Have you ever seen the King, the Lord of hosts? If so, then you know that you’re a sinner. Isaiah saw Him, and he shrunk in sinfulness, crying, “Woe is me.” Here is the best preacher in the world bemoaning his sin, because He saw Christ [vs1-5].

Then I said:

“Woe is me,

for I am ruined,

because I am a man of unclean lips

dwelling among a people of unclean lips;

for my eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of Hosts.” vs5

This is not happening in our day! Men are satisfied with themselves, and churches are full of people offended to hear their sinfulness. They’ve never seen Christ, never seen the glory of God, and they are NOT SAVED.

“I can testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” [Rom 10:2]

They do not recognize the gospel.

“and the way of peace they have not known.” [Rom 3:17]

I go places - traveling all over - and it is the same thing: People are bored of the gospel, ignorant of the gospel, and they must learn, because they have not been taught by their preachers. They’ve received a religious lie. They’ve never been killed by the law, never had their mouths shut, and never cried out in desperation, “Woe is me.”

They don’t know what it’s like to carry a stinking carcass that only sovereign mercy can heal! Their wound is so shallow that they heal it themselves. Therefore they go through their daily lives without Christ, without cleansing, and without assurance. Therefore, they live for themselves.

Secondly, have you ever been forgiven? Isa 6:6-7

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And with it he touched my mouth and said:

“Now that this has touched your lips,

your iniquity is removed

and your sin is atoned for.”

Forgiveness is the first blessing after conviction. You see the Lord Jesus obeyed God and by Him we’re accepted!

"For just as through one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also through one Man's obedience the many will be made righteous." [Rom 5:20]

It is the OBEDIENCE OF ONE that makes us holy - the righteousness of One gives us the Spirit - and we see that we’re not condemned [Rom 8:1-2].

God has mercy on us because Christ died!

Until you see this, you can’t serve God! You can serve yourself, try to clean up, and you can give to get. It is only when you’ve seen Christ that you can serve in joy and peace, because you’re reconciled to God, a new creation, and an heir of the promises. Forgiveness brings you into sonship; it is the door of blessing.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” [Rom 5:1-2]

We can’t get faith except by grace, and we can’t get grace in daily living except by faith alone! It is ceasing from self and trusting Christ only.

Finally, have you ever been commissioned? Isa 6:8-13

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

“Whom shall I send?

Who will go for Us?”

And I said:

“Here am I. Send me!”

If so, then you know a tenth shall remain: These are the elect who’ll see His glory. You know everyone else is damned - rightly so - because they refuse to trust Christ, and He hardens them.

And He replied:

“Go and tell this people,

‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

Make the hearts of this people calloused;

deafen their ears and close their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed.”

… until the LORD has driven men far away,

and the land is utterly forsaken.

And though a tenth remains in the land,

it will be burned again.

As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled,

so the holy seed will be a stump in the land.” vs12-13

"This then is the condemnation: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light." [John 3:19]

The miracles mean nothing to them, the wisdom is lost on them, and they will not come, but you know that God still has a people that He must save!

This is the joy of our heart - the new covenant! It doesn’t include everybody, but it guarantees salvation, because God will do the saving.

“For this is the covenant I will make

with the house of Israel

after those days,

declares the Lord.

I will put My laws in their minds,

and inscribe them on their hearts.

And I will be their God,

and they will be My people.

No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother,

saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know Me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

For I will forgive their iniquities

and will remember their sins no more.” [Heb 8:10-12]

He will put His law in our heart, cause us to know Him, and we will be forgiven! Every obstacle will be torn down by a Saving God.