White as Snow

Let us begin our worship this evening by singing to his praise of God in Psalm 103 of the Scottish Psalter.

Psalm 103, Scottish Psalter, you'll find that on page 369 of the Blue Book.

We'll sing from the beginning of that psalm.

Psalm 103 from the beginning, down to verse Mark 5.

O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is.

Be stirred up his holy name to magnify and bless.

Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God, and not forgetful be of all his gracious benefits he hath bestowed on thee.

All thine iniquities, who doth most graciously forgive, who thy diseases all and pains doth heal and thee relieve.

Who doth redeem thy life that thou to death mayest not go down, who thee with loving kindness doth and tender mercy's crown.

Who with abundance of good things doth satisfy thy mouth, so that even as the eagle's age, renewed is thy youth.

A psalm that speaks of God's goodness and love towards his people.

It's a psalm that will come back to sing the concluding verses at the end of our worship service.

So let us lift our voices in praise to God.

Let us stand together and sing this.

O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord.

O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is.

He shed a praise holy name to magnify and bless.

O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, and all forgetful be.

Of all his gracious benefits he hath bestowed on thee.

To HolzDon osob to oro, and all forgetful be.

All thy basics will look to God, O honourless쟁.

O thou, her affection, thou, myendi, Whate see, appears-tu, leah Teah,Monkey, by Thy wisdomafter, He whom I am

surestセツ близ.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

We now join together in prayer and join our hearts together.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

You know all things and you know the hairs that are upon our heads.

You know the anxieties within our hearts.

You know the sadness within our hearts.

And we pray for those who are sad within their heart tonight.

We ask that you would remember them and that we would bring them before you.

That you would be a comfort to them.

And comfort those who mourn we pray.

We just ask that your loving arms would be wrapped around them.

And that you would continue with them.

Step by step in days that are so uncertain.

Days that may be fearful to them.

But as we heard in the morning.

You are one who gives peace.

You are the one that does not bring unto us things like the world does.

You take from us these anxieties and our fears.

And grants to us a peace within our hearts.

When we draw close to you.

And you draw close to us.

So in the gathering of your people.

May we know the closeness of your presence.

And the blessing of your spirit upon us.

As your word is spoken and read aloud tonight.

That it may speak within our hearts.

May it be a convicting voice.

A converting voice.

A strengthening voice.

An encouraging voice to each of us.

That we would know you.

When we gather with a heart and mind.

To seek you.

And so let us do that tonight.

Have a focus upon all the works of God.

And what Christ has done for us on the cross at Calvary.

And through that sacrifice.

We have been redeemed.

There is no other power that can wash away sins.

Sins that separate us from God.

That only through having faith in Christ.

Trusting and resting upon him.

Shall we be granted entry into your presence.

And unto the kingdom of glory.

Let us not forget what awaits those who trust in Christ.

For the hope that is set before us.

A place with no sorrow.

A place with no pain.

A place where we shall adore and look upon.

The lamb that was slain.

But it will be beautiful to us.

And his radiance will illuminate our presence.

And illuminate that land.

Let us keep our mind.

Upon things that are beyond this world.

And attain.

The things that are of.

Everlasting joy.

To the believer in Christ.

Lord we pray.

That as you gather with us here.

We pray for the young ones.

That are within this congregation.

And we are mindful of those.

Who may be away at camps.

We pray for them.

We pray for our own sponsor camp.

Concraig Junior.

And we thank you.

That they have gathered safely together.

And that they went to worship God together today.

That as they join together one another.

May you form lasting friendships there.

And bind them together.

And bind them together with your love.

That they may come to understand.

Your love.

That is not like the love of this world.

It is a love that does not hold grudges.

It is a love.

It is a love.

It is not angered.

It is a love.

It is a love.

It is a love.

That calls to us.

To come to him.

To confess of our sins.

That we may be adopted into the family of God.

Lord we pray.

That as your word has been proclaimed throughout your land.

And this nation.

This island.

That it would go with your blessing.

And that it would go with the power of your spirit.

Lord it is not by any man.

Can the mysterious works be done.

But by the works of your spirit.

