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SEPTEMBER 26
would have been by the law. But the Scripture
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has confined all under sin, that the promise by
faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those
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who believe. But before faith came, we were 3:28 you are all one in Christ Jesus. All those
kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith who are one with Jesus Christ are one with
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which would afterward be revealed. There- one another. This verse does not deny that
fore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, God has designed for racial, social, and sexual
that we might be justified by faith. But after distinctions among Christians, but it affirms
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faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. that those do not imply spiritual inequality
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in before God. Nor is this spiritual equality
Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were bap- incompatible with the God-ordained roles of
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tized into Christ have put on Christ. There is headship and submission in the church,socie-
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave ty, and at home. Jesus Christ, though fully
nor free, there is neither male nor female; for equal with the Father, assumed a submissive
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you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are role during His incarnation (Phil. 2:5–8).
Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and
heirs according to the promise.
DAY 25:Who is the “Servant”of Isaiah 42?
Others deserve the title “my servant”(v.1),but this personal Servant of the Lord is the Messiah,
who was chosen (Luke 9:35;1 Pet.1:20;Rev.13:8) because the Lord delights in Him (Matt.3:17;17:5)
and puts His Spirit upon Him (11:2; 59:21; Matt. 3:16; Luke 4:18).“He will bring forth justice to the
Gentiles.”At His Second Coming, Christ will rule over a kingdom in which justice prevails through-
out the world.The millennial kingdom is not for Israel alone, though the Messiah will reign on the
throne of David in Jerusalem, and Israel will be the glorious people. In fact, all the nations of the
world will experience the righteousness and justice of the Messiah King.
“He will not cry out…in the street” (v. 2).The quiet and submissive demeanor of Christ at His
first advent fulfilled this prophecy (Matt.11:28–30;1 Pet.2:23).“A bruised reed…smoking flax”(v.3).
The Servant will bring comfort and encouragement to the weak and oppressed (Matt. 12:18–20).
“Till He has established justice in the earth”(v.4).Isaiah looked beyond the First Coming of Christ to
His Second Coming.Jesus fulfilled vv.1a,2,3 at His First Coming and will fulfill vv.1b,4 at His Second
Coming, when He rules the earth in perfect justice with “a rod of iron”(Ps. 2:8,9; Rev. 2:27).
“I, the LORD,…will…give you as a covenant to the people” (v. 6). The Servant is a covenant in
that He personifies and provides the blessings of salvation to God’s people Israel.He is the Mediator
of a better covenant than the one with Moses,i.e.,the New Covenant (Jer.31:31–34;Heb.8:6,10–12).
“As a light to the Gentiles.” Simeon saw the beginning of this fulfillment at Christ’s First Coming
(Luke 2:32). He came as the Messiah of Israel, yet the Savior of the world, who revealed Himself to a
non-Jewish immoral woman by the well in Samaria (John 4:25,26) and commanded His followers to
preach the gospel of salvation to everyone in the world (Matt.28:19,20).Certainly the church, made
up mostly of Gentiles grafted into the trunk of blessing (Rom. 9:24–30; 11:11–24), fulfills this prom-
ise, as does the future kingdom on earth when the Servant will use Israel to shine and enlighten all
the nations of the earth (49:6; 19:24).

they shall not overflow you.
September 26 When you walk through the fire, you
shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the LORD your God,
Isaiah 43:1–44:28
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
43 But now, thus says the LORD, I gave Egypt for your ransom,
who created you, O Jacob,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
And He who formed you, O Israel: 4 Since you were precious in
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; My sight,
I have called you by your name; You have been honored,
You are Mine. And I have loved you;
When you pass through the waters, Therefore I will give men for you,
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I will be with you; And people for your life.
And through the rivers, 5 Fear not, for I am with you;

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