## God's Final Call

## Isaiah 1:1-20

The ministry of Isaiah was a difficult one. His message was given in a time of great crisis both politically and religiously. The message of this prophet is amazingly relevant to our needs today. We know that God wants all to come to Him and be saved. Over and over again in the Word of God we find Him giving an invitation. In Bible preaching churches all over this nation there will be an invitation given today.

That is God's way as we find in His Word, but one day God will give His last invitation. One day the pulpits of Bible-believing churches will be silent. This could be that day, no man knows the day or the hour when Jesus will return. This morning as we look into the book of Isaiah and hear the message of God we need to be mindful that this may be the last time you have an opportunity to come.

I. The Charges God Made. v1-3

A. Rebellion (2)

1. People today are rebellious as ever if not more so.

2. Mankind wants to do as he pleases.

3. Rebellion against God and His principles are widespread today.

4. The roots of this rebellion is found in the teachings of humanism.

B. Inconsideration (3)

1. The brute beasts of the field know their master.

2. Israel showed no consideration for their God.

3. The majority of this world fits snugly into that mold.

4. Multitudes are 'middle-of-the-road' when it comes to God.

a. They are neither for Him, nor are they against Him.

b. But Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me..." Mt. 12:30

c. Standing in the middle of the road is a good place to get killed!

d. Illustration:

In 1970, Bill Conklin started his own church in his home in Denver, Colorado. The Church of World Peace offered to sell certificates of sainthood, martyrdom, and born-again for only $5 each. He placed an ad in the local newspaper offering forgiveness of sins for only $35.00!

He said that he would appear at any party or office gathering bearing a customized proclamation, a framed Plenary Indulgence certificate, and an official copy of the 'New Revised Ten Commandments. The indulgence states, "You have transgressed and sinned against the Holy Church, but we understand that the temptations of the flesh are many, and we are prepared to offer you total forgiveness."

"Your generous donation to our church is proof that you have repented and are once more ready to walk in the light of truth and Peace. For this reason, the church hereby awards this plenary indulgence…Go thy way and sin no more without consulting us first."

II. The Condition of the Nation.

A. Spiritual condition. (4-9)

1. Altogether sinful. v4a

a. What a commentary on our nation today

b. Everywhere we turn we see violence and wickedness

c. Pick up the newspaper or turn on the TV news and we can read or hear about the sinfulness of man.

d. No area of our world is exempt from this wickedness!

2. They have provoked God to anger. v4b

a. God is love, but:

b. He is also a God of Holiness and Righteousness.

c. The present day events of the world are a stench in the nostrils of an Almighty God

d. Abortion on demand… homosexual unions being considered marriage!

e. I believe that we have provoked God to anger by this wicked behavior!

3. The diagnosis is dreadful. v5-8

a. The whole head is sick--reprobate thinking.

b. The whole heart is faint--desperately wicked.

c. The whole body is corrupt--natural result.

4. There is only one hope. v9

a. The only deterrent to God's judgment falling right this instant is His godly remnant.

b. When we are gone (raptured) then this world will see a time as never before.

c. There will be great tribulation and the wrath of God will fall.

B. Religious condition. (10-15)

1. Religious is not the same as spiritual.

a. That is where so many goes wrong

b. They want to lump all churches together and consider them the same.

c. They call it the 'realm of religion'

d. We don't need more religion today we need more people getting born again-- more folks being saved!

2. Religion is of no value to God. (10-14)

a. Service without fellowship with God is useless service.

b. God is not interested in all of man's contrivances for worship.

c. With God, it is not the nature of the service, but the attitude of the heart.

3. Religion is of no value to man. (15)

a. It will not change our position before God

b. It will not cleanse us from iniquity

c. It will not assure one of an eternity with God in heaven.

III. The Correction Necessary. v16-17

A. Proper cleansing. (16a)

1. Can only come through the blood of Jesus Christ,

2. 1 John 1:7, "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

3. He is the only one, 'there is one mediator between God and man: the man Christ Jesus'!

B. Proper repentance. (16b)

1. Turning away from evil.

2. There is entirely too many Hollywood Christian conversions today

3. Repentance means a change of mind that will result in a change of behavior.

4. The old preacher said, "If you is what you was…then you ain't"!

C. Proper Service. (17)

1. That will naturally come with the proper conversion.

2. Learn to do well. How? Through the Word!

3. Those who do not serve God are ignorant of God's Word or backslidden.

IV. The Call from God. v18-20

A. Come now... (18)

1. God invites us to come.

2. Realize what He has done for us

3. Do It NOW "Now is the day of salvation..."

B. Come... if willing. (19)

1. God will not force an invitation upon us.

2. He promises great blessings for those who come, if we are willing and obedient.

3. If we come to God, we must come on His terms.

C. If we refuse... (20)

1. God is not willing that any should perish...

2. Notice the choice is ours, "IF"

3. God has a promise for all:

a. If we come the promise means great blessing:

b. If we refuse the promise is certain destruction

c. John 3:18, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already..."

God is gracious and gives us many opportunities to correct our paths. He is not willing that any should perish but that all might come to Him in repentance, but one day… just as in the day of Noah… one day the door of salvation will be closed.

One day the call from God will be His final call. Perhaps it is today. This may be the final message we will ever hear. This may be the final day we will be in a church service. This may be the final opportunity we have to come to Him.

Have we heeded God's message? Have we responded to His call? Come to Him today… come in faith, not in our goodness or religion…but come in faith to God believing that Jesus Christ paid it all. He shed His blood on Calvary that we might be saved this morning.