, are relevant in the judgment. The preconversion life of sin
has already been washed away by the blood of the Lamb (see Rom: 6:1-23).