Convicting and converting.

And turning souls that lie in sin.

Unto yourself.

Lord we just ask.

That you would bind us together.

In your love.

As we gather here this evening.

We pray.

That you would strengthen each of us.

In our tasks.

In our homes.

In the duties that we have.

Often we feel.

Insufficient.

For what lies ahead of us.

Often we feel weak.

To the tasks that are set before us.

Lord.

Renew us.

As we come before you.

May the strength of that eagle.

That is spoken in Isaiah be ours.

May we walk.

And continue to run.

And striving towards that.

Crown of righteousness.

That shall be ours.

As we walk in faith.

And trust in you.

Be with us.

We pray.

Watch over us.

In Persian.

Watch over us.

In our homes.

Keep us in health.

And strength.

And all this.

We ask.

In the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

We'll continue.

In our praise to God.

By singing in Psalm 32.

In the Sing Psalms version.

We'll find that on page 38.

Of the blue book.

Psalm 32.

From the beginning of that psalm.

Down to verse Mark 7.

How blessed the one who has received.

Forgiveness for his sin.

Whose sins are covered from God's face.

Whose debt is cancelled in God's grace.

There's no deceit in him.

Down to verse Mark 7.

You are my hiding place O Lord.

My true security.

You keep me safe in troubled days.

You circle me with joyful praise.

When you have set me free.

The psalm is speaking of that joy.

In knowing that his sins are forgiven.

And all debt is cancelled.

By the grace of God.

We stand together and sing these words.

How blessed the one who has received.

Forgiveness for his sin.

How blessed the one who has received.

Forgiveness for his sin.

Who united the一起 to return.

The birthday of God.

Where God

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

I said, O Lord, I have transgressed, and you forgive when I confess.

You pardoned all my sins.

Let the Godly pay to you, and you are to be found.

Surely when waves are sweeping past, and mighty waters rising past, you'll keep them safe and sound.

You are my hiding place, O Lord, my true security.

You keep me safe and troubled days.

You circle me with joyful praise, and you have set me free.

Amen.

Turn now to our Bibles, and if we could turn to the book of Isaiah.

The prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 1 of that book.

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

We'll read from the beginning of that chapter down to verse Mark 20.

Let us hear God's word.

The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amos, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Hear, O heavens, and give ye, O earth, for the Lord has spoken.

Children I have reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know.

My people do not understand.

Ah, sinful nation.

A people laden with iniquity.

Offspring of evildoers.

Children who deal corruptly.

They have forsaken the Lord.

They have despised the Holy One of Israel.

They are utterly estranged.

Why will you still be struck down?

Why will you continue to rebel?

The whole head is sick.

The whole heart faint.

From the sole of the foot to the head, there is no soundness in it.

But bruises and sores and raw wounds, they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.

Your country lies desolate.

Your cities are burned with fire.

In your very presence, foreigners devour your land.

It is desolate as overthrown by foreigners.

And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.

If the Lord of hosts had not left us, we should have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Gomorrah.

What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices, says the Lord.

I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts.

I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of goats.

When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my coats?

Bring no more vain offerings.

The incense is an abomination to me.

New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations.

I do not endure iniquity and solemn assembly.

Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates.

They have become a burden to me.

I am weary of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you.

Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen.

Your hands are full of blood.

Wash yourselves.

Make yourselves clean.

Remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes.

Cease to do evil.

Learn to do good.

Seek justice, correct oppression.

Bring justice to the fatherless.

Plead the widow's cause.

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord.

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.

Though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.

But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword.

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

We turn now also to the book of Revelation, chapter 7.

Revelation 7 · chapter mention

Read there from verse 9 of that chapter.

Revelation 7.

Reading at verse 9, down to verse 17.

John's vision of a great multitude in heaven.

After this, I looked and behold a great multitude that no one could number from every nation,

from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and the Lamb,

clothed in white robes with pan branches in their hands,

and crying out with a loud voice,

Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.

And all the angels were standing around the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures,

and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying,

Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might

be to our God forever and ever.

Amen.

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying,

Who are these, clothed in white robes,

and from where have they come?

