+DEV+ By Grace: Sin Is Conquered [2 of 27]

Date: March 10, 2013 10:59 PM
Topic: +DEV+  By Grace: Sin Is Conquered [2 of 27]

By Grace: Sin Is Conquered [2 of 27]

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 1:10-20

The LORD says to His shameless people, "...let us reason together." But, no. They will not come and learn from Him. They prefer to go through the motions of religious practice, thinking that will make them worthy. Meanwhile, their hearts are far from Him. Instead of seeking justice, encouraging the oppressed, defending the cause of the fatherless, and pleading the case of the widow
(vs. 17), they've focused on false worship that has sickened the LORD.

These verses ring true in today's world. Many who call themselves "Christians" refuse to believe the Bible, preferring instead to follow the outward trappings of religion. But God says, "Come now, and let us reason together." They who will not come to the LORD "forfeit the grace that could have been theirs" (Jonah 2:8). Only the grace of Jesus can make scarlet sins as white as snow. Notice the Hebrew parallelism in verse 18. Sin is scarlet and crimson; righteousness is like snow or wool. The parallel contrast emphasizes that salvation is by grace alone.

Insight: God's grace is not just the heavy artillery in the war against sin. It's the only artillery - the only solution to the sin problem.




Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.