The second question is: How many are worthy to hear His voice" In Acts 13:46b Paul and Barnabas told the people, "Since you reject it . . . we now turn to the Gentiles." This is a terrible judgment. But here is the gist of what I want to say: A radical and sweeping reformation is imperative among the people called Christians—Protestants generally and evangelicals in particular. What is meant by reformation" Some may recoil from that word; I have heard people say, "I do not believe in reformation—I believe in regeneration." That sounds good and it gets some amens, but the fact is, if you do not have reformation you cannot have regeneration. The Holy Spirit will not come and regenerate carnal, stubborn people who will not obey Him. First there must be a reformation. Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" (Isaiah 1:16-18).

A.W. Tozer's materials are a mainstay in Evangelical churches in our day and he is one of the most quoted authors. He was a prophet in his day and his writings are even more influential in our day. One of his books: The Pursuit of God, has had over 1 million copies sold world-wide.

Morning and Evening with A.W. Tozer

Obeying God

THE CELEBRATED PRAYER of the great German astronomer, Kepler, has been a benediction to many: "O God, I thank Thee that Thou hast permitted me to think Thy thoughts after Thee."This prayer is theologically sound because it acknowledges the priority of God in the universe. "In the beginning God" is undoubtedly the most important sentence in the Bible. It is in God that all things begin, and all thoughts as well. In the words of Augustine, "But Thou, O Lord, who ever livest, and in whom nothing dies, since before the world was, and, indeed, before all that can be called `before,' Thou existest, and art the God and Lord of all creatures; and with Thee fixedly abide the causes of all unstable things and the changing sources of all things changeable, and the eternal reasons of all things reasoning and temporal."Whatever new thing anyone discovers is already old, for it Isaiah 1-tt the present expression of a previous thought of God. The idea of the thing precedes the thing itself; and when things raise thoughts in the thinker's mind these are the ancient thoughts of God, however imperfectly understood.When a true thought enters any man's mind, be he saint or sinner, it must of necessity be God's thought, for God is the origin of all true thoughts and things. That is why many real truths are spoken and written by persons other than Christians. Should an atheist, for instance, state that two times two equals four, he would be stating a truth and thinking God's thought after Him, even though he might deny that God exists at all.In their search for facts men have confused truths with truth. The words of Christ, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," have been wrenched from their context and used to stir people to the pursuit of knowledge of many kinds with the expectation of being made "free" by knowledge. Certainly this is not what Christ had in mind when He uttered the words.Such truths as men discover in the earth beneath and in the astronomic heavens above are properly not truths but facts. We call them truths, as I do here, but they are no more than parts of the jigsaw puzzle of the universe, and when correctly fitted together they provide at least a hint of what the vaster picture is like. But I repeat, they are not truth, and more important, they are not the truth. Were every missing piece discovered and laid in place we would still not have the truth, for the truth is not a composite of thoughts and things. The truth should be spelled with a capital T, for it is nothing less than the Son of God, the Second Person of the blessed Godhead.The human mind requires an answer to the question concerning the origin and nature of things. The world as we find it must be accounted for in some way. Philosophers and scientists have sought to account for it, the one by speculation, the other by observation, and in their labors they have come upon many useful and inspiring facts. But they have not found the final Truth. That comes by revelation and illumination.They who believe the Christian revelation know that the universe is a creation. It is not eternal, since it had a beginning, and it is not the result of a succession of happy coincidences whereby an all but infinite number of matching parts accidentally found each other, fell into place and began to hum. So to believe would require a degree of credulity few persons possess. "I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoram," said Bacon, "than that this universal frame is without a mind. And therefore God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because His ordinary works convince it."Those who have faith are not thrown back upon speculation for the secret of the universe. Faith is an organ of knowledge. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." The voice of Eternal Wisdom declares, "In the beginning God created" and "In the beginning was the Word .... All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."All things came out of the Word, which in the New Testament means the thought and will of God in active expression and is identified with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Son who is the Truth that makes men free.Not facts, not scientific knowledge, but eternal Truth delivers men, and that eternal Truth became flesh to dwell among us. "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."Not only the origin of things is revealed, but the nature of things as well. Because the origin of all things is spirit, all things are at bottom spiritual also. This is a moral universe; it is governed by moral laws and will be judged by moral laws at last. Man above all creatures possesses moral perception and is answerable to the spiritual laws that pervade and sustain the world. Pure materialism-that is, the doctrine that matter is the primordial constituent of the universe is not natural to the human mind. It requires a chronic violation of our basic instincts to accept it as an explanation of the nature of things. And Paul tells us in the first two chapters of his Epistle to the Romans how men get into a state of mind to accept such falsehood.

