Isaiah 58:1-2 – Dead Religion
We’re going to look at, in the first couple of verses here, dead religion in the professed people of God. Now, were these religious people that God is addressing? Yes. There are many religious people out in the world who, spiritually speaking, are dead. It’s what sometimes people call formalism. It’s when you are acting like the godly, but you don’t have the heart of the godly.
God calls upon Isaiah here to reprove formalism strongly among those who claim to be the people of God. Cry aloud. He doesn’t say talk to them quietly. These people need a wake up call. They think that they are pleasing God. But formalists and hypocrites always think so. They always think that if they do the outward things, then everything’s fine. They must have things put plainly and maybe loudly to them. This is their only hope, really. If they see their sin, then there is also hope for them looking to the Saviour instead of themselves.
If their religion isn’t real, why would they be seeking after God every day? Why would they delight to know God’s ways? Why would they ask about what the Word of God is teaching? Even real orthodox Christianity can have its outwardly active and inwardly dead followers. People that looked just like they were believers – remember Judas Iscariot. These people think that if they believe the right things with the mind, if they say the right things with their tongues, and do the proper religious ceremonies, then everything is fine, and everything will be fine.
There is much in religion that can appeal to the carnal dead heart. There are people who really enjoy having intellectual discussions, and they think because they can carry this on, they must be godly, or God will accept them as such. There are things which can stir the emotions, stir our admiration in religion. But that does not make hearts right with God. In fact, if you are not spiritually alive, your religious activity, all of it, is disgusting to Him.
If all this be true, then what must a person do to be saved? Well, in a sense, nothing. You must see that you are dead and you are still in your sin. You must do what God has said in His Word, and that is trust in the righteousness of Someone else. Cry out to Jesus to save you from your sin and you will have life. Life does not come from outward religious action. Religious action comes from life given by God through Jesus.
Question
- What is dead religion?
Prayer Points
- Pray that God would wake up those who think that everything is fine when it isn’t.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.