I said, Sir, you know.

And he said to me,

These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore they are before the throne of God,

and serve him day and night in his temple.

And he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more.

The sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd.

He will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eye.

Amen.

May the reading of God's word be a blessing to us.

We'll join in praise again by singing in Psalm 51.

Psalm 51 of the Scottish Psalter Version.

You'll find that on page 280 of the Blue Book.

Singing from the beginning of that psalm.

After thy loving kindness, Lord,

have mercy upon me,

for thy compassion's great blot out all mine iniquity.

Singing down to verse Mark 7 there.

To thy with hyssop sprinkle me,

I shall be cleansed so.

Yea, wash thy me,

and then I shall be whiter than the snow.

The psalm, part of David's confession of his sin,

as the prophet Nathan came before him.

Let us sing these words to God's praise.

Let us stand and sing.

After thy loving kindness, Lord,

have mercy upon me.

After thy loving kindness, Lord,

have mercy upon me.

For thy compassion's great, Lord,

and the

functions,

for every

owment

and

the

works of

.

The temptations I confess, my sin I ever see.

It will be only a person, in my sight of this hell.

But where thou speak, thou hast be just, and fear in judging still.

The old lion iniquity was born in the womb with him.

My mother also be not thee, in guiltiness and sin.

Call thou with the inward heart, with truth delighted art.

And wisdom thine shall take me home within the hidden heart.

To thy will this soft spring to me, I shall be cleansed so.

Ye wash thou me, and then I shall be whiter than the snow.

I'd like us to turn together to the passage we read in Isaiah.

And give our minds attention in the time that we have to verses 18.

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord.

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.

Though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

There are often times in our lives when we hear things that we don't like to hear.

We may remember the voice of parents telling us that we shouldn't be doing something,

or we shouldn't be going somewhere.

Or maybe we hear someone speak to us against the plans that we have made in our own heads.

Maybe we've had great plans that we've spent a lot of time figuring out.

Could be anything.

We've had this great objective in our mind.

And we've come to discuss it.

And then someone may contradict what we've got in our head

with maybe words that are wiser than how we thought it to be.

Maybe words that we don't like to hear.

Maybe fundamental flaws have been pointed out in our plans.

It's things, when that happens, it's not easy for us to take it in.

Sometimes we can be stubborn to anyone that gives us wise counsel.

And we carry on regardless.

And other times we just need to admit that they are right

and put our pride in our pocket, pride in our pocket in a sense,

and admit that there was a flaw in our plan.

And really what we have to do is weigh things up.

Is what the person telling me, is he right?

Is it true?

And what the other voice that speaks to me says,

we have to weigh things up?

And the prophets in the Old Testament,

they didn't have an easy task.

It was their job to bring a voice of correction to the people in their time.

And the voice that they brought was the voice of the Almighty God

before nations that were in error.

And it was words that were usually contrary

to what the people wanted to hear.

It was words that they didn't like to listen to

because it opposed their actions,

it opposed their desires that were within their hearts.

It was just something they didn't like.

It is no wonder that God spoke of Israel

as being a stubborn and rebellious people so often

because they aimed to do it their way

and do it the way they thought was best.

And yet God comes to them

trying to redirect this stubborn people

back to himself

that they may be corrected

and they may not fall

by the wayside

into error

and do damage to themselves.

This correction of God

the direction of God

the voice of God

by whatever means

it would come to them

and by whatever means it comes to us

should demand our attention.

It should arrest our attention

when we read the word of God

because it is a voice that speaks to us.

It is a guiding voice

that shows us

the way in which we should go

the way in which we should live.

but it is a fatherly voice

as we pray unto our Father

the words that the Father speaks to us.

It's a loving, tender voice

and although it is made in love

sometimes it is things

that are hard to hear.

Sometimes it's things

that are not favourable

to our mind.

And continuing as we have done

in the last few weeks

we were looking at some

Bible similes

we were in Psalm 133 last week.

We look at this verse here

where it describes

the sin of Israel

as scarlet and crimson

doubly crimson

but one that shall make them

and turn them

white as snow

and just like wool.

