Thursday - Isaiah 59 - What's the Problem?

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F you are weary of getting a dose of the gospel from every page of Scripture, you're reading the wrong author. I can't help but see it here, there and everywhere – because indeed, it is everywhere in the Scriptures. The Bible is the story of the redemption of mankind. Not only that, the gospel is visible in chapter after chapter.  Good thing too!  There is nothing that should mean more to us than the wonderful gospel of Christ. Not because we’re so pure, but because we’re so impure.

Now, different passages of Scripture approach the gospel of Christ differently. The good news of God's salvation is always exactly the same. The gospel is as unchanging as the God who saves us. But not every Bible author emphasizes the same aspect of the gospel. In this chapter we find a particularly strong emphasis on the reason we need salvation. What is the problem with humanity?  What's your problem and mine?  The problem is sin; any sin; all sin; your sin; my sin. Big and little sins are problematic. Public & private sins are problematic. Common and rare sins are problematic. Sins of commission and sins of omission are problematic. Our sinful nature and our sinful choices are equally problematic. It is our iniquities (plural) that stand between us and God (vs. 2 & 12). Our sins cause Him to cover His eyes and stop His ears against the misery of our plight. The problem is NOT that God is inadequate (vs. 1). The problem is that we are unworthy. Unless we repent, we perish (Luke 13:3-5).