Thesis: To teach the hearers the truth concerning the nature of the church and its members.
Text: Isa 2:2-4
Isa 2:2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,
Isa 2:3 and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isa 2:4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Introduction
As we look at this section of Scripture, (which is almost identical to Micah 4:1-3; Isaiah was to take God’s message to the peoples in the city, while Micah to those in the country), we can but marvel at the accuracy and the descriptive measures that the LORD God has used to bring forth His prophetic word.
That along with the harmonious nature of God's word from beginning to end is such a faith builder and sustainer for the Christian that we can but say concerning our God, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”(Rom 8:31).
In this study we will look at Isaiah 2:2-4 basically in the form of an exegesis (“a discourse intended to explain or illustrate a subject”; Webster), and show how these verses depict the church, God's eternal purpose (Eph 3:11) concerning . . .
1) The time of its establishment (Isa 2:2a)
2) Its nature (Isa 2:2b-3a)
3) The place and the means of its establishment (Isa 2:3b).
4) The nature of its peoples (Isa 2:4)
I. THE TIME OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH
A. (v 2a)
Isa 2:2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established
Let us note the opening words in this passage, “(And or Now) it shall come to pass”. This phraseology asserts that this message is from the one true God, and more specifically that the prophet Isaiah is a true prophet of God based upon the standards set forth in Deut 18:20-22. For we know that it is the LORD God alone Who can declare “the end from the beginning, and from the ancient times that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand” (Isa 46:9-10). Thus the establishment of the church, the when, its nature, and the where, sets forth the deity of the LORD God as that which is “without question” to the logical mind.
This in itself is why many attempt to discredit the Bible, for if these prophecies are valid (which they are), then God is Who He claims to be, and all those that do not humbly submit to His sovereign rule based upon His love, mercy and grace, only have a devils hell to look forward to! (Mt 25:46), yet God wants all to be saved (1 Tim 2:4), but many would say “saved from what?” and here lies the problem, it is one of the heart, the truth is “saved from yourself”, when one realizes this they are one step closer to where God wants them to be, as it is written (Mt 5:3) . . .
Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Let us look at the term “in the latter days”. Based upon its usage in Dan 2:28 which refer to “the days of those kings” (Dan 2:44), we can conclude that this passage speaks of the days of the Roman empire, specifically that first Pentecost after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, when that first gospel sermon was preached by Peter and the other apostles in Acts 2 wherein they used the keys of the kingdom and revealed the Way of salvation through Christ.
We can also look at Peter’s inspired interpretation of Joel 2:28 in Acts 2:16-17 wherein he refers to the events taking place on that day saying “this is that” (ASV) and informs us that “afterward” (Joel 2:28) refers to “the last days” (Acts 2:17).
Act 2:16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
Act 2:17 "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
When we combine these passages with 2 Tim 3:1-5; Heb 1:2; Ja 5:3; 1 Pet 1:20; 2 Pet 3:3; Jude 18 . . .
2Ti 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2Ti 3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
2Ti 3:4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Heb 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Jas 5:3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.
1Pe 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
2Pe 3:3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
Jud 1:18 They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions."
. . . We must conclude that all these passages refer to the Christian dispensation, that time span that exists between the 1st and 2nd coming of our Lord. That is why many knowing and understanding this biblical usage may use the phrase “the last, last days” when referring to the end time theology.
Thus the church will be established after the ascension of our Lord (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9), and before His 2nd coming (1 Thess 4:16). When we put the fact that people “received his word were baptized” and were added to them (the church; the assembly; the group of believers) on that very day (Acts 2:41), we must conclude that “the church”, “the kingdom” (Mt 16:16-19; Heb 12:23, 28)“the mountain of the house of the LORD” was indeed established on that Pentecost day in about A.D. 30 (most say AD 33 accepting calendar error).
It was always spoken of as being in the future before that day (Mt 3:2; 4:17; 10:7), and after that day it was spoken of in the present tense (Acts 2:47; 5:11; 8:1; 9:1; Col 1:13; Rev 1:6, 9).
II. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH
A. (v 2b-3a)
Isa 2:2b the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,
Isa 2:3a and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."
We should also note the usage of the figure of a “mountain” which is used throughout this passage. This word when used in a figurative sense in the OT consistently is used to denote a government/ kingdom (Isa 11:9; Jer 51:25; Dan 2:35).
Thus Jehovah’s house, the house of the LORD, the house of God, the church of the living God (1 Tim 3:15), is in fact a government, a kingdom.