But as we look at this word

that Isaiah brought

to the people

it is a truthful statement

about their case.

It is truthful

about who they are

before God

but it also gives them

it does not leave them

it gives them

the greatest hope

that God can give them.

The greatest hope

that they could hear.

And so this verse is

to us tonight

maybe something

we don't like to hear

something we don't like

to focus on

when it clearly states

not the

well

it states

it states

it states

the condition

of our nation

in one sense

but it states

the condition

of our hearts

in another sense.

As we come

and draw near

to a holy God

it's not comfortable

for us

to hear these things

but at the same time

we are presented

with the greatest hope

that man could ever hear

and that we

could ever hear.

And it is a point

where we marvel

at the love

that the Father

has to us

and how gracious

God is.

So firstly

we need to set

the scene

in a sense

to gather

what Isaiah

is saying

to the people.

What does Isaiah

say in the context

of this

well known verse?

Firstly

when you look

at the whole chapter

and the initial words

of this chapter

it's not easy listening

and what it does

is point out

the condemnation

of God

to the people.

Asking them

why God

sees them

as so stained.

So that's

our first point.

The condemnation

that God

presents to them.

And yet God

well he's not

all condemning

as some people

like to perceive

him to be.

Because God

calls out

to the people

as he did

then he does

today.

God calls.

That's our second point.

God.

And not only

is he a God

that calls

he is a God

that saves.

He is the one

that washes away

the stains

and the sins

that we have

within our lives

that the nation

has.

He is a God

that cleanses us.

So the condemnation

of God

the calling

of God

and the cleansed

of God

in this chapter.

So let's look

at the condemnation

that is set

before us

in Isaiah's day.

Isaiah was a prophet

to the people

of Jerusalem

and the people

of Israel.

He prophesied

to the southern

kingdom

known as Judah.

And we must

remember firstly

that the words

that Isaiah brings

is truth.

They're words

from God.

They're not words

of his own device.

God is saying

to the people

and he wants

the people

to know

this is how

you are

before me.

This is how

I see you.

God wants

them to see

their sin.

They need

to see

their sin.

God is warning

the people

in Judah

about their

position

when they face

divine justice

of God.

What is it

that leaves him?

doubly stained

in scarlet

and crimson.

Well,

we're presented

with a great

number of facts

through Isaiah's

words.

You can look

back and turn

and see

verse 2.

He speaks

of children

that I have

reared up,

reared and

brought up,

but they have

rebelled

against me.

The children

that have turned

their back

on God.

And then

he goes on

to speak

of the ox

in verse 3,

who knows

its owner.

The donkey

knows its

master's crib,

but Israel

does not

know.

My people

do not

understand.

It's as if

he's saying

that the animals

have more sense

than the people.

The animals

know where

they shall

receive care,

goodness,

nourishment,

and yet

the people

of Israel

aren't so

wise.

They're

abandoning

these things.

They're

walking away

from this

loving,

fatherly

figure who

will provide

for them

in every

way.

Israel,

a rebellion

against God.

They don't

understand.

My people

do not

understand,

he says.

In verse 4,

it continues,

the sinfulness

of the

nation,

laden

with

iniquity,

offspring

of evil

doers

who deal

corruptly.

They have

despised

God,

and what

does it

say at

the end

of verse

4?

They are

utterly

estranged.

They're

cut off

in a sense.

But God

has not

cut them

off.

It's

their own

doing.

They have

rejected

God.

They've

rejected the

fatherly

figure that

cares for

them.

They've

rebelled

against me.

They've

walked

away.

And then

we see

in verse

5,

this is

referred to

a body.

This nation

is referred

to a

body.

Isaiah

says,

they're

like being

sick.

The whole

head is

sick.

The whole

heart is

faint from

the soul

of the

foot even

to the

head.

The whole

being,

of Israel

has this

sickness

in it.

And we

see there's

no strength

to oppose

the nations.

There's no

balm for

their wounds.

They're

struggling on.

It sounds

like they're

killing

themselves

because

they're

living as

they want

to live.

