Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:16-20
Come, Let Us Reason Together
Intro.
1. God urged Israel to take a walk with Him and reason together about their state of sin and His provisions of salvation, Isa. 1:18.
a. Reason (OT): “to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right” (Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance, OLB).
b. Reason (NT): “1) to think different things with one's self, mingle thought with thought (1a) to ponder, revolve in mind (2) to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss” (Thayer, 139).
2. We must exhort each other, and do so in the proper, effective and Scriptural way, Acts 14:22; Heb. 3:13.
-Some say "Come, let us reason together" is outdated: "I was reminded recently by a preacher friend that our motto for decades was "Come, let us reason together" (James Nored, "Why Are Churches of Christ Shrinking? Part 1").
3. Isaiah 1: God pleaded with His people on the basis of reason (not feelings) to repent of their sins and obtain His salvation.
I. COME, LET US REASON TOGETHER FROM THE SCRIPTURES, Isa. 1:2, 10.
A. That is Where God’s Truth is Found, Jno. 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
-Only the Bible will establish the truth in all things.
B. That is Where God’s Grace Is Given, Acts 20:24, 32; Tit. 2:11-12.
1. It teaches us of Christ, the embodiment of grace - Jno. 1:14, 18.
2. Human wisdom, tradition, creeds, philosophies can never test the accuracy of our lives, rebuke us when we are wrong, or correct us in God’s sight.
C. God’s Fellowship Is Secured by Scripture, 1 Jno. 1:1-4,5-7; 2 Jno. 9.
D. We Must Follow the Apostolic Practice when We Reason Together (1 Cor. 11:1).
-[*dialegomai] {Using the scriptures, 1 Pet. 3:15}...
1. Acts 17:2-4* - “to set before (one) in teaching” (alleging).
2. Acts 17:17* - To try to save them.
3. Acts 18:4* - To persuade the lost (of sin) and bring to salvation.
4. Acts 18:19* - With the Jews (attempt to convert them).
5. Acts 19:8, 9* - Daily dispute using Scriptures to persuade men.
6. Acts 19:9* - Daily activity of the apostle.
7. Acts 20:7* - Preaching (“discoursed”) - Reasoning (v. 9*).
8. Acts 24:25* - To bring conviction of sin, repentance and salvation
-“Truth has nothing to fear from honest investigation.”
II. COME, LET US REASON TOGETHER ABOUT SIN, Isa. 1:2-15.
A. The Nature of Sin.
1. Rebellion against God, Isa. 1:2 (Commission, 1 Jno. 3:4).
-1:3 - Due to lack of knowledge. (5:13)
2. Forsaking God, Isa. 1:4 (Omission, Jas. 4:17).
3. Completely corrupting, Isa. 1:5-8 (Rom. 3:9-12, 23; Eph. 2:1-3).
4. Makes service to God vain, Isa. 1:11-15 (Matt. 5:23-24; 15:6-9).
-We must be willing to let scripture expose our sin and correct our error lest we become corrupted and our service vain before God.
B. Sin is Purged (Cleansed) by Repentance, Isa. 1:16-17.
1. Put away evil doings (cease), 1:16; Col. 3:5, 9.
2. Learn to do well, 1:17 (justice, mercy, faith, 1:21-23; Matt. 23:23), cf. Lk. 3:8; Acts 8:21-22; 26:20, Fruit of repentance.
III. COME, LET US REASON TOGETHER OF SALVATION, Isa. 1:18-20.
A. God Still Offers His Mercy and Grace to Sinners, Isa. 1:9, 18; 1:24-27.
1. Love, mercy, grace - Saved us, Eph. 2:4-7; Titus 3:5-7.
2. Christ’s blood cleanses us from stain of sin, Rom. 5:8-9.
3. God is active in saving you from your sins.
B. Man’s Faith, Isa. 1:19.
1. Obedient to God’s word, Eph. 2:8; Jas. 2:24; Heb. 5:9.
2. You must be active in receiving salvation from your sins.
Conclusion
1. Righteous judgment did (will) occur, Isa. 1:20, 28-31 (Rom. 2:5).
2. Listen when the Lord reasons with you from His word (receive His rebuke, reproof and correction) and be cleansed of sin (saved) rather than face His wrath against your sin later.
3. Reason with each other from God’s word (truth) to exhort one another daily.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: January 7, 2016