This term “kingdom” would describe the “nature” of God’s government. It would consist of a King, subjects, and a law through which the King would rule over His subjects.
This idea of law and subjection is not too popular among some of the religious peoples around us, yet it is what the Scriptures teach concerning the church, the body, the kingdom.
Now it is true that we are not “under” law but grace (Rom 6:14), but the law of faith (Rom 3:27), the law of Christ (Gal 6:2), that perfect law of liberty (Ja 1:25), has rules of guidance for us, it is to be embraced, written upon our hearts (Heb 8:10), and done (Ja 1:22), prompted by love (Jn 14:15), by the Spirit (Rom 8:12-14), and it gets us where God wants us to go, which is dead to self, sin, and the world, and alive unto God (Rom 6:1-11)
This kingdom “the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest (on top) of the mountains, and shall be lifted (exalted) up above the hills”. The Lord’s kingdom, His church (these terms are used synonymously in Mt 16:18-19; Heb 12:23, 28), would be established, and would continue in, through, on top, and despite the kingdoms of men.
For it would be spiritual in nature (Lk 17:21; Jn 18:36; 3:3),
Luk 17:21 neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
The physical kingdoms of men would have no defense against that which works upon the heart, the gospel of Jesus Christ, thus it would be “exalted” above such physical kingdoms by its very nature, in other words it would be unstoppable.
Therefore in the hearts of believers God’s kingdom would be more precious and more important than any earthly kingdom could ever be, it would never go away for the next regime, it would always be there as a precious jewel, as a living hope, sustaining us in the good times and in the bad.
“All nations shall flow to it” shows us the universal nature of the gospel (Rom 1:16; Gal 3:28).
There would be no distinctions as we see under the Law of Moses, all would be priests (1 Pet 2:5, 9), thus all would be able to enter into the temple (Lk 1:8-10) through the one Mediator, “Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5), our High Priest (Heb 3:1; 8:1), the only way to the Father (Jn 14:6).
Also this “flowing” shows us the “velocity” of those entering therein.
Under the Law of Moses others were able to approach God through that system (Ex 12:48; Num 14:15; Deut 14:21; 1 Ki 8:41-43). They would hear of the mighty works of God (Ex 9:16), and submit to Him and come, as did Rahab and her house (Joshua 2).
Yet the distinctions, the lack of evangelism, and the traditions of men probably hindered many from accessing the grace of God through that system.
But under the gospel dispensation a more aggressive approach would be taken, individuals would be “sent” (Rom 10:15), they would “go” into “all” the world (Mk 16:15), and make disciples of “all the nations” (Mt 28:19), and then “teach” them all things (Mt 28:20).
This is what we see in the inspired words “many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” Thus this aggressive approach fueled by the fervency of those that are members of the LORD’s mountain would cause all nations to “flow,” not “trickle” unto it.
They would also “flow” in respect to the nature of their entering therein, they would not be forced into subjection as an attacking army might do to its enemies, but rather they would willingly put them self into subjection to God and His gospel (Rom 10:3), because they would be able to clearly see its truths, one of which is that everyone is a slave, the only question is “whose slave are you, sin unto death, or obedience (unto God) towards righteousness” (Rom 6:16-18)
“That He may teach us His ways” here refers to the fact that Christianity, the Faith, the Way, is a taught system (John 6:45; Mt 28:20a)
Joh 6:45 It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by (of) God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from (of) the Father comes to me—
Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in(to) the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
This teaching centers around Christ and the fact that we are to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6),
1Jn 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
In other words we are to imitate Him (1 Cor 11:1).
1Co 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Which is going to be a difficult Way (Mt 7:14), yet it is the Way that God chose for mankind to be saved (John 14:6; Luke 13:24)
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Luk 13:23 And someone said to him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And he said to them,
Luk 13:24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (NASB)
The way that the Way takes place is that one believes (Jn 5:24), God’s Spirit comes within you (Gal 3:2; Eph 1:13-14), Who puts God’s love in you (Rom 5:5), which prompts you to keep God’s commands (Jn 14:15), through which the Father and Son also comes within you (Jn 14:23), thus it is the Father, Son and Spirit within you, that puts your old person to death (Rom 8:12-14; Eph 4:17-32; Col 3:1-17), therefore it is actually God within you, not you, Who is doing His will (Phili 2:12-13) . . .
Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
And what is His good pleasure, look at 1 Tim 2:3-4 . . .
