20150812 Wednesday, August 12 2015
Isaiah 55: Why Repent?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

There are millions of Christian-professing people today who have convinced themselves, or been misled into believing, that salvation is a come-as-you-are, do-whatever-you-please obligation that the LORD must obey. They are, in effect, demanding that the LORD must fulfill the man-made doctrines of the thousands of conflicting man-made "Christian" churches. Most still preach "hell fire," but only for those who haven't yet claimed (i.e. seized) "the name of Jesus" for themselves and their religions. But the Messiah never taught any such thing. He in fact directly warned against those acts of rebellion and defiance.

In the Messiah's own words, a plain command and warning (see also Who Can Be Saved? and Christ Died For Repentant Sinners; also What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16? and Strait And Straight):

"7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:13-27 KJV)

Faith is about being faithful. Someone who merely claims to be faithful to their spouse while being, or consorting with, harlots is a fraud - their relationship is worthless and invalid. Claiming to have faith in the LORD while being unfaithful to Him in deed is a fraud in exactly the same way - it's the reason that the antichrist "Babylon" church, that claims to be Christian, is called a harlot (see The Bride Of Christ and The Great Harlots).

"6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46 KJV)

Many misled people have been drawn into the lawless grace trap (see Ungodly Men Who Turn Grace Into Lawlessness) because they have been deceived into equating Christian "works," which simply means obedience to the LORD (see Works Means Obedience), with the dead-end, man-made works of Judaism ("7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition"; Mark 9:9 KJV) - which are no different than the dead-end works of people who claim to be Christian while ignoring or contradicting what the LORD (see The LORD God Our Saviour) taught and commanded.

Once again, from the Messiah's own words.

"5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:13-18 KJV)

"16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matthew 16:27 KJV)

The prophets had an immediate and a long view. They were given to preach to the people of their time, but their message was the same to people of all time: "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 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" (see also What Does Mercy Really Mean?).

"55:1 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. 55:2 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. 55:3 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. 55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 55:5 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.

55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 55:7 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.

55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." (Isaiah 55:1-13 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why does iniquity seem so right to those who are held captive by it?
See Iniquity In History And Prophecy