03-15-98.............. The Cost of Salvation!............. Isaiah 55
by Ronald E. George Jr.
Number 3 in the 5 Sermon series "The Truth about Salvation."
Jim Elliot, a young missionary who was martyred for his faith, encouraged others to serve when he said: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Scripture Text: Isaiah 55:1 –9
Isai 55:1 (KJS) Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation [that] thou knowest not, and nations [that] knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. {the unrighteous...: Heb. the man of iniquity} 8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Purpose is to show the cost of salvation and invite all to take.
Key Verse: Isai 55:1 (KJS) Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
What does Salvation Cost You?
1. It will cost you your Pride… You must acknowledge your need and your desire for the salvation of God. Jesus is the bridge that crosses the gorge that is unable to be crossed.
Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
In the mountains of the West, it is related, there is a place called "The Death Leap." It is far up in the mountains where two rocks protrude. The distance between them is about thirty feet. The deer had been chased by the hounds and came to this "death leap." There was no way around. It is said the deer came to this fearful pass and stopped and listened to the oncoming dogs. Then it backed up some distance and came bounding for the leap. But, as it came near and saw the yawning precipice, its courage failed. Again it listened to the oncoming hounds, which were much nearer. It was cross or die. The second time it backed up even farther than before, and with a mighty bound it sought to reach the other side; but the distance was too great. The deer fell and was crushed on the rocks more than two hundred feet below.
We may love the world and reject Christ. But one day, when the end comes and we look across the mighty, yawning chasm, we will need Christ. He said, "I am the way." He is the Way across. We will need Him and want Him then.
The enemies of Death and disease will hunt you down until there is no escape. How will you be able to survive their attack? "O death where is your sting O grave where is thy victory."
Isai 55:6 (KJS) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon
John 7:37 In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
"But the last hour of the meetings, I asked those who could do nothing more and yet desired religion to raise up their hand. As Mr. Wilkinson began to raise his hand, he rose to his feet, and stretched up his hand high. This act had so affected him that he came near us at the desk, and wished to settle the question there.
We knelt and prayed with and for him, and at once he found peace. It was now four o'clock, P. M., and I must leave in thirty minutes. Mr. Wilkinson put his name on my blank book and said, as he left me: "All the rest of my life for Jesus."
He left the room and had just forty-five minutes of life for Jesus, no more, and went into eternity. I thought then and feel the same now, that I would urge each one to seek Christ at once. You may not have forty-five minutes for Jesus. I speak to every one whose eye rests on this page. -- A. B. Earle, From: "Incidents Used ... In His Meetings," published in 1888
3. It will cost you your life... A life of searching for something worth while. A life of dissatisfaction. A life of hunting for the perfect bargain and never finding exactly what you want. What is life without Salvation and the hope of eternity? A life of Hopelessness will be lost if given to God.
What type of life will you be giving away and what will you be receiving in return? The emphasis is on the YOUR. Is it really yours or is it God’s loan to you, to use for a short time?
Matt 16:25 (KJS) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
What does Salvation Cost God?
It cost Him His Son…
John 3:16 (KJS) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Salvation cost Jesus His Life…Jesus died the death of the cross so you and I could live for ever.
Hebr 9:26 (KJS) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 (KJS) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Can Salvation really be Free?
It is free but it has cost God dearly. He loves his one and only Son, but He loves you so much that He came for you and me. Have you accepted His precious gift? The cost has been paid for you. Life itself is free from God and new life is free in Him.
John 3:3 (KJS) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Today as we refill the Bird feeders for the Birds, God has refilled the fountain of Life. Come and drink without price or cost to you, but your decision to lift up your hand and drink by giving to God your Life.
Life is free and the abundant life you can have in Christ is yours for the taking. We must join ourselves to God. Take of God’s wonderful gift.
Isai 55:1 (KJS) Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Salvation is that which no one can afford, but no one can live without!
Jim Elliot, a young missionary who was martyred for his faith, encouraged others to serve when he said: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."