Sermon Tone Analysis

! Series:  The Way to Godliness

!

The 2nd Step toward Godliness - Repentance

!

January 18, 2009

*Isaiah 1:10-20*

 

 

*Introduction*

* *

We began, last week, a mini-series from the 1st chapter of the Book of Isaiah addressing discipleship and sanctification.

We began like this:  since we await, longingly, our Lord’s physical return to earth; and Since our Lord has commanded us clearly…..He has given us the Great Commission – that the church’s mission is to make disciples of all the nations….*How

are we to live and serve as we wait?*

So, we looked at the question posed by the Apostle Peter following his description of the Return of Christ to receive His own and to bring judgment to humanity:

2 Pe 3:11-12a

*11* Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, *what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness*, *12* waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, …….

How are we to live as God’s people?

We are to live as holy, righteous, godly people…we are to live the gospel that has saved us!

But Paul adds to this thought in his challenge to Timothy… “….train yourself for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”                             1 Tim.4: 7b-8

*How are we to live as holy people?

*[*mini-series – The Way to Godliness!*]

Last week we took the *first step in our pursuit of training in godliness* – a training in understanding who we really are……who we are in light of our Holy Creator God!

That first step was to look at our sin and our need to be rid of it before we can accept God’s best for us!

We looked at God’s gracious gift of conviction – learning our weakness is ever before us – yet God’s strength and glory shines most beautifully through our weaknesses!

Our *first step* is a recognition that it is God’s unwavering grace and steadfast love that sustains us….it is His power that saves and keeps us….and that the life God has for us in not a life of spiritual mediocrity or continued bondage to sin…..but it is a life of freedom in Christ and, as a result, a relationship with our heavenly Father that is glorious….and

beautiful….and

all encompassing!

*Repentance*

*So…..this morning we come to the next step *in our pursuit of godliness.

If our *first step* is *conviction *of sin – the realization of our brokenness and God’s grace; that in the gift of conviction, we have the Holy Spirit piercing our hearts with the surgical precision - -bringing *Transformation…..change!*

But what is the target of our change?

*It is to be like Christ!

To be re-made in His image!*  [just as we bear Adam’s fallen image now….we are being transformed into the image of the second Adam – Christ!]

The *second step toward godliness, is found in Is. **1:10**-20 – it is the step of repentance.*

In this text, God  speaks…links two things at once:  worship and repentance!  *God puts them together this way: “I want you to repent of your worship.

Your worship is unacceptable unless it flows from repentance.”* 

*          Turn with me to Is. 1:10-20 READ*

*Repentance from sin involves the whole person and is:*

Ø     the */knowledge/* or awareness of the holiness and majesty of God and our woeful state of lawless rebellion;

Ø    The */great sorrow of our heart over sin /*(*NOT over the consequences of our sin!)  *This sorrow is comes from the great offence of sin to our Holy God! 

Ø    The */turning of the whole person – from sin to God; This is an inward change in turning from sin….but also it is a change in purpose and motivation./*

Repentance only comes from a growing hatred of sin!

And although there must be a definite *repentance* with our saving faith at the time of salvation, repentance is a lifelong fleeing….from

sin to Christ…..from selfishness to *Self-LESS-Ness*!! 

Martin Luther showed this as a priority….in

the first of his 95 thesis – he states, “*Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance*.”[1]

Repentance and transformation (just like repentance and faith in salvation) really cannot be separated.

They are different in substance, yet both must be present to accomplish God’s purpose in us….to change us to reflect His image….the

image of Christ!

As one theologian put it, “*Repentance is a pilgrimage from the mind of the flesh to the mind of Christ.*”[2]

Last week, Isaiah in vv.

2-9 showed us our problem – we live in rebellion to God….and now, in vv.

10-20, that true worship (or coming in to the presence of God) requires that we be authentic….that

we be real.

Isaiah exposes the hypocrisy of any other kind of worship in 4 steps:  *confrontation (**1:10**)….accusation

(**1:11**-15)…invitation (**1:16**-18)…and decision (**1:19**-20).*

*Confrontation*

     *10*     Hear the word of the Lord,

you rulers of , Sodom!

          Give ear to the teaching of our God,

you people of Gomorrah!

In v.9, Isaiah made it clear that if it were not for the preserving grace of God, we would all end up like Sodom an Gomorrah…..both found guilty and both being destroyed!

You can imagine that perhaps this wasn’t received with open arms by Isaiah’s contemporaries!

“*What do you mean, Isaiah?

We aren’t rebellious!

We worship Yahweh!!  We worship according to His Laws….how can you say we are /like /**Sodom** and **Gomorrah**!*

At this point, we come to v.10….and

Isaiah thinks their comments over and says….

“you’re right…you’re not */like /*S & G - you */ARE S&G!/*  Isaiah intensifies the sermon….he

*confronts* them because he desperately wants them to really, really HEAR the Word of the LORD!

*Application – *We see God’s grace in this confrontation….when

all of us….leaders and people….rulers

and others….begin

asking ourselves questions about our lives – Are we really living lives that bear witness of Jesus Christ?  *Even in our deepest, most personal thoughts….are

we becoming more like Christ?  Do our lives bear spiritual fruit?

Are we salty and reflecting light into the darkness around us?*  *Are we willing to hear a word from the LORD?*

*Accusation*  (v.11)

Here’s God’s evaluation of worship!

We want to argue over hymns or praise songs….drums

or organs…But God’s evaluation goes SO MUCH DEEPER! – *Read v.11  *I like the way the NLT puts it….

“I am sick of your sacrifices.”

But aren’t they worshiping in the correct form?

Aren’t they following all of the Temple rituals of Leviticus?

*So why has God had enough of their offerings?

*We don’t know yet….but the explanation is coming!

*12** *    “When you come to appear before me,

who has required of you

this trampling of my courts?

This is the heart of worship:  When you come to appear before me.

This IS worship….coming

into His presence….coming

before our Holy God!  What a beautiful privilege…..but that beauty can be marred!

When His court is */trampled underfoot!/*/

/Jesus condemned such abuse of worship when he drove away the money changers from the Temple (Mk 11.15,16).

*13*     Bring no more vain offerings;

incense is an abomination to me.

New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—

I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.

Isaiah is bringing us to the root of the problem…..and there are two hints in v. 13 – in the first line – *God doesn’t want vain offerings!*

(/Literally, “offerings of nothing”)/  Hollow, self-centered worship offends God!

But then, look at the last line – “I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.”

The key here is in the conjunctive “and”……it is their sins and worship!  *God is saying*, “Your unconfessed sins make your worship unendurable to me….because your sins show what you really think about me!”  Living in perpetual, habitual sin and coming to worship is offensive to the holiness of God!  *Where is our sense of urgency*…which is more important – the form of worship or the quality of our lives?

Is it the form of worship or the heart of worship that matters?

*14*     Your new moons and your appointed feasts

my soul hates;