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“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

The 53rd chapter of Isaiah is truly a most remarkable text for several reasons. One reason is that, though written about 700 years before Christ, Isaiah nevertheless offers a stunningly precise description of Christ in His suffering and death on the cross. But also, in doing so, Isaiah presents wonderfully clear gospel truths. Isaiah 53:6 is an example of such gospel richness and clarity.

The first gospel truth proclaimed in this verse is the definition of sin and the universality of sin. “Gospel” literally means “good news”. But before we can appreciate the good news, we must first be confronted by the bad news, as we are in Isaiah 53:6. The bad news is that we are all sinners before a holy God. “All we like sheep have gone astray”. And what is “sin”? It is our willful rebellion against God whereby, like sheep, “we have turned, every one, to his own way”.

But then, Isaiah 53:6 wonderfully provides the good news also. “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” My sin was placed upon Christ, and He willingly received it. And then, as a result, in His death on the cross, He received the punishment that was due me. Thus, as the wonderful old hymn says, “Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood, Sealed my pardon with His blood, Hallelujah, what a Saviour”.

Pastor Craig Montgomery, Cranbrook Fellowship Baptist

www.cranbrookfellowshipbaptist.ca  YouTube sermon channel: “Pastor Craig Montgomery”

 

Pastor Craig publishes  "A Word from God's Word" weekly in the "Kootenay News Advertiser".