THE FREE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST
Isaiah
50:5-7 "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and
I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 6 I gave my back to the
smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face
from shame and spitting. 7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not
be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I
shall not be ashamed."
John
10:16-18 "And other sheep I have, which are not
of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there
shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me,
because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it
from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have
power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
Let
me show you three things from these words which fell from him of whom it is
written, “grace is poured into thy lips.”
THE COMMANDMENT OF THE FATHER - The Lord Jesus Christ speaks of himself
here not as the eternal Son of God, but as the Good Shepherd, the Mediator, the
Surety of his people. He says, “This
commandment have I received of my Father.” With those words he declares
that his death as our Substitute was arranged by God before the world began
(Ps. 40:7; Heb. 10:7-10). The death of Christ was not accomplished by the
arrangement of men, or by the arrangement of hell, but by the arrangement of
the Triune God (Acts 2:23; 1 Pet. 1:18-20). The death of Christ at Calvary was
accomplished by the arrangement of an eternal covenant, sovereign providence,
and infinite love (John 3:16; Rom. 5:6-8).
THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST - The Lord Jesus Christ laid down his life
voluntarily, as an act of free obedience to his Father. No man forced him to
die. God the Father did not compel him to die, or take his life from him. Oh,
No! Our Savior died voluntarily, by his own will. Our Redeemer’s death was
accomplished by his own will. “He poured
out his soul unto death!” It is true, as we have seen, “it pleased the Father to bruise him.” The Father cried, “Awake, O sword, against One that is my
fellow. Smite the Shepherd!” Yet Christ took the cup of wrath in his own
hands. The Son of God fell willingly upon the sword of justice. Our Savior died
by his own will! The Son of God laid down his life for the satisfaction of
divine justice as the Substitute for chosen sinners, for the glory of God,
because of his great love for his elect. Moreover, he laid down his life that
he might take it again by his own resurrection power and reign forever as our
Redeemer-King (Rom.14:9; Phil.2:5-11).
THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR HIS SON - Our Savior says, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life.” I
know of nothing in heaven or earth so sweet to meditate upon and so impossible
to preach about as the Father’s love for his darling, dying Son. Hear it again.
“Therefore doth my Father love me,
because I lay down my life.” God himself never saw anything in all the
world so lovely, so infinitely worthy of his love, admiration, and honor, as
the death of his dear Son upon the cursed tree for his people. “Herein
is love!” Because of this great act of love, because of this great act
of Christ’s free obedience to the Father as our Surety, the Father has given
his Son everything! (Read Isa.53:4-12; John 3:35; 17:2.)
There are several practical lessons to be drawn from our Savior’s
obedience for every child of God in this world. (1.)Though God’s child may
suffer greatly in this world, often carrying a heavy cross and having the
Father’s face hidden from him, yet he is the darling object of his Father’s
love. Never did the Father more fully love his Son than when he was heaping upon
him the fury of his wrath! (2.) God honors those who honor his Son. The only
way a sinner can honor the Son of God is to trust him. God honors those who
trust his Son. (3.) The only way of access to God is Christ. Our only
worthiness of the Father’s love and approval is Christ (John 17:22-26). (4.)
God loves us! The Father gave his Son to die for us! The Son laid down his life
for us. The Spirit now sprinkles us with the blood of Christ and declares us -
“Redeemed!” Believer, gaze steadfastly upon your crucified Redeemer and realize
that "Ye
are not your own. For ye are bought
with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God's." AMEN.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #681
2734 Old Stanford
Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net