With the Heart Man Believes Unto Righteousness, And With the Mouth Confession Is Made Unto Salvation - Part 1535

"I am sought of [them that] asked not [for Me]. I am found of [them that] sought Me not; I said, "Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation [that] was not called by My Name. I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walk in a way [that was] not good, after their own thoughts.

A people that provokes Me to anger continually to My face; that sacrifices in gardens and burns incense upon alters of brick; which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable [things is in] their vessels, which say, "Stand by thyself, come not near to Me; for I am holier than Thou." These [are] a smoke in My nose, a fire that burns all the day." (Isaiah 65:1-5)

For me, knowing that the Lord God Almighty looked far beyond His chosen people in the old covenant side  to you and I in this current dispensation of grace (wherein He Himself would prepare a flesh like body, coming forth into this world as a mighty man so that we might be redeemed -- is so humbling. As the Lord states -- we were not seeking Him. We did not actively ask after the Lord. Nevertheless, as the Lord said, "I am found of them that sought Me not." (Isaiah 65:2; Isaiah 42:13; John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6)

Because we saw the glory of the Lord which He revealed to all flesh, "For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken [it]" and desired His love and peace and mercy dwelling within. (Isaiah 40:5) We saw the glimmer of hope in His invitation to the most elaborate wedding feast ever, and gladly responded to His call. And we became that new thing that the Lord desired for the time to come -- the time in which we live. That He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory.

In other words, we were not an afterthought. The Lord didn't include us in to His plan of salvation after the fact, but we were His purpose all along. The plan was for us -- the Gentiles who were afar off, but are now grafted in when we reach out to Him in love, believing in Jesus by faith, and being water baptized in His precious Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:36-38)

He is both Lord and Christ, and He is stretching out His arms for us all the day long. And He willingly paid the price on the cross for you and I so that we might have life in Him more abundantly.

As we read in Romans:

"I will call them My people, whom were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, "Ye are not My people, there shall they be called; the children of the living God." Esaias [Isaiah] also crieth concerning Israel, "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.

For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." And as Esaias said before, "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha." What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness, which is of faith.

But Israel which followed after the law of righteousness hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence; and whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 9:23-33)

Who was the stumbling block? Who was the Rock of offence?

His Name is Jesus, and whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed. Then this is the Word of faith which we preach ...

"That if thou shalt confess with thy  mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, "Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:9-11)

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him -- for whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:12-13)

Yes, as the Lord saith, "I was found of them that sought Me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me." (Romans 10:20-21; Isaiah 65:1-2) And because of His kindness and love, He concluded us all in unbelief, and in sin, that He might have mercy upon us all. (Titus 3:4-7)

God became our Saviour so that the promise of faith, which He Himself had decided even before the foundation of the world was formed, might be given to them who  believe in the Lord Jesus by faith. (Galatians 3:22-29)

Stand in the offering plate.