Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me.Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;
5 sermons cite this verse
… will do with what we hear. And God says the great thing is to learn by repetition over and over again. Proverbs, by the way, is tremendously powerful about that very thing. Isaiah chapter 46, verse 9 says, remember the former things of old, for I am God. So God is announcing, you want to understand my way? You want to understand how I work? Remember those things of old. Go ahead and look back and find me in those things. So you have your story. You have your thing, your testimony. And it'd be really good for you to write yourself a note right now and say, my homework today is to go get a loan and take this challenge that I'm going to look at my past through God's word, through the lens of God's word that I heard today, and I'm going to draw out things. I'm going to ask God to show me things in my life, even my BC life, that he was working in. …
… One more thing because it's comforting. Isaiah chapter 46 verses 9 and 10. God says, remember the former things of old. so go back and think about the things that have happened that you can remember God says therefore I am God and there is no other is there anybody knocking on the door of your house telling you that there's other gods on other planets and other places and if you're a good boy or girl you can become a god too does it sound familiar that's the doctrine that Satan used in the garden of Eden Thank you. no there's only one God and you're not him and I'm not him he says there's no other I am God and there is none like me notice his proof this is what he says this is his argumentation you would have thought that he would say and I'm going to save all mankind that's true but he didn't say that he said this is how you'll know I'm the true God declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done. Wow. Saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. That's the great word of God. And so I'm just going to ask you tonight to underscore and stress the matter. In my notes, I've written down on page two, that we need to probably pay attention to the date of today. This is Wednesday, July 22nd of this year. We might want to mark that down in our minds. And by the way, you can get the notes …
… Isaiah 46, 9-10. Remember the former things of old. For I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me. Declaring the end from the beginning. And from ancient times, things that are not yet done. Saying, my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. Everything he promised in the old is coming to pass in the new. And even in the future. And it is not going to change. And I know that some people don't like it. They need to drink cold water. Joshua 21, not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. God has a track record. He's a faithful God. When He promises something, He does it. And when promises are made, promises are kept, whether it's now or in the future. 1 Kings 8, blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel according to all that he promised. …
… and it does not tax him. So concluding this point, I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand and I will accomplish all my purpose. Here's the kicker. But dare he rule the human will? Dare he touch this most sacred of all human idols? ultimate self-determination. The word ultimate has a certain meaning. It could be... decisive self-determination. What we care about in this class with regard to Calvinism and sovereign grace in salvation is whose act is finally decisive. So you see the word finally and ultimate and decisive here. Whose act is finally decisive at the instant of conversion. God's or man's? Calvinism says God's. That's what we're at. Trying to dig into that. Martin Luther wrote a book against Erasmus. Erasmus you may have read in high school praise of folly freedom of the will Erasmus was a Roman Catholic scholar who translated the New Testament to Greek we bless him for that but oh how Luther could not stand Erasmus because of the issue of the will so you remember Luther's title somebody tell me the bondage of the will there you have it the freedom of the will the bondage of the will Erasmus Luther the Reformation we call the Protestant Reformation was largely that issue what is grace how strong is grace how pervasive is grace how deep and decisive and ultimate …
… Remember the former things, those of long ago. I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, my purpose will stand and I will do all that I please. And here's what I please right now. From the east, I summon a bird of prey from a far off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. From the east, right? I'm summoning a bird of prey. Where is the east? Over here. So I'm calling someone from the east. And he is a man who is going to fulfill my purpose. What I've said, that will I bring about. What I plan, that I will do. Listen to me, you stubborn hearted, you who are now far off from my righteousness. I'm bringing my righteousness near. It is not far away. And my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel. …