1Ti 2:3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
1Ti 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
And what is the truth? That we are God’s creatures, the works of His hands, created for His glory, for His honor, forever and ever (Isa 43:7). But many have put this truth out of their minds and are without God and without hope in the world (Eph 2:12), trying to fill the void within them which only God can fill through various worldly lusts and desires.
And why are we here in this world? To grow, in faith, and love, through Jesus, by the Spirit, in the kingdom, in the church, God’s eternal purpose.
III. THE PLACE AND THE MEANS THROUGH WHICH THE CHURCH WAS TO BE ESTABLISHED
A. (v 3b)
Isa 2:3b For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Jehovah’s mountain, the kingdom, the church, the ekklesia, the called out ones, would be established, would go forth “out of Zion”. We know that the word “Zion” is metaphorically used in prophecy in reference to the spiritual Zion, the church, as defined by inspiration in Heb 12:22-23, where is seen the “heavenly” thus “spiritual” Jerusalem, the church of the firstborn ones enrolled in heaven (look at Heb 12:22-24).
Heb 12:22 but you have come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
Heb 12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous made perfect,
Heb 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. (NASB)
This is a picture of Zion, of God’s heavenly family; it includes God, Jesus, the faithful angelic beings, the church, and the faithful throughout the ages.
But considering that this (Isa 2:2-4) is a prophecy which was to lead the remnant of the Jewish nation unto hope, unto faithfulness, and ultimately unto the forgiveness of their sins by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Rom 3:25; Heb 9:15). I believe we must consider this statement (about Zion in Isa 2:3) to be that of the physical, the shadow, the type of the true (Heb 10:1a).
Heb 10:1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities,
Homer Hailey writes in his commentary on Isaiah writes concerning “Zion”. “Physical Zion was the steep hill on which David had built his fortress and on which Solomon later built the temple. It became a symbol of an impregnable stronghold against enemies and the dwelling place of God among His people”.
Thus we can conclude that the place, physical Zion was Jerusalem, in fact in the closing words of Isaiah 2:3, it states that it is from “Jerusalem” which the law, the word shall go forth, we can consider this a Hebrew parallelism (i.e. Zion = Jerusalem).
In fact our Lord Himself stated in Lk 24:47 (turn there) . . .
Luk 24:47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed (preached) in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
And thus He told the apostles to wait there for the baptism of the Holy Spirit which would enable them to use the keys of the kingdom on that Pentecost, in other words they would be inspired preachers of the gospel.
Also let us note “what” will go forth from Jerusalem at that time, at the beginning of the last days (Isa 2:3b), “the law, and the word of the LORD” these are not two separate entities being referred to, but again what we are looking at is a Hebrew parallelism (i.e. law = word), a common figure of speech that is used for emphasis, thus the word, the law would be the means through which the house of the LORD would be established, of course we know that our Lord teaches us in the parable of the sower that the word is the seed of the kingdom (Lk 8:11), it is that which God plants within our hearts, and through which He gives the growth (1 Pet 2:2).
Thus what this teaches us is that God's word is law (His commandments), and His law (His commandments) is His word, as also seen in 1 John 2:3-5 where the terms are used synonymously (turn there; 1 Jn 2:3-5),
1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
Note that “His commandments” (v 3-4) are contextually equal to “His word” (v 5), thus the conclusion must be that if there are commandments, there must be a law system of some sort in existence today within the New Covenant, even though many deny this fact.
We need to understand that God has always had a system of law in place ever since the beginning of creation, as seen concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:16-17), the sacrifices and the doing of them properly and improperly during the system of patriarchy (as seen in the case of Cain and Able; Gen 4:3-7), these accounts teach us that law was in place also then, even though we do not have many direct statements, yet plenty of implications. And that based upon the same standard as always, by faith (Heb 11:4), thus by God's word (Rom 10:17).
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The difference between God’s previous laws (Patriarchy, the Law of Moses), and the Law of faith (Rom 3:27), the Law of Christ (Gal 6:2), that perfect Law of liberty (Ja 1:25), the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:2) is that it’s indeed there, it spoken of as a law multiple times, but we are not “under it” (look at Rom 6:14),
Rom 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
So clearly we Christians are not under law, yet law is there, but rather it is to be “in us” instead of over us (look at Heb 8:8-10; 10:16),
Heb 8:8 For he finds fault with them when he says: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
Heb 8:9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
And through this law, that perfect law of liberty (Ja 1:25), designed for imperfect man, mankind could be redeemed (bought and brought back from the power of the devil) through the blood of Christ and the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Rev 1:5; Tit 3:5), i.e. through the forgiveness of sins, and the dissolving of the love of sin.
