Date: Sunday Evening – October 18, 1992

Many foolishly debate the question as to whether a just and good God will punish sin and send men to hell. The question is foolish and would not even be raised if we did not have such a perverted sense of justice and goodness.

The Lord God warns sinners, in the plainest terms imaginable of the certainty of his wrath. God almighty can and will punish sin. "Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness" (Ps. 11:6-7). Never be so foolish as to entertain the vain notion that hell is not real, or that God will not punish sin. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die!" (Ezek. 18:20). Everlasting shame and confusion await the sinner in hell!" They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols" (Isa. 45:16).

I fear for you who are without Christ. The wrath of God is upon you! The fires of hell are before you! The everlasting torments of the damned await you! I urge you to flee from the wrath to come. Be reconciled to God. As Baxter used to say to his people "Turn or burn, repent or perish!" I fear that some of you, whom I dearly love, for whom I labor night and day, whose names I call before God the throne of grace, that some of you will perish under the wrath of God! May God have mercy upon you and give you life and faith in Christ!

Hell is real and some people will be forever damned. "But some people must and shall be saved. Grace and purposed and grace shall perform it. "Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end" (Isa. 45:17).

Proposition: Our text declares, with absolute certainty, that there are some people in this world who must and shall be saved- "But Israel shall be saved in the Lord!"

1. "Israel Shall Be Saved!"

Those words declare the salvation of a specific people and give assurance of the certainty of their salvation. The Apostle Paul uses similar language in Romans 11:26- "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob."

1. Who Are These People Called "Israel"?

This much is certain- Our text does not speak of Abraham’s physical seed, his natural descendants. It is not talking about the salvation of the whole nation of Israel. We know this for two reasons:

• If this text promises salvation to men and women on the basis of their ancestry, their race, their natural birth, then it completely contradicts the whole word of God (John 1:11-13).
• Many of the Jews, the natural seed of Israel have already perished under the wrath of God- "They are not all Israel which are of Israel!" (Rom. 9:6).

Who then are these Israelites? "Israel" in this text speaks of spiritual Israel, "the Israel of God," The spiritual descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Rom. 2:28-29); Gal. 6:16).

"Israel" is the name that God gave to Jacob. It is a name by which God himself designates the people to whom his is gracious. Who are the people whom the Lord calls "Israel"?

1. The People of God’s Election (Ps. 135:4).

"Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" (Rom. 9:13). Esau was as much a son of Abraham physically as Jacob was, but he was not a part of Israel. Israel is the people of God’s free, eternal love and unconditional election.

2. The People of Special Revelation (Gen. 28:10-17).

The Lord revealed himself to Jacob at Bethel- Christ the Ladder- The only Mediator between God and man.

3. The People Converted by Grace- (Gen. 32:24-31).

Grace conquered Jacob, forced him to acknowledge himself and surrender to Christ. Grace gave him a new name. Grace changed his life and caused him to consecrate himself to God.

4. The People of Peculiar Faith (Phil. 3:3).

• We worship God.
• We worship God in the Spirit.
• We Rejoice in Christ Jesus.
• We have No Confidence in the Flesh.

1. Israel is the People of God’s Peculiar Care (Gen. 28:15).

• "I am with thee."
• "I will keep thee."
• "I will not leave thee."
• "And he blessed him" (Gen. 32:29; Eph. 1:3).

1. Why Has God Sworn To Save Israel? (Mic. 7:18-20).

• "He delighteth in mercy."
• He is faithful to his covenant (v. 20).

1. "Israel Shall Be Saved In The Lord!"

These words declare both the certain salvation of God’s elect and the method, or means of their salvation.

1. God’s Elect, Israel, Shall Assuredly Be Saved.

The text does not read, "Israel my be saved," but "Israel shall be saved!" The one who said this is God Almighty!

1. It is the will of God that they be saved; and his will cannot be resisted (Isa. 14:24, 26, 27; 46:10).
2. They have been purchased by Christ; and what he purchased he cannot lose (I Pet. 1:18-20).
3. The Holy Spirit is the Earnest, Pledge and Seal of their salvation; and the seal of the Spirit cannot be broken (Eph. 1:18).

God declares absolutely, "Israel shall be saved!" This is an infallible fact, secured by the immutability of God himself (Mal. 3:6). Whatever may become of others, "Israel shall be saved!" No matter what difficulties or dangers lie in the way, no matter what conspiracies are hatched in hell to prevent it, the promise of God stands and cannot be nullified. "Israel shall be saved!"

1. Notice the Next Words- "In The Lord!"

God’s elect are saved, not in themselves; their destruction is in themselves! They are saved "in the Lord!" Saved because they are "in the Lord."

• Chosen In Him!
• Redeemed In Him!
• Justified In Him!
• Represented In Him!
• Sanctified In Him!
• Kept In Him!

"In the Lord shall all the house of Israel be justified, and shall glory" (Isa. 45:25).

1. We are saved by the merits of His Blood.
2. We are saved by the efficacy of His Grace.
3. We are saved by the power of His Intercession.

• Not a Word about our "freewill"!
• Not a Word about our "good works"!
• "Salvation is of the Lord!"
• "By the grace of God I am what I am!"

1. "Israel Shall Be Saved In The Lord With An Everlasting Salvation!"

How sweet those words are! Lest we should limit our expectations to some temporal, earthly benefit, lest we should be slow of heart to believe God’s word, he asserts his promise of grace in terms as strong and energetic as language can afford or imagination can conceive. "Israel shall be saved in the Lord with everlasting salvation!" This truth is confirmed in every page of Holy Scripture. God uses the richest variety of expression to assure us of his grace and establish our faith.

Everlasting salvation is perfect, perpetual, complete salvation. Nothing can be added to it; and nothing can be taken from it (Eccl. 3:14).

Every believer may rightfully lay claim to all that God himself can give in time and eternity in the name of Christ. "The Lord will give grace and glory!" We shall never be disappointed of our hope in time or eternity. The believer’s blessedness begins the moment he believes of Christ, and endures forever! The salvation that God performs is "everlasting salvation!"

• Forgiveness is Everlasting!
• Justification is Everlasting!
• Adoption is Everlasting!
• Acceptance is Everlasting!
• Preservation is Everlasting!
• There are No Variables to be Considered!

1. "Ye Shall Not Be Ashamed, Nor Confounded, World Without End!"

Quite literally, the text reads, "Ye shall not be ashamed, nor confounded, unto the ages of eternity!" "The Scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed" (Rom. 10:13).

• His Gospel.
• His Ordinances.
• Your Faith in Him.
• His People.
• His Sufferings.

1. You shall not be confounded.

Your hope and faith shall not be a matter of confusion to you, and you shall never be brought into confusion.

• In life.
• In Death.
• At the Bar of God.
• To All Eternity.

(Rom. 8: 32-39).

1. Would you have this "everlasting salvation"? Trust Christ (Isa. 45:22).
2. "Happy art thou, O Israel; who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord" (Deut. 33:29).

• You may meet with many troubles on your way to glory; but you shall survive them!
• You may often be tossed about in the tempest; but you will not perish!
• You suffer the loss of all earthly comforts; but God’s word will not be broken!
• You may fall many times; but God’s mercy is sure!

This is God’s Word to you- "Israel shall be saved in the Lord with everlasting salvation; ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded, world without end!"