Open the Eyes that are Blind

Isaiah 42:5-9 ESV

 

“Thus says God, the Lord,

    who created the heavens and stretched them out,

    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people on it

    and spirit to those who walk in it:

‘I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;

    I will take you by the hand and keep you;

I will give you as a covenant for the people,

    a light for the nations,

    to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

    from the prison those who sit in darkness.

I am the Lord; that is my name;

    my glory I give to no other,

    nor my praise to carved idols.

Behold, the former things have come to pass,

    and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth

    I tell you of them.’”

 

This was a prophecy concerning Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior (See also Isaiah 49 and 61). The part about Jesus being the covenant for the people is exclusively about Jesus Christ, but some of the rest of this was given to Paul as his calling (Acts 26:16-18), and to us, too (1 Pet 2:9).

 

Jesus Christ, God the Son, was called (anointed, chosen) in righteousness – in justice, morality, decency, uprightness, and honesty – to be the Savior of the world. God the Father sent him to the earth to be born as a baby to a human mother so that he could suffer and die for our sins.

 

But Jesus Christ didn’t die on that cross for our sins just so we could be forgiven our sins, and just so we could go to heaven when we die, although that is what is widely being taught. He died on that cross to deliver us out of our slavery to sin so that we could be slaves of his righteousness (Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Eph 4:17-24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Pet 2:24; 2 Co 5:15).

 

For, his mission on this earth and his purpose in dying on that cross for our sins was to open spiritually blinded eyes, and to bring people imprisoned by sin out of their bondage of sin and to give them new lives in him, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Rom 6:1-23; Eph 4:17-24).

 

And this is the essence of the gospel of our salvation which Paul was also called to preach, but that we are also to preach, teach and share.

 

In our sharing of the gospel, the intent is to open spiritually blinded eyes, turning them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God so that they can receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18; Rom 6:1-23; Eph 4:17-24; 1 Pet 2:24).

 

Jesus Christ died on that cross that we might die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness. This is the gospel in a nutshell. We are to put off our old self, which belongs to our former manner of life and is corrupt through its deceitful desires, and we are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and we are to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God.

 

If we are teaching any other gospel, we are not teaching the truth. For, the truth is plain and simple. Jesus died on that cross that we might no longer live for ourselves but for him who gave his life up for us. He shed his blood for us to buy us back for God so we now honor God with our lives.

 

He didn’t die just to forgive us. He died to transform us. He died to put our old lives of living for sin and self to death so that we could now live for him and walk in his holiness and righteousness and no longer according to the ways of our sinful flesh (Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Eph 4:17-24).

 

So, as followers of Jesus Christ, our lives are to be for the glory and praise of God. This is not saying we will never sin, but that sin should no longer have mastery over our lives. Now Jesus Christ is to be our only Lord and Master, and our lives are to be dedicated to him and to no other god.

 

I Can See Clearly Now

 

By Johnny Nash

 

I can see clearly now the rain is gone

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day

It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day

 

Oh yes, I can make it now the pain is gone

All of the bad feelings have disappeared

Here is the rainbow I've been praying for

It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day…

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FscIgtDJFXg

Caution: This link may contain ads