This again is one of those areas where many are attempting to twist to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:16), stating that the New Testament is nothing more than a compilation of love letters from God, which in one sense I can believe, seeing that God's love is manifested in the giving of His Son (Jn 3:16), which when realized, prompts us to keep His commandments (Jn 14:15)
Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
But the bottom line is sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 Jn 3:4), and without law there is no sin (Rom 4:15), and the Scriptures teach that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), and do on occasion, still commit sin (1 Jn 1:8), if we deny this we are liars.
Therefore we must conclude that there is still some sort of law in place, as the Scriptures indeed teach (Rom 8:2, Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2; Heb 8:10; 10:16; Ja 1:25; 2:12), or believe in the doctrine of Universalism, which the Scriptures will not support (Mt 7:13, 22-23; Rom 6:17; 2 Thess 1:6-9; Heb 5:9; 1 Pet 1:22; ect).
In fact the epistle of 1 John was written specifically concerning those in the apostle’s day who believed there was not any law whatsoever (antinomian [against-law] Gnostics), that letter plainly teaches if they kept the commandments it was proof that they were children of God, if they didn’t it was evidence of them being children of the devil (1 Jn 3), the same is true for us today (Rom 6:16-18).
Rom 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
Rom 6:18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
I can’t see how one could read that epistle (nor any of the epistles) and believe that there is no law for God’s people today, Paul wrote concerning himself (1 Cor 9:21b) . . .
1Co 9:21b (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)
The fact is that this law, God’s word, Christ’s law, the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17), is to be embraced, willingly, it is not hanging over our heads like a rock about to fall on us and crush us (Rom 6:14), but rather it is there as a form of God’s grace (Jn 1:17-18), and when we believe it and do it, it is able to change us and impart life to us (John 6:63; Heb 4:12),
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Therefore if we are doers of the word it is proof that we are the children of God, but if we toss it aside, and ignore the Spirit within us prompting to love it and do it, then we are children of the devil (1 Jn 3:4-10), in other words the law is there as a witness of whose we are (look at 1Tim 1:8-11)
1Ti 1:8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
1Ti 1:9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
1Ti 1:10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
1Ti 1:11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
Therefore God’s law today is to be used lawfully, to instruct us concerning what is lawful in the sight of God, so that we won’t be lovers, practicers of lawlessness, which ultimately will separate us from God, but rather strugglers against sin (Heb 12:4), thus it is not “over us”, but rather “for” us, and it is to be “in us” (Heb 8:10; 10:16) . . .
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
and we “in it” (Jn 8:31-32) . . .
Joh 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
Joh 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
IV. THE NATURE OF ITS PEOPLES
A. (v 4a)
Isa 2:4a He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide (disputes) for many peoples;
Through the gospel all are called (2 Thess 2:14), through the foolishness of preaching (1 Cor 1:18), or in some other way of learning of the gospel (reading, audio, video), which induces faith (Rom 10:17), which leads one to the respond to the gospel, one’s response depends on the heart of each individual, as seen in the parable of the sower (Mt 13:3-23, Mk 4:3-20; Luke 8:5-15), the Holy Spirit through the gospel message convicts them of their sinfulness or not (Jn 16:8), again, this is a heart matter (Pro 4:23).
Ones response to this call is how God judges between nations/peoples, this how one is chosen for entrance in the kingdom or not (Mt 22:14).
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few chosen.
Turn to Jn 3:19-21. . .
Joh 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Joh 3:20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Joh 3:21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."
God wants all to be saved (1 Tim 2:4), but He has determined to do this a specific way, by convicting individuals of their sinfulness (Jn 16:8), if they accept the truth of their condition before God, they manifest godly sorrow which leads to repentance, a change of mind that leads to a change in life (2 Cor 7:10), but many don’t accept God’s reproval and instead hate the gospel, not willing to lower themselves in the sight of God, Jesus said in Mt 5:3 . . .
Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The fact is that many won’t pay this high price due to enter into God’s kingdom (Mt 13:45-46; Lk 14:33)
Mat 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
Mat 13:46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Luk 14:33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Therefore there are going to be few that find it (Mt 7:13-14)
Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Mat 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard (difficult) that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Because pride, the lifting up of self is not going to be a quality of those that will be in eternity with God (turn to Mt 18:1-4)
Mat 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Mat 18:2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them
Mat 18:3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn (convert, repent) and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Individuals hear the gospel message, about how Jesus, the Word, the second person of the Godhead, the Son of God, lowered Himself and became human, suffered and died for “their” sins, even though He was totally innocent, He did this for them, for each and every person, so that they might be forgiven, one dying for another is the greatest love one can show (Jn 15:13) Will they manifest reciprocal love (1 Jn 4:19)? And admit their true sinful state in view of this? Or will they give it a chuck and move on with “their” lives? Ones response to this is where the rubber hits the road so to speak.
