The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

3. the covenant with Abraham (cf. Genesis 15)4. the preservation and promise to Noah (cf. Genesis 6-9)However, the very nature of covenant demands a response.1. by faith Adam must obey God and not eat of the tree in the midst of Eden2. by faith Abraham must leave his family, follow God, and believe in future descendants3. by faith Noah must build a huge boat far from water and gather the animals4. by faith Moses brought the Israelites out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai and received specificguidelines for religious and social life with promises of blessings and cursings (cf.Deuteronomy 27-28)This same tension involving God’s relationship to humanity is addressed in the “new covenant.”The tension can be clearly seen in comparing Ezekiel 18 with Ezek. 36:27-37 (YHWH’s action). Is thecovenant based on God’s gracious actions or mandated human response? This is the burning issue ofthe Old Covenant and the New. The goals of both are the same: (1) the restoration of fellowship withYHWH lost in Genesis 3 and (2) the establishment of a righteous people who reflect God’s character.The new covenant of Jer. 31:31-34 solves the tension by removing human performance as themeans of attaining acceptance. God’s law becomes an internal desire instead of an external law code.The goal of a godly, righteous people remains the same, but the methodology changes. Fallen mankindproved themselves inadequate to be God’s reflected image. The problem was not God’s covenant, buthuman sinfulness and weakness (cf. Romans 7; Galatians 3).The same tension between OT unconditional and conditional covenants remains in the NT.Salvation is absolutely free in the finished work of Jesus Christ, but it requires repentance and faith(both initially and continually). It is both a legal pronouncement and a call to Christlikeness, anindicative statement of acceptance and an imperative to holiness! Believers are not saved by theirperformance, but unto obedience (cf. Eph. 2:8-10). Godly living becomes the evidence of salvation, notthe means of salvation. However, eternal life has observable characteristics! This tension is clearlyseen in Hebrews.1:20 “Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken” God’s Word will come to pass (cf. Isa. 24:3; 25:8;40:8; 55:10-11; Matt. 5:18; 24:35; Luke 16:17)!Believers’ hope rests on1. the unchanging character of God2. the merciful character of God3. the trustworthiness of His promises4. the accuracy of His revelationNASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1:21-2321How the faithful city has become a harlot,She who was full of justice!Righteousness once lodged in her,But now murderers.22Your silver has become dross,Your drink diluted with water.23Your rulers are rebelsAnd companions of thieves;31