And the

nation that

lives as

it wishes,

that reasons

without God,

that stubbornly

strives on

in their

own way,

will

essentially

slowly

kill itself.

There'll

be no

nourishment,

there'll

be no

balm for

them.

But all

the while,

those people

maintain some

outward profession

of worship.

They maintain

the traditions

of their

fathers in

offering

sacrifice,

and coming

to God

and worship.

You can

see in

verse 11

that they

bring a

multitude of

sacrifices,

but God's

had enough

of the

burnt

offerings.

He does

not delight

in what

he brings

to them.

Trampling

of my

court,

he speaks.

Bring

no more

vain offerings.

It is an

abomination

to me.

They keep

their new

moon and

Sabbath,

they keep

the festivals,

they uphold

these things.

but they're

burdensome to

God now.

Such so

that he

does not

hear the

prayers of

the people.

Now,

you look

at this

people that

is spoken

about here,

and you

think,

they don't

understand.

What are

they doing?

They're

rebelling

against God

in every

way.

What would

you do

with them?

If they

reject someone

that rejects

you,

someone that

goes against

you in

every way,

we are

inclined to

leave them.

We are

inclined just

to forget

about them,

to abandon

someone that

treats us

like that.

We're inclined

to exert

their anger

in return

to the way

that they've

treated us.

when we

think of

the

condemnation

of God,

God does

not condemn

as we

do.

God,

in the

first

instance,

is not

harsh,

wanting to

crush us,

exercising his

power over

us,

abandon us,

reject us.

God is not

like us,

thankfully.

God's

condemnation

is truth

to the

people.

He's

stating the

truth of

the facts

that leave

them condemned

before God.

a selfish

condemnation

that they

have brought

upon

themselves

because

they

have

walked

away.

In a

sense,

it's a

merciful word.

Although it's

condemning,

it's got

mercy strung

through it

because he

wants the

people to

see that

they are

guilty in

every way.

I want

you to

know that

you are

sinful.

And I

want you

to turn

from that

soon.

We

may

recall

instances

in our

lives where

we've done

something wrong.

Throughout

the day,

we come

in the

night time,

we're lying

in bed,

and then

the penny

drops,

and we

say,

oh no,

I did

that wrong

today.

I should

not have

done that

to that

person.

I should

have not

done that

act.

I've done

it wrong.

It's only

afterwards you

realize,

and you

think,

well what am

I going to

do to set

it straight?

because I

cannot leave

it like

that.

I've made

an error.

And you

may be

going round

and round

your head

wondering what

to do.

what have

I done?

You may

worry for

your job,

you may

worry for

your

friendships,

whatever it

is.

It may

cause

anxieties

within your

heart for

the thing

that you

have done,

and you

know you

have been

wrong.

And we

get worried

about these

things in

our lives,

but is it

not a

question we

need to

ask

ourselves,

do we

worry about

eternal

things like

that before

God?

It seems

to me like

we are

people that

are so

complacent

about

eternity

and the

truthfulness

of ourselves

before God.

We seem

to be so

complacent

with it.

The sins

of our

own lives

that leave

that scarlet

mark,

a mark

that is

irremovable

in many

ways,

that crimson

blemish

that stains

and ruins

our garments,

sins that

catch our

eye,

and it is a

sin in the

sight of God,

and it is

a sin that

God cannot

pass by.

God sees

that sin.

He cannot

miss it.

He cannot

forget about

it.

It needs

to be dealt

with.

And we

know we've

all seen

the images

on telly

of red

wine

stained in a

white garment

or a white

cloth,

and to prove

the cleaning

product,

they show it

as pure

white after

it's been

washed.

We need

to be

washed

from the

sin that

stains

our hearts.

We are

inclined to

cover up

the sins

before people,

but we

cannot hide

our sins

from God.

The stain

remains.

In a sense,

it tarnishes

the garments

that we wear.

It tarnishes

our lives

before God.

And our

garments are

so stained

that, well,

they may as

well be all

red, in a

sense.

And as it

was God's

desire that

Israel would

see their

sin, so

it is God's

desire that

we see the

sin in our

lives.

