“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:16-19

The Lord through His prophet Isaiah tells the people that their religion is vain…empty…worthless.

He lays the blame at the feet of the rulers of the people.

People often get the rulers they deserve. One verse in Hosea says “like people, like priest”.

“Hear the word of the Lord” the prophet says.

God compares them to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isaiah says if it had not have been for a small remnant they would have been destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah.

This certainly would be a slap in the face to a people who were going through all the motions but who were not genuine in their hearts.

God asks these people some questions;

Why are you sacrificing to Me?

Who told you to come to my house to worship Me?

Why do you even bother praying?

God tells them;

I do not want your sacrifices and your special meetings mean nothing to Me. And there is no use praying because I am ignoring your prayers.

Many of these people had a form of godliness but no power.

God in essence says, “I am weary with your religion” as a matter of fact your religion is sin…it is evil. {iniquity vs.13}

We need to turn back to God.

Revival begins at the House of God.

Christians must lead the way.

The term we use for turning back to God is revival.

In other words there is no use acting pious or religious while you are living in sin.

It is not enough to cease to do evil but we need to learn to do well. {vs.17}

Often times young Christians {and I guess some older ones too} Are proud of the things they have quit doing but forget that there is more to being a Christian than just quitting stuff.

The Christian life is a life of repentance.

It is a life of putting off the old man and putting on the new man.

‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”