The Wells Of Salvation.

The Wells Of Salvation.

Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Water is a mighty symbol in the Word of God. It invariably speaks of the regenerating, refreshing and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit of God.

John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only one that opens the 'wells of Salvation', none other has the key.

We want to look at the 'wells of Salvation' by first of all, taking a brief illustration from the wells that Isaac dug of old. Isaac is the son of promise, he so powerfully is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. We read of him opening wells in the land of Canaan,

Genesis 26:18-25 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. [19] And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. [20] And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is our's: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. [21] And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. [22] And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. [23] And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. [24] And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. [25] And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

The picture becomes clearer, when the wells were dug, the enemy caused strife about the water. And so despite the opposition from the enemy, more and more wells were dug. As life could not be sustained without water, so the wells of Salvation were opened, graciously providing water for the whosoever.

Coming back to our text (Isaiah 12:3) we want to take a brief look at the key doctrines of grace as we consider the illustration in the 'wells of Salvation'

We make the first point by saying that all of the wells of Salvation are supplied by the underground stream of the Covenant of mercy. This vast underground stream of mercy flows from the eternal fountain of God's love from eternity past, erupting at the fall of man, bringing Salvation from sin's penalty and power. This covenant of mercy has two sides, if you like. The Covenant of Redemption (between the Father and the Son) and the Covenant of Grace (between God and His elect) The Covenant of Grace obviously, is based upon the Covenant of Redemption. God's grace to sinners can only be extended on the grounds of redemptions price being paid.

The Covenant of mercy was administered in the Old Testament by Moses the servant, now in the New Testament (described as a new and better Covenant. Heb 8:6) it is administered personally by Christ the Son of God.

Hebrews 3:5-6 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; [6] but Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Now, after discovering the water source, supplying the 'wells of Salvation' we will go on to discover the joy, refreshing, cleansing and satisfaction which the waters of life supply.

Blessings in Christ. Rev Mervyn Cotton.