And the

means by

which we

are often

condemned

when we

read his

word, and

it states

the truthfulness

of our

heart, the

errors of

our ways, it

opposes the

desires and

the plans that

we make, some

things that we

don't like to

hear.

Sometimes we

stubbornly

oppose it in

our own

folly.

How does

God see you

tonight?

And although

we are sinners,

and we are

full of

sin and our

garments are

so stained,

God does

not call the

righteous, but

sinners to

repentance.

Though we

state before

God we are

condemned, we

are called.

We are called

by God.

That is our

next point.

As we said,

the condemnation

is a part of

his calling.

It is a

merciful element

of his nature,

that we should

know and that

it should be

real to us.

And you see

the calling

through the

chapter here.

In verse 2,

there is a

hear.

He calls the

people to

hear.

In verse 5,

he questions

the people.

Why do you

continue to

rebel?

Why will you

be struck

down?

The call of

hear comes

again in

verse 10,

to hear his

word.

And then

in verse

18, he

tells the

people to

come now.

Hear my

voice.

Give

consideration to

your ways.

Come and

speak with

me.

Let us

reason together.

After all

his proceeding

words to

Judah, after

all he's

condemned

them of and

shown them

the guiltiness

of their

lives, God

still says

come.

come and

speak with

me.

Come and

reason with

God.

Or come and

dispute with

him.

And really

what it

means is to

weigh up.

Weigh up

God's words

with him.

Weigh up

how God

sees you

in your

life.

Ask God

is it

true.

If this

is the

case, if

you know

you've done

wrong,

why are we

so complacent

about eternal

things?

Why do

we not

seek to

set ourselves

straight before

God and

correct the

error of

our ways?

Our ideas

and our

ways lead

us in a

totally

different

direction

before the

truthful reason

of God.

God.

And then

when you

come to

see that

God still

calls Israel

after their

actions and

after their

sinful,

rebellious

ways,

you think,

well, is

God an

angry God?

No.

Anger

would not

call the

people to

come.

Anger

would not

plead that

they would

understand their

foolishness and

their ways.

grace.

It's grace

because God

is a

gracious

God.

Grace from

a loving

Heavenly

Father that

we hear

His words.

