THE EFFECT OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
INTRODUCTION
A. No prophet appears to have spoken as much about Christ & His kingdom as the prophet Isaiah. He is even nicknamed “The Messianic Prophet.”
a. spoke about His ministry
b. spoke about His sufferings & death
c. spoke about His reign
d. spoke about His righteousness
B. Ancient prophecies may contain both an immediate & future application.
a. prophecy about David’s son (1Sam.7:12,13) – initial = Solomon & ultimate = Christ
b. statement about God’s Son being called out of Egypt (Hos.11:1) – initial = physical Israel & ultimate = Christ
C. In the 32nd chapter of Isaiah, we have an amazing prophecy that contains an initial application to ancient Israel, but an ultimate application that relates to the reign of the Messiah.
D. After giving a stern warning to the women of Jerusalem for their complacency, Isaiah foretells the time when God’s “Spirit is poured upon us,” & when “justice” & “righteousness” will “dwell” & “remain” even in the most desolate places.
a. initial fulfillment during Hezekiah’s reign
b. ultimate fulfillment in Christ’s reign
E. Now look closely at verse 17 – “The work of righteousness will be peace, & the effect of righteousness, quietness & assurance.”
I. THE SOURCE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
A. (v17) Isaiah wants us to know that there is “righteousness” associated with Christ’s reign.
B. That this “righteousness” is not our own, but that which comes out of God, just think about the following:
a. when has man’s righteousness produced spiritual calm & assurance?
b. (Isa.64:6) – “But we are all like an unclean thing, & all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, & our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
C. The “righteousness” Isaiah associates with Christ’s reign is that which God gives, not out of law, but out of faith (Rom.10:1-8; Phil.3:9).
I. THE EFFECT OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
A. (v17) The word “effect” means “work of.” What Isaiah is saying is, where God grants righteousness, along with it comes “peace,” quietness,” & “assurance.”
a. “peace” (heb. “shalom”) – “safe” (Rom.5:1; Eph.2:14)
b. “quietness” – “to repose, idleness, rest” (Mt.11:28-32; Gal.5:1)
c. “assurance” – “refuge, safety” (Mr.16:16; 1Jn.5:13; Tit.1:2)
a. nurse’s statement to preacher about “Church of Christ” people on their deathbeds with no assurance (due to misplaced emphasis in sermons
teaching man produces his own righteousness)
b. preacher’s father (elder) on deathbed confessing he had no assurance (again, due to lessons he heard that misplaced emphasis from where
righteousness comes)
c. “forever” – “always” (God’s righteousness gives constant assurance)
B. The NT writers speak of assurance in unquestionable terminology.
a. (Col.2:2) – “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding & the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.”
b. (1Thess.1:5) – “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, & in the Holy Spirit & in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”
c. (Heb.6:11) – “And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.”
C. You can’t earn the “peace,” “quietness,”& “assurance” of which Isaiah spoke. It comes along freely when you “receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness” (Rom.5:17).
a. Jesus can’t be hired to give you His righteousness, peace, quietness, & assurance (Tit.3:5)
b. (Eph.2:8-10) it is His work freely given “to preach good tidings unto the meek…to bind up the broken-hearted…to proclaim liberty to the captives, & the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isa.61:1)
CONCLUSION
(Isa.32:17) Christ sent out his servants to invite the poor, the maimed, the halt, & the blind (Lu.14:21). Christ has something to give them. Will you let Him give you “righteousness” & then enjoy the “effect” of His righteousness – “peace…quietness…assurance?”