The following 34 minute Jonathan Edwards sermon is on Isaiah 35. The sermon is about verse 8, but uses all 10 verses of the chapter to explain the way of holiness.
Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
The entire 10 verses are inserted below the sermon video.
Sermon highlight points:
- The book of Isaiah has been called the 5th gospel, a glorious prophesying of the evangelical state
- 35:1,2 are a picture of the conversion of the heathen, comparing their former lives to a wilderness
- The great privileges of the gospel are seen in verses 3 – 7: strength; salvation; light; understanding; comforts; joys…confirmed thereby
- The holy nature of the WAY of salvation spoken of in verses 8, 9: it is the only way traveled by those who actually get to heaven; the narrow way Christ spoke of in Matthew 7
- There is no easier, broader way
- The narrow way IS the way of salvation
- Zion: the militant and triumphant church
- The holy nature of this way is described by its title, its travelers
- Who is excluded: the wicked, who are compared to wild beasts
- The insatiably covetous are included in the “wicked”
- Wickedness, covetousness…indicates that one is on the way of self
- Only the redeemed walk on the way of holiness
- DOCTRINE: Those only, who are holy are on the way to heaven
- Everyone hopes for heaven, but if that were true, then heaven would be filled with all types of the wicked as in Revelation 21:27 “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
- Those who are not resolved to reform their heart and life, should not entertain hope of heaven
- THE NECESSITY OF HOLINESS: 1. what holiness is; 2. those who don’t have it are not in the way to heaven; 3. reasons why this is so
- 1. What is holiness: conformity of heart and life unto God: James 1:26, 27; 2: 18-20
- Holiness is the image of God, likeness to His will
- Holiness is a habit of living
- It is conformity to Christ…Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you…
- It is conformity to God’s laws and commands…Psalm 119…Sermon on the Mount connected to explanation
- Jeremiah 31: 31-33: related to the new covenant, the writing of the law upon our hearts
- 2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
- Religious people often believe there are many roads to heaven, yet there is only one that truly leads there, as in the “narrow way” defined by Christ
- Must be born again: that is, there must be a heart change
- Not external righteousness only, but love from the heart
- 1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. - God is just, He will not make a wicked man eternally happy, but punish him eternally, if his sin has not been washed off by Christ’s blood
- Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18: God doesn’t clear the guilty [gospel repentance and forgiveness required]
- The nature of sin necessarily implies misery; those who remain sinful, remain miserable
- One is greatly rewarded by God for obeying His commands; as there is great punishment inherent in disobeying God’s commands
- Sin causes confusion, dread and disorder in the soul; whereby everything is put out of place: reason is trampled under foot; passion reigns via lusts; lusts defile the conscience…
- The above scenario causes confusion, perturbation, worry, uncleanness…in the soul
- Therefore, unless the Holy Spirit [via the new birth] works in one, he is doomed; that is, he will not attain heaven
- APPLICATION: 1. inference; 2. trial / self-examination; 3; exhortation
- 1. Inference: Only the holy are in the way to heaven: how many are deceived? They are all not easy to identify; some are externally moral…but not inwardly holy…
- 2. Trial / self-examination: One must meditate on the holiness of God and compare one’s own life and conduct to ascertain the direction of his life (is he headed towards heaven or hell?): does one delight in the word of God? [The necessary measuring stick is found in God’s word, the criteria for the heaven-bound soul.]
- Is there any resemblance in my mind, life, conduct… and that of Enoch, Noah, Abraham…the prophets…David, Paul? [these examples are held out to us as a measuring stick]
- [To meditate on scripture, in this instance, is to really understand such biblical examples and to look closely at my own life to see if there is a resemblance obvious in my mind, life, conduct]
- 3. Exhort all to holiness
- Nothing else in my life is NECESSARY to heaven but holiness; although we grow up thinking that holiness is a bore, undesirable…the opposite is true
- Holiness is divine beauty, heavenly serenity; calm, still…making the soul into the image of God; it is above all of the heathen virtue; it makes the soul excellent
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The Way of Holiness – Puritan Jonathan Edwards Sermon Jonathan Edwards playlist: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list…
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Jonathan Edwards – (1703-1758), American puritan theologian and philosopher Isaiah 35:8 King James Version (KJV) 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. Edwards was born in East Windsor, Connecticut, to Timothy Edwards, pastor of East Windsor, and Esther Edwards. The only son in a family of eleven children, he entered Yale in September, 1716 when he was not yet thirteen and graduated four years later (1720) as valedictorian. He received his Masters three years later. As a youth, Edwards was unable to accept the Calvinist sovereignty of God. He once wrote, “From my childhood up my mind had been full of objections against the doctrine of God’s sovereignty It used to appear like a horrible doctrine to me.” However, in 1721 he came to the conviction, one he called a “delightful conviction.” He was meditating on 1 Timothy 1:17, and later remarked, “As I read the words, there came into my soul, and was as it were diffused through it, a sense of the glory of the Divine Being; a new sense, quite different from any thing I ever experienced before I thought with myself, how excellent a Being that was, and how happy I should be, if I might enjoy that God, and be rapt up to him in heaven; and be as it were swallowed up in him for ever!” From that point on, Edwards delighted in the sovereignty of God. Edwards later recognized this as his conversion to Christ.
ISAIAH CHAPTER 35: [KJV, since Edwards quotes from it]
Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Isa 35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Isa 35:7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
Isa 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
Isa 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.