we hear his words tonight

saying

yes sinful child

look at your garments

and see what you're wearing

they are stained

by your sin

but I have grace for you

I call you to come

to me

a call that is extended

to every one of us tonight

who hears his word

as it is proclaimed

and preached

maybe you are one

that has been reared on this word

as Israel was reared

by God

and have walked away

and have turned your back

from following

the guidance of this father

maybe you're one

who has dealt corruptly in your life

and you know that you shouldn't have

maybe you're someone

that doesn't care for this word

care for this word

care to hear God's word

maybe you've despised

Christ

maybe our worship

has fallen into an empty routine

maybe we find ourselves

backslidden

what does God say

to those

who are so sinful

come

hear what I have to say to you

come and reason with me

come and understand

what you are

before my sight

now as we look at ourselves

without this

gracious

lovingly heavenly father

presented before us

we look at the sinfulness

of our garments

the stains

that are upon it

we think

well my sins

have surely provoked

an anger

as we understand

as we would treat people

that God would never

set salvation

before me

that God would be someone

who would not value me

because of what I am

because of what I have done

but that is not true

that is of course

what the devil

wants you to think

God is gracious

and loving

and he provides

the means of grace

to know his grace

and to receive

his grace

he wants you to call

to him

he wants you to

weigh up your case

with him

and speak to him

pray to him

pray with a truthful heart

the truthful state

of yourself

before God

and that God

would work within you

a hatred

of sin

driving you

to repentance

to turn away

from these things

and the ways

in which you lived

your life

because now you see it

that you have made

a mistake

you see the error

of your ways

you see what you are

before God

and you need to turn

God

did not abandon Israel

God did not

reject Israel

nor will he you

yes he acknowledges

the state

of your sin

as we need to do

before God

and you know

what the amazing

thing is

that as we

come before him

with a hatred

of the things

that we have done

and the things

that grieve

our hearts

and our souls

we only see

half of it

in a sense

the garments

that we wear

we see the sins

upon the front

but we don't

see the sins

on the back

God sees

the entirety

of the stains

on your garment

the blemishes

in your life

and still

he calls you

to come

he calls you

to weigh up

your life

before him

it's amazing

this fatherly

figure

that loves

the one

who has walked

away

come

now

and reason

with me

not tomorrow

come now

and you see

the faults

of your life

he will take

these sins

and he will

cleanse them

from you

and those

who come

knowing

and acknowledging

and seeing

the sins

of their lives

coming

in reason

with God

and saying

yes

I have

turned my

back on you

and I have

made a mess

of the way

I have lived

my life

he provides

a means

of washing

you clean

he provides

a meaning

in which

there will be

no more

condemnation

for those

who believe

in Jesus

Christ

to believe

in Jesus

Christ

will wash

that condemnation

away

and wash

the sins

of your

garment

away

as you

turn in

new obedience

to him

how are we

made clean

how are we

cleansed

through

the blood

of the lamb

as we read

of in

revelation

through that

sacrifice

that takes

away the

sin of the

world

the sins

of my

heart

let us

move to

the next

point

of the

cleansed

of God

very briefly

you'll notice

there that

God

calls them

to wash

themselves

in verse

16

wash

themselves

make

yourselves

clean

remove

the evil

of your

deeds

from before

my eyes

salvation

is all

of God

the means

of being

cleansed

is all

of God

but he

asks of

us

to learn

to do

good

to seek

justice

to correct

corruption

that we

do not

continue

living the

lives

that he

has

condemned

and even

as a

Christian

confession

it is a

continuing

confession

and repentance

of the

sins

that we

gather

daily

that we

come before

him

while we

are within

the kingdom

of grace

knowing of

the daily

benefits as

he washes

and cleanses

us in the

blood of the

lamb

and the

sacrifice that

was offered

for soon

and though

we are

called to

come

there is

nothing that

we can do

to actually

cleanse us

the power

and effectiveness

of the

cleansing

is in

Christ

it is

entirely

in Christ

the ones

that were

clothed in

white as

John saw

in the

kingdom of

glory

where those

who brought

their robes

the ones

who washed

their robes

in the

blood of

the lamb

were

cleansed

it's almost

as if they

had that

conscious effort

to come

to that

cleaning

that cleansing

solution

for soon

where there

was no

other solution

to cleanse

their garments

and you

know what

we're speaking

of here

tonight

it is

the whole

cleansing

process

of sin

that we

see

ourselves

before God

that we

turn

from the

filth

that sticks

to our

garments

the sin

in our

lives

before God

we need

to

see

what we

are before

God

it's part

of the

process

that we

hear

his call

as it

is extended

to you

tonight

that you

come

and come

now

confessing

who we

are

and reasoning

with God

that he

is the

one

that will

in return

cleanse

us

to be

cleansed

we must

confess

of our

sins

the

solution

comes

from the

cross

at Calvary

the son

of God

that died

for you

as we

said

God

cannot

just

pass

over

the

stains

and

blemishes

of your

life

they need

to be

paid for

they need

to be

cleansed

and it

is in the

blood of

Christ

that all

this is

cleansed

the son of

God is the

lamb

that was

sacrificed

to satisfy

justice

the blood

of Christ

has the

power

to wash

away

our

sins

if you

come with

your garments

stained

and you

pray to

God

and you

reason

with him

the

truthfulness

of your

life

there's

an assurance

there

even in

this passage

oh your

sins are

like scarlet

and yes

they are

they are

if you

come and

reason

with me

they shall

be washed

away

they shall

be white

as snow

it's not

maybes

or buts

about it

they shall

be washed

away

the question

that we

have to

ask ourselves

is how

do we

react

to this

word

how did

Israel react

to the

word of

Isaiah

and the

words that

he spoke

to them

as they

saw the

truth of

their lives

before God

how do we

react to

the word

of God

when it

speaks that

of us

has been

sinners

that are

likewise

stained

that we

are condemned

before God

without

Christ

and yet he

is one

that is

calling to

you

how are

we reacting

to the

call

of Christ