The beginning of the Bible is the story of Paradise lost. But Isaiah forsees the Day that Paradise will be restored through the True Vine that will bear great fruit throughout the whole earth.

In this very instructive passage, we learn three important lessons about God's sovereignty in history and among nations. Then we are encouraged to two proper responses to those truths.

For decades, God had stretched out his hand in chastening of the people of Israel, and still they rebelled against Him. God disciplines His children still today; yet we are sometimes tempted to dismiss his discipline or to become embittered with Him. This sermon pleads with sinners and saints to run toward, not away from, the God who chastens for our good.

The post-exilic citizens of Jerusalem were confronted by the prophet with the fact that they had put their own things before the Lord's. As a result, they were unfulfilled and impoverished. This sermon reminds us that our greatest calling is to see the Temple of God built.

Isaiah 9 includes one of the most famous prophecies of the Messiah. Yet the coming of this Light into the world would create a clear distinction between people -- between those who will see in Him a sanctuary, and those who will stumble over Him.

The post-exilic citizens of Jerusalem were confronted by the prophet with the fact that they had put their own things before the Lord's. As a result, they were unfulfilled and impoverished. This sermon reminds us that our greatest calling is to see the Temple of God built.

God has not only given His Son as the ultimate assurance of all His promises, but He also gives ongoing encouragements to faith in the lives of His People. By these we are reminded that since "grace has brought us safe thus far" that surely "grace will lead us home."

The virgin birth of Jesus the Messiah was God's "yes" that all His promises are certain. The prophecy of this birth was given to strengthen the faith of God's People in Isaiah's day and to confirm our own faith, that we might say "Amen" to all God's good promises.

One great danger, especially for the American church, is pragmatism -- adjusting the church's message to try to find something that "works." This word from God helped to prepare Isaiah to minister faithfully for a lifetime, even while seeing few visible results. This sermon also explains the concept of God's "hardening" or "blinding" people to the truth.

This is an exposition of chapters 16-18 of the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith -1689-, covering the topics of good works, perseverance of the saints, and assurance of grace and salvation.