B. (Isa 2:4b)
Isa 2:4b and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Those who have been humbled by God, who that have the type of heart that God is looking for, one likened unto David or Paul who followed whole-heartedly when confronted with the truth, these are the same ones that allow themselves will be transformed (Rom 12:2), renewed into one that is likened to God, regaining that part of God’s image (Col 3:9-10) which is lost through the love of the world (1 John 2:16), but is regained through the power of the gospel (Rom 1:16), with its facts to believe, promises to receive, commands to obey, and warnings to heed.
a. This is the type of person that will give up all they have to enter into the kingdom (Mt 13:45-46), and they will continue to work out their salvation with trembling and fear (Phili 2:12), letting God work within them (Phili 2:13; turn to Eph 4:17-24). . .
Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
Eph 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Eph 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
Eph 4:21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
b. Through the power of God, the gospel, individuals will be transformed into one of a more passive nature, like Christ, even though the world teaches differently (look at Mt 5:38-42).
Mat 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
Mat 5:39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
Mat 5:41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Mat 5:42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
c. This is the type of person whose warfare will become that which is spiritual in nature, not like those of the world, rather trusting in the Lord and the strength of His great might, God will open their eyes so they can see where the true battle is (Jn 9:39), and enable them to engage the enemy in the spiritual realms, where they can be truly defeated (turn to 2 Cor 10:3-5; Eph 6:12).
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
2Co 10:4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
2Co 10:5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
d. These will be those who look to Jesus as their perfect example (Jn 14:6; 1 Cor 11:1), the Author and Perfecter of their faith (Heb 12:1-2a; look at 1 Pet 2:21-23)
1Pe 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1Pe 2:22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
1Pe 2:23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
e. Instead of being led by Satan to react in a way the world would, being thereby an imitator of Satan, but He rather was resolved, He accepted the circumstances His Father put Him in, and trusted Him for the outcome, enduring faithfully along the way, He Himself said (John 14:6).
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
f. This is what we are called to, this is where God wants us to be while on this earth, and this section of scripture sums up that which I am proclaiming to you (turn to Luke 14:26-35).
Luk 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
(This is speaking of hating the unregenerated, self-seeking, godless life/humanity, specifically their godless ways; Heb 1:9, understanding that they and we are but pawns of the devil; 2 Cor 4:4)
Luk 14:27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
(We need to put our old selves to death through God’s power the gospel)
Luk 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
Luk 14:29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
(We need to continue in the Faith, the Way, looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, we want to
draw people into the gospel, not away from it)
Luk 14:31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
(We need to consider our true foes, the spiritual ones, within us (Eph 6:12; and cast all our troubles on God
through Jesus; 1 Pet 5:6-7)
Luk 14:33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
(The world and ourselves are God’s (Ps24:1), life is not about “things” but about “God”, let us stop thinking
like the world, but rather let us have the mindset of Christ; 1 Cor 2:16)
Luk 14:34 "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?
Luk 14:35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
g. It is a difficult way that leads to eternal life, but Christ has done all the hard work for us,
h. His perfect life, His sacrifice, He was perfect, and His perfection is credited to our account (2 Cor 5:21), when we enter into this new and living Way, by faith (Jn 5:24),
i. Being new creatures (Gal 6:15; 2 Cor 5:17), being renewed by the Spirit (Tit 3:5), being transformed (Rom 12:2), day by day (2 Cor 4:16), thereby beating our swords into plow shears and our spears into pruning hooks, the battle belongs to the LORD, we are to be tending the Garden, the vineyard, unto God’s glory.
Conclusion
In conclusion we can sum up our section of scripture (Isa 2:2-4) paraphrased as such . . .
“God has promised, and will fulfill, that in the Christian (the last) dispensation, which began on the first Pentecost after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, Christ’s church will be established. It will be spiritual, not physical in nature, this will make it unstoppable. It will be for whosoever wills to come. Those therein will aggressively propagate the spread of its borders. It will be a system that must be taught and learned, by and through belief and obedience to its Kings words, which are its law. And it will begin at the city of Jerusalem. Those that are in the church will hand chosen by God, for they will be those who shall conform to His Way, they will be imitators of Him.”