Isaiah 1:18

August 12,2023

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

The prophet Isaiah was one of the most influential prophets of all time. He is considered a major prophet because of the length of the book that bears his name. He often prophesied about the hope and future restoration of God’s people because of what Jesus Christ would do on the cross for the entire human race.

This particular verse of Scripture out of the Old Testament gave the people of that time hope that a redeemer was coming that had the ability to remove the contamination of sin. In order to achieve the color scarlet that Isaiah is referencing in this passage, fabric had to be saturated in scarlet dye. This was a process that needed to take place in order to ensure that the fabric would be so soaked in that particular dye that it would remain that color.

This is the illustration that the prophet was attempting to paint so that the reader would have a clear understanding of the contrast of the color scarlet and sin. Sin is one of those things that if you allow it to saturate your heart and mind, the bondage and evil deeds of the sin are extremely difficult to break. Compare it to the challenging task of changing the color of a dark piece of fabric to white.

That kind of deep stain of sin was something that could only be washed by the blood of the lamb. Isaiah is prophesying that there is going to a be a time when the Son of God will die a perfect sinless death so that He can atone for every sin that every one of us will commit: past, present, and future. He is the only One that will have the ability to turn stain filled and wretched garments into white garments without any blemishes.

Breaking down the Scripture we can see that the words “and let us reason together” is the Hebrew word “yāḵaḥ” which means to reason. We can see why the Lord chose to use these particular words when we look at verses of Scripture in God’s Word just above this one. Isaiah 1:16-17 states “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”

God is pleading with His people to turn away from doing evil and committing sin. Then He advises what they should be doing instead: seeking justice, rebuking the oppressor, defending the fatherless, and pleading for the widow. Those instructions still apply to the believers of Jesus Christ today. We are commanded to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

One thing to keep in mind is that we can never forget the ultimate price that was paid in order for us to have the ability to live an eternal life with the Lord. Our sin debt was paid in full by what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary. He suffered a painful and horrific death on our behalf. It is important that we never allow ourselves to take sin lightly. It opens the door to the enemy, it separates us from the Lord, and it hinders our walk with Jesus Christ.

I have a lot of articles regarding the dangers of open doors to sin: Spiritual Oppression-The Dangers of Open Doors to the Enemy-Part 1, Spiritual Oppression-The Dangers of Open Doors to the Enemy-Part 2, Spiritual Oppression-The Dangers of Open Doors to the Enemy-Part 3, Spiritual Oppression-The Dangers of Open Doors to the Enemy-Part 4, and Spiritual Oppression-The Dangers of Open Doors to the Enemy-Part 5.

Additional words that I want to highlight out of the verse of Scripture in Isaiah 1:18 are the words “as scarlet” which are the Hebrew word “šānî” which means: a color that was created by an insect that yielded this particular color used to make scarlet cloth. This shade of color was often used to create fine linen garments during that period of time.

Isaiah makes a direct contrast to this bright red color when he compares it to the color white. The words “they shall be as white” are the Hebrew word “lāḇan” which means: to make white, become white, purity. The prophet is trying to point out the fact that the only way that one can make sin become as pure as the white in snow is if they accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

It is easy to say that you are a Christian and not follow any of God’s rules, guidelines, and stipulations written in the Holy Bible. In order to have your sins truly wiped away you have to show true repentance. Your heart has to come into agreement with what your words are saying and really mean it. Just because your sin is completely washed by the blood of Jesus Christ does not mean that you can freely and intentionally sin.

The Word of God makes it clear in the New Testament Scripture Galatians 6:7 when the Apostle Paul states, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Then the Lord makes His point more clearly in the next verse Galatians 6:8 it reiterates, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

In other words the Lord is not interested in what you say if your heart and mind are not reflecting your words. If you are saying that you are sorry for your sin but don’t do anything to try to turn away from it, God will allow you to reap the repercussions of your sin. One that sows to the flesh is not taking any steps to enhance the spiritual aspect of their life: praying, getting into the Word of God, praying in the Holy Spirit, Praise, and Worship.

Another verse of Scripture that explains exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ did for every one of us when He sacrificed His own life for us on the cross is found in Colossians 2:14-15. The Apostle Paul details, “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

The handwriting of requirements that Paul is mentioning in these verses of Scripture is the sin debt owed to God that an imperfect person could not pay. This debt was against and “contrary” to us or opposed to us, an adversary. The Lord took it out of the way or paid it in full because He was a perfect sacrifice and atonement for our entire sin debt.

What this did was allowed us to be back in right standing in the sight of God because He no longer saw sin when He saw us, but He saw the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. His blood washed our sins away making them white as snow unable to be seen and actually completely forgotten by God, Isaiah 42:25. A lot of people underestimate the significance of the sacrifice that the Lord made for us!

Not only did His shed blood reconcile our relationship back to God; but it also diminished the power that the devil had over us because of sin. Paul describes, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it,” Colossians 2:15. Jesus Christ dying on the cross at Calvary deactivated the power that the devil had over us.

Now, we have the ability to overcome our own sin, death, and hell with the hope of having an eternal life with the Lord in Heaven. We also have been given the free gift of the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us giving us power, strength, direction, correction, and discernment. The main thing that we want to keep in mind is that we don’t remain ignorant of the devil’s devices. He will make you think and feel that he has power over you when in fact he is a defeated foe.

We have to get into our Word, study our Word, and apply it to our daily lives so when difficult times come we can be prepared for them. We have to remain equipped for the schemes of the enemy. Repenting and turning completely away from your sin will shut all open doors that the devil can gain access to allowing him to create complete chaos in your life.

Also, don’t forget to check out my other blogs:

Who is the Prophet Isaiah

The Armor of God-The Sword of the Spirit

The Armor of God-The Helmet of Salvation

The Armor of God-The Shield of Faith

The Armor of God-The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

The Armor of God-The Belt of Truth

The Armor of God-The Breastplate of Righteousness

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Fight Back

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Feed Your Spirit

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Renouncing

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Confess and Repent