INTRODUCTION: Isaiah is one of the larger of the the 39 OT books. 66 chapters long. Isaiah was the son of Amoz, part of the government of Judah, the So. Kingdom. Other prophets of his time were Hosea, Amos and Micah. His ministry spanned 60 years, 740-680 BC. Tradition says he was martyred by being sawn in half. Used a special name for God, "The Holy One of Israel" 26 times. Only 6 other times in the entire OT. His ministry was to the Southern Kingdom. The N. Kingdom was conquered by Assyria in 721 BC. Babylon conq. Judah in 586 BC.

Why study a book written almost 3,000 years ago? Because the message is for the entire world (Is. 1:2). The Jews of the OT should have been missionaries. Christ has sent US.

Isaiah begins his book by getting down to basics:

I. WE ARE ALL SINNERS.
A. Isaiah describes the sins of the Israelites:
1. Rebellion against their Heavenly Father (vss. 2-3)
2. Religious hypocrisy (vss. 10-17)
Sacrifices, offerings, incense, holy days, prayers, etc, hated by God
3. Corrupt rulers (vs. 23)
B. The Israelites were too far gone for self-improvement (vss. 4-6):
1. Loaded with guilt.
2. A brood of evildoers
3. Forsook the Lord and turned their backs on Him
4. Injured in both head and heart
5. Sin-sick from head to toe, no health left at all.
C. The Bible says that all of us were dead in trespasses and sins.
(Ephesians 2:1-5)

II. THE LORD IS OUR SAVIOUR.
A. God appealed for repentance (Is. 1:15b-20).
B. God appeals to people today to repent, too!
"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," was the constant message
of John the Baptist, Jesus and the disciples, and of preachers today.
C. God offered forgiveness and restoration (Isaiah 1:18-20).
D. Jesus is the Saviour God has sent for us (John 3:16).

CONCLUSION: We are sinners. We need a Saviour. Can we be saved by offering many sacrifices, worshipping often, saying many prayers? No, we need a Redeemer, and thank God we have a Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ.