Called by a new name

Isaiah 62:2-5

Called by a new name, something is happening or about to happen to the people of Israel and they will be seen in a totally different way by both kings and nations.  Often, in the Bible we see name changes; Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul, and Israel is being given a new name by God, and it is clear that they as a people are going from slavery to freedom, they are going to experience a change in conditions.

From slave to a royal crown, has anything like that happened to you?  Do not be to quick with your answer, for all who by faith have entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, have experience precisely what Isaiah 62:3-5 is addressing.  The apostle Paul has made it clear; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” How inclusive is all, maybe we need to hear from Jesus, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”  Let us cut to the chase, you sinned and I’ve sinned and we were at one time or may be still the prisoners of sin, under its control.  It matters not to God what spin our culture puts on sin, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

The apostle Paul in Romans 6:16 asked this question: “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”(Romans 6:16 ESV) My mentor and friend Carroll Ray Jr. was great at explaining insights into the Scriptures; for example, we need to live our life acting like Jesus tells the truth.  Do you recall Jesus’ words in John 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

I can testify of being a slave to sin, and have moved from slave to a royal crown, for I am no longer under condemnation because of Christ Jesus.  In fact, the Bible is very clear about whose I am and the position I enjoy in Romans 8:37-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And by the way, God has let you and I in on a mystery about God’s chosen, the one Isaiah is addressing in Romans 11:25-27, and they also will have no condemnation because of Christ Jesus.  “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

How close are we to God’s timetable of the fullness of the Gentiles?  I do not know, but today is the day of Salvation for anyone who is still in prison to the control of sin.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice