The Sinful Nature of Man and the Refreshing Safety and Fullness of Jesus Christ Isaiah 32:1-2, 15-20

Introduction: The nature of fallen man is a hideous thing. If our eye could behold it and see it as God sees it we would quickly sicken at what we observe. Left to himself fallen man is like a desert void of life, dry, parched with frequent storms and unbridled misery. It is a land of unrest and trouble and an inhospitable place. It is an enemy to the righteous nature of a Holy God as it is violently opposed to goodness, unfamiliar with anything resembling love and fruitfulness and void of life. Were it not for the patience and love of God for man, man would have no hope in this world or the next. Man has only himself to blame for he was created to live in obedient fellowship with his Creator, yet when given a choice he broke rank, covered his nakedness and hid from God. Man cannot blame any one but himself for what awaits him if there is no one to help him - Thank God He has sent us someone to help – He sent us a man unlike any man since the Fall of Adam whose sin changed the nature of his progeny. This man is the Second Adam and has come to give man a new nature. His name is Jesus, the God-Man! Yes, he’s the one! He is a shelter in the time of storm.

The LORD is my rock , and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Ps 18:2

Let us look into the character of this man and consider the commendations that are rightly owned by Him.

Jesus Christ is dear to us as God, yet more familiar as a man.

His manhood reminds us of:

· His incarnation and his assumption of our nature.

· His life on earth lived as our nature was intended.

· His death offers redemption of our nature.

· His resurrection lifted our nature from earth to heaven.

A close inspection of this man shows that he is the Word made flesh. He brings Safety, Security, Satisfaction, and Succor into the world replacing storms, tempests, drought, and suffering.

Isaiah uses metamorphic language to describe this man – a linguistic tool that is quickly received and applied.

OUR FALLEN NATURE IS NO HIDERANCE TO HIS COMING.

1. He came into a fallen, ruined and rebellious world.

2. He came to save weak, unrighteous, hopeless men, dead in their own trespasses and sin.

3. He is to fallen man a river of grace come to men with the old nature for the purpose of giving him a new nature.

4. He comes to give imperfect man life and fruitfulness even those whose decayed nature is a dry and desolate place.

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

CHRIST’S COMING IS IMMEDIATELY AND QUICKLY OBSERVABLE IN A LAND OF DROUGHT.

1. His presence is immediately noticed as would be a sudden bubbling up of water in the middle of a desert.

2. He is at once precious and desired as water in such a place.

3. He is recognized as being a gift from God for how else could such a presence be explained?

4. He is greatly to be praised and loved for the fruitfulness he brings to such an unfruitful world.

CHRIST’ COMING OFFERS SAFETY AND SECURITY IN A LAND OF STORM AND WIND.

1. He is a “hiding place” and a “shelter in the time of storm.

2. He is a “river of water” in a dry and thirsty land.

3. He is a “shadow of a great rock in a hot and weary land.”

I am come that ye might have life and that ye may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

CHRIST BEING A “RIVER OF WATER” EFFECTUALLY CHANGES THE CHARACTER AND BEHAVIOR OF MAN.

When river’s flow, they change the appearance and character of the dry and parched land as they form new channels. Christ as the river of water is the great solvent that washes away sin in this life and will one day bring us to sinless perfection in the next.

1. He provides us with a new nature.

2. He changes despair to hope.

3. He purges our sinfulness.

4. He changes our unfruitfulness to fruitfulness.

Just as the influx of irrigation bringing water to the deserts of Israel turning it into a production and fertile land, so Christ is to man as water is to sand.

CHRIST’S COMING HELPS US TO SEE THE HOPELESSNESS OF OUR FALLEN CONDITION.

1. Christ’s offers a tenderness unknown to fallen creatures.

2. Christ’s mercy is alien to a merciless world.

3. Christ’s compassion to sinful men is foreign to a world of carelessness.

4. Christ’s holiness is a breath of fresh air in a world polluted by sin.

5. Christ’s power over even death brings hope to those once hopeless and facing an uncertain future.

6. Christ’s promise of eternal life instills expectation of a different world where there are no more tears, or sickness, or death.

Mt 11:28-30 Come unto me , all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

OUR REALIZATION THAT WE ARE BY NATURE A DRY, WEARY, AND SINFUL PEOPLE SHOULD LEAD US TO CHRIST.

1. Christ is a Savior who has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

2. Christ is a Priest who has compassion on we who are ignorant.

3. Christ is our Mediator who ever lives to make intercession for us.

4. Christ receives sinful man who comes to him for life.

5. Christ forgives the worst of sinners which is evident to us today.

6. Christ welcomes the weary, the troubled, the forsaken, rich man or poor, young or old, all who come to him by faith believing in Him for life and liberty.

Today… Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Pe 5:6-11