Salvation From Self

“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isa 25:9 AV)

The previous verse speaks of the removal of the rebuke of Israel.  In context, the LORD is speaking of the regathering of Israel.  Of removing their rebuke in the form of their captivity.  Of reversing the chastening hand of God and placing them in the land of blessing.  There is only one point which we wish to observe and upon which we need to meditate.  The prophet, rightly so, categorizes our LORD as the God of our salvation.  That from which He saves us is rebuke.  Rebuke comes because we are wicked people.  Herein is the application.  Salvation in Christ does not instantaneously make us practically perfect.  We are still tempted from the old man.  Sin is still and issue.  We must still face the battle against wickedness.  THE ONLY DIFFERENCE, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING BETWEEN THE LOST AND THE SAVED IS THE SAVED ADMIT AND ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH THEIR SIN.  But they are not necessarily all that more practically righteous than some of the lost.  We covet salvation from ourselves!  That is what we desire the most.

Jesus had many battles with the Pharisees.  The Pharisees could not see themselves as fallen and in need of a Savior.  They condemned the perverse.  What they could not see was their own need.  Christ said, “…They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mr 2:17 AV) The problem was, the Pharisee was not whole.  He was as much in need of a physician as those that were sick.  They simply could not see themselves as sick.  The Bible clearly declares that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  The difference is, the saint sees his sin as in need of rebuke.  He understands that his wickedness demands God’s judgment.  He knows that he deserves the fires of a Devil’s hell.  He is embarrassed at the choices he continues to make when he knows they are wrong.  He doesn’t hate the world for condemning his sin because he knows that he is guilty of it.

This is why our God is our God of salvation.  We need to be saved from ourselves.  The old man needs to be destroyed.  It needs to rot in the grave.  We cannot do this.  Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.  There is nothing we can do in and of ourselves to right the wrongs committed in this flesh.  We need a Savior who will pay the price for our sin and redeem us unto glory and perfection.  We need the rebuke of our evil to be destroyed because we are without strength.  Oh, what glory that will be when the vail of this life is torn away and a new life is complete in Christ!  Take away the rebuke, dear Father!  Take it away!