Man - The Dwelling Place of God - On the Origin and Nature of Things

To know God in the scriptural meaning of the term is to enter into experience of Him. It never means to know about. It is not a knowledge mediated by the intellect, but an unmediated awareness experienced by the soul on a plane too high for the mind to reach. Where then is the place of the intellect in Christian experience" And why waste time thinking when we know beforehand that thought cannot bring us to the knowledge that is most of all to be desired, the knowledge of God" The answer is that the whole biblical revelation is addressed to the intellect and through the intellect reaches the will, the seat of the moral life; if the will responds in repentance and obedience, the Holy Spirit illuminates the penitent heart and reveals Christ, the image of God, to it. What began as an appeal to reason (Isaiah 1:18) ends in a spiritual experience wholly above reason

The Divine Illuminator

" Let there be an understanding between us. Let us talk over the points of difference between us, and see if we cannot come to a settlement. If you have any fault to find with me, state it. If I am not what you would have me be, put your objection into words. Be explicit. You alienate yourself from me, shun my paths, avoid all approaches to communion with me, shut up my word, look coldly on my people, and if you can possibly get anything else to think of, no matter how contemptible it be, you will not give a thought to me or to my solicitations. Again I say, be exploit, be honest. I will not object to any statement of your views, so that they be made in a spirit of frankness, and with a willingness to be enlightened. Come and let us reason together. Let 'us go by ourselves, where there may be no curiosity of man to interfere with the fullest intercommunication."The Lord invites me to a conference with himself. Why should I not go? Why should I not state to God himself my difficulties. Is it right, is it honest, to be entertaining this lukewarmness, this aversion, and not be willing to have the grounds of it clearly defined? my soul, come to an understanding with thy God. The main difficulty with thee is a consciousness that after all the guilt will be found with thee, and not a particle of blame attach to God. But observe, my soul, how admirably this difficulty is met by his generous proposal. My sins are as scarlet, but he hastens to say that they shall be as white as snow. He meets me with a robe of justification, and royally adorns me at the very threshold of his house; so that I need not to dread the humiliating contrast of my rags with that resplendent audience-chamber. And if he so hasten to justify me, the most unholy of beings, shall I not be willing to justify him, the holiest and best? Yes, Lord, let me reason with thee; for where thou mightest condemn, there thou dost vouchsafe the most surprising promises, the most transporting tokens of love.

A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.

Bowen's Daily Meditations

" Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord."― Isaiah 1:18.

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. § I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted. § I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. § But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. § And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 The free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 

I am the Lord who heals you. Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. § You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. § All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” § He is gracious to him, and says, “Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom.” § He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. § He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. § Your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.

 I have seen his ways, and will heal him. 

It pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself. § Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil. § “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” § Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity? § Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace. § Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. § Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us.

 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them. 

It will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious. § I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the Lord their God. § I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” § Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. § “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.

 The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 

I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” § “Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” “Indeed we do come to You, for You are the Lord our God.” § I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases. § He restores my soul. § O Lord, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Hold me up, and I shall be safe. I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

Evening Daily Light

 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. 

Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you. § I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. § In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. § Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. § He has … forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us … He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Bless the Lord, O my soul, . . . who forgives all your iniquities.

 Forgive all my sins. 

Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me. § Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace. Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. § A man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. § By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight. By Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous. 

I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. § I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. § “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” § I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. § You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. § Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. § To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood … to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. 

Manasseh … did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out … He raised up altars for Baal … And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. § Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” § The Lord is … longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish. <a id="verse_1632878175931938" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Acts/2/21">Acts 2:21</a>; <a id="verse_163287817557650761" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Acts/2/2">2</a> Kings 21:1–3, 5–6; <a id="verse_1632878175178303" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Chronicles/33/12">2 Chron. 33:12</a>–13; <a id="verse_1632878175893348" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Isaiah/1/18">Isa. 1:18</a>; <a id="verse_1632878175643818139" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Isaiah/1/2">2</a> Peter 3:9

 Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

18 <poetry>“Come now, let us settle the matter,” <indent>says the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap>.</indent> “Though your sins are like scarlet, <indent>they shall be as white as snow; </indent> though they are red as crimson, <indent>they shall be like wool. </indent> </poetry>

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”<cr>1</cr> <indent>says the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap>.</indent> “Though your sins are like scarlet, <indent>they shall be as white as snow;<cr>2</cr> </indent> though they are red as crimson, <indent>they shall be like wool.<cr>3</cr> </indent>

Isaiah 1:18

 18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”   says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;   though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.   

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 

<poetry>“Come now, let us settle the matter,” <indent>says the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap>.</indent> “Though your sins are like scarlet, <indent>they shall be as white as snow; </indent> though they are red as crimson, <indent>they shall be like wool. </indent> </poetry>

 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”   says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;   though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.   

Bible Verse of the Day

January 20, 2017

Isaiah 1:18 NIV

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