A Gracious Invitation to Salvation
(Isa. 55:1-3, 5-9)
Context: When Isaiah made this statement, around 721 B.C he was preaching to the Jews that were held
captive by Assyria.
If the message of the Gospel could be summed up in a single word that word would be “Come!”
To evangelize is to invite others.
The invitation is to those in need of salvation (Gen. 7:1, Noah & family from the flood, Ex. 14:13, the Jews
from slavery in Egypt, Matt. 9:12, sinners, Luke 19:10, the lost)
Salvation = rescue/deliverance
Justification (acquittal/absolution/pardon) - by faith (Acts 13:38-39, Rom. 1:16 & 5:1, Eph. 2:5 & 8,
Gal. 2:16, Titus 3:5-8, 2 Tim. 3:15, 1 Pe. 1:9)
During the presidency of Andrew Jackson, George Wilson, a postal clerk, robbed a federal payroll
from a train. In the process he killed a guard. The court convicted him and sentenced him to hang.
Because of public sentiment against capital punishment however, a movement began to secure a
presidential pardon for Wilson. After all, it was his first offense. Eventually President Jackson
intervened with a pardon. Amazingly, Wilson refused. Since this had never happened before, the
Supreme Court was asked to rule on whether someone could indeed refuse a presidential pardon.
Chief Justice John Marshall handed down the court’s decision: "A pardon is a parchment whose only
value must be determined by the receiver of the pardon. It has no value apart from that which the
receiver gives to it. George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon... We cannot conceive why he
would do so, but he has. Therefore, George Wilson must die." George Wilson, as punishment for his
crime, was hanged. A pardon, declared the Supreme Court, must not only be granted, it must be
accepted.
Sanctification (cleansed/blessed/made holy) - from sin, of the Holy Spirit, by the faith & truth/the
Word of God (John 17:19, Acts 26:18, Rom. 16:15, 1 Cor. 1:18, 2 Cor. 2:15, 2 Th. 2:13, 1 Pe. 1:2)
Glorification (honor/radiance) - (Isa. 55:5, John 12:32, Rom. 8:30, 1 Cor. 15:42-49)
A free gift of God’s grace (Isa. 55:1, Rom. 3:21-24)
Only through Christ (Acts 4:12, 1 Tim. 2:10)
Water (Isa. 55:1, Ps. 42:1-2a, 63:1, John 4:13-14, 6:27, 7:37, Rev. 7:16)
Living Water (John 4:7-15, 7:37-38, Rev. 21:6)
Only the “Living Water” can save
Lord Byron wrote, “I drank every cup of joy, drank early, deeply drank, drank draughts which
common millions might have drunk, then died of thirst because there was no more to drink."
Wine & Milk (Isa. 55:1, Ps. 9:1-7, 104:15, Ecc. 10:19, Ex. 3:8 & 17, Prov. 27:27, Song 5:1, 1 Cor. 3:2, 1
Pe. 2:2)
Symbols of spiritual joy, abundance & nourishment/sustenance.
Wine also is a symbol of the blood of Christ poured out so that we may regain life (Mark 14:24)
Bread (Isa. 55:2, Deut. 8:3, Ps. 104:15, 132:15, Prov. 9:5-6, Matt. 4:4, John 6:51)
A symbol of spiritual sustenance unto life.
Christ himself (Luke 22:19, John 6:33-35, 48-51)
Urgency (Isa. 55:6, 2 Cor. 6:2, James 4:14, 1 Thes. 5:2-3 )
God’s Mercy/God’s Higher Ways (Isa. 55: 7-9, 1 Pet. 2:8)
