March 20, 2025 - Isaiah 48:1 - False Profession

Isaiah 48:1

"Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness."

The God of Israel is the one true God of the universe, sovereign and supreme over all creation and all nations. He governs all things, and nothing in history happens apart from His will. His eternal purpose is not limited to one specific ethnic race or nation. All that transpires in time is what He has ordained to come to pass already before time.

"Hear ye this, O house of Jacob."

Isaiah’s address is to the descendants of Jacob, the natural Israelites. Though they were born into the family of Abraham, this did not automatically make them the true people of God, just as many today claim the Christian faith in name only. The people of Israel in Isaiah’s time were merely Israelites outwardly, but their hearts were far from the true God. Much like today with those who have a mere profession of faith and think that something they do by way of making a decision, walking an aisle, or baptism somehow contributes to their salvation. The people Isaiah addressed falsely boasted about their heritage. But, as Paul declares in Romans 9:6-8, "not all who are descended from Israel are truly Israel." True children of God are those who are children of the promise, those whom God has elected in Christ.

"Which are called by the name of Israel"

The people of Israel took pride in their physical birth and their descent from Abraham, but this did not guarantee God’s favor. This misguided belief parallels many today who think their religious background, a prayer made at an altar, or membership in a denomination secures their salvation. True faith, however, is not based on such external factors, but on the internal work of God through His Spirit in the heart. Christ, the true Seed, is the fulfillment of Israel's promise. He is the Lion of Judah, the True Israel (Galatians 3:16).

"And are come forth out of the waters of Judah"

This is a poetic or figurative expression. In this context, the phrase refers to people who have come from the nation of Judah, or the lineage and heritage of the Jewish people. The passage is directed toward the people of Judah or Israel, emphasizing their identity as descendants of Jacob (Israel) and their covenantal relationship with God in His mercy toward them. However, the verse highlights God's judgment of their actions, as they claim to be God's people but are ignorant of the truth or righteousness of the covenant, which is Christ alone (Romans 10:1-3).

"Which swear by the name of the LORD."

Many today profess to acknowledge God as Lord, but their lives do not reflect true submission to Him. They may honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13). Some have made decisions for a "god" or a "jesus" based on personal preference or tradition, but these are only idols of their imagination. The Lord's warning is clear: external professions, ceremonies, or decisions cannot replace true faith revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior of His people. Many today follow empty, man-made traditions, much like the Pharisees, who outwardly adhered to the law but missed God's true Righteousness that the LORD JESUS alone has fulfilled on behalf of those that the Father gave Him from eternity (Mark 7:7-8).

"And make mention of the God of Israel."

It is not enough to merely mention God’s name or to speak of salvation. Many profess faith in Christ and yet miss the essential truth of who Christ is, why He came, and what He accomplished. They may speak of grace, redemption, and salvation, but without the true Spirit-given understanding and belief in the righteousness of God in Christ, their words are empty. As Paul states in Romans 10:2, many have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. The wide gate of professed Christianity today leads to destruction because it perverts the one exclusive Way (Christ) for an inclusive view of salvation—one that ignores the narrow way of Christ’s redeeming work at the cross and God's imputed righteousness there when He had finished the work and laid down His life.

"But not in truth, nor in righteousness."

Truth and righteousness are inseparable. True faith confesses God's righteousness, which is revealed in Christ alone. There is no righteousness apart from Christ’s work on behalf of His people. If salvation depended on anything other than Christ, then He died in vain (Galatians 2:21). Many today believe they must contribute something to their salvation, thinking that God's righteousness that Christ accomplished is a down payment that requires their efforts or trust in addition. This is a false profession. True salvation is grounded in the righteousness of God alone, imputed to believers by God from the cross, and revealed by the Spirit in the Faith of God that is in Christ. To trust in anything other than Christ’s completed work is to reject God's righteousness for a self-righteousness that leads to destruction.

Christ came, lived, died, and rose again for the salvation of His people. True hope is found in knowing that our righteousness is not of ourselves, but is a gift from God through Christ (Philippians 3:9). This hope is not a "hope so" kind of hope, but a "good hope" established by grace through the work of the Holy Spirit.

As the apostle Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Christ, through His grace, has given us eternal comfort and good hope. This hope is certain and founded in the unchanging righteousness of God in Christ, and it assures us that our salvation is entirely in the Person and work of the LORD Jesus alone. Thus, the true people of God are those who don't merely profess Him with their lips but live in the truth of God’s righteousness, resting solely on the work of Christ for their salvation. Let us not be deceived by outward professions, but examine whether we are in the True Faith, standing firm on the finished work of Christ. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness—nothing of ourselves, but entirely of God's grace alone.