Sermon #33 Series: Isaiah

Title: His Name - The Mighty God

Text: Isaiah 9:6

Subject: The Godhood of the Messiah - A Blessed and

Indisputable Fact

Date: Sunday Morning - August 21, 1977

Tape #

Introduction:

The name of the Messiah teaches us that God is present with man (Isaiah 7:14). The term that is here used for “the mighty God” primarily suggests the idea of strength, or power. It could be translated “God the Strong One.” It might even bear the translation, suggested by many, “God the Hero.” Thus we are made aware of the fact that the one of whom Isaiah speaks is to be one who is characterized by heroic acts of divine power. The New Testament lays stress upon the power of Christ our Messiah. The child born unto us, the Son given is Himself God. He is a God of Might. He is the mighty God. The one whom we delight to worship as Savior, Redeemer, Prophet, Priest, and King is none other than the omnipotent God. Therefore, we may be of good cheer.

It is not my purpose this morning to enter into the many arguments which prove the divinity of Christ. My text does not require such. It simply says that He shall be called, “The Mighty God.” I will, therefore, simply try to establish the truth of that which the prophet foretold. I want to show you, both in the New Testament, and from your own experience, that Jesus Christ is, at this day, and shall be forever, called, “The Mighty God.”

Proposition: Jesus Christ is Himself God, and this truth is clearly revealed in His Name, works, and the glorious perfection of His Person. And as the Mighty God He is loved, worshipped, and trusted by all His people.

Divisions:

1. The Legitimate Affirmation of Christ - The Mighty God.

2. The Living Attribution to Christ - The Mighty God.

3. The Loving Acts of Christ - The Mighty God.

I. THE LEGITIMATE AFFIRMATION OF CHRIST - THE MIGHTY GOD.

I do not think that it is at all profitable for the servants of God to attempt to convince the world of unbelievers of any divine truth by the words of man’s wisdom. It may be profitable to us to be aware of the arguments which the wicked employ in their folly. But if we would convince men of the truth of God, our reliance must be upon the Word of Truth. I do not want your faith to stand in the power of human reason and logic; but in the power and word of God. Therefore, if we would convince men of Christ’s eternal Godhead, we must realize that the only legitable and powerful weapon we have is “thus saith the Lord.”

A. The scriptural affirmation of Christ’s deity.

Beloved, the Word of God plainly declares that Jesus Christ is God. This is the foundation of our faith in Him.

1. Jesus Christ is the True God (I John 5:20).

“We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

a. All other gods are false delusions.

b. To worship any other is idolatry, for He alone is God and worthy to be worshipped.

c. To fail to worship Jesus Christ as God is a practical atheism.

2. Jesus Christ is the blessed Son of the Holy Trinity (I John 5:7).

“There are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.”

Quote: “This text is so glaring a proof of the doctrine of the Trinity, that the enemies of it have done all they can to weaken its authority, and have pushed hard to expatiate it from a place in the sacred writings… And it should be observed that there was no dispute about it until Erasmus left it out in the first edition of his translation of the New Testament.” John Gill

a. When we say that Jesus Christ is God we do not in any way suggest a denial of the Trinity.

b. The Scriptures clearly affirm that we worship a Triune God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the three distinct persons of the Trinity; equal in all things, and they are One.

1. All three are mentioned in one context (I Cor. 12:4-6).

2. All three were present at the baptism of Christ.

3. Baptism is administered in the name of the Trinity (Matt. 28:19).

4. Yet, it is clearly affirmed that they are One (John 10:30; 17:11).

3. Jesus Christ is the God of Revelation (John 1:1; 18).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

a. Every revelation of God in the Old Testament was a revelation of Christ.

b. When the Holy Spirit reveals God to men He shows them Christ.

c. The only way to worship God is to worship Christ.

d. The only sight of God any man will ever have, or need, is the sight of Christ.

4. Jesus Christ is the God of Sovereign Dominion (Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:8).

“Christ came, who is God over all, God blessed forever.” “Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.”

5. Jesus Christ is the God of the Heavenly Mystery (I Tim. 3:16).

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

6. Jesus Christ is the God of our Hope (Tit. 2:13).

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

7. The church universally stands, as one man, to confess with Thomas “my Lord and my God.” (John 20:28).

The Scriptures clearly affirm that “The Mighty God” is Jesus Christ. We need no other proof! Here we stand! Yet, I will take a moment to give a few stern arguments from Scripture, which will show the blasphemy of all who dare to deny His Deity. Suppose he is not God…

B. The stern arguments for Christ’s deity.

1. It is the height of folly for a person to claim to be a follower of Christ and yet deny His Deity. Yet, many do.

a. If Jesus Christ is not God, then He is a liar, for He said He was!

b. If Jesus Christ is not God, then His crucifixion was the most justifiable punishment in history; for the Jews charged Him with blasphemy, making Himself God!

c. If Jesus Christ is not God, then our religion is vain idolatry , and we are without hope!

2. No man can deny the eternal Trinity, or the Godhood of Jesus Christ and be a believer.

Let all the forms that men devise,

assault our faith with treacherous art;

We’ll call them vanity and lies,

and bind the gospel to our heart.

We will write this on the forefront of our banner - “Christ is God; co-equal and co-eternal with His father: very God of very God, who counted it not robbery to be equal with God. Faith delights to call Christ by this name - God the mighty one!

II. THE LIVING ATTRIBUTION TO CHRIST - THE MIGHTY GOD.

Every day the saints of God attribute Diety to Christ. We call Him God, not simply with our lips, but by our actions and experiences. We live by faith upon Christ, The Mighty God.

A. We call Christ the mighty God in our daily contemplation and worship of Him.

1. In our blessed hours of meditation we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to look upon Him as the eternal Son.

a. We worship Him as the God of eternal love.

1. Before the world was, His delights were with the sons of men.

2. He took our sins upon Himself, before the foundation of the world.

3. We profess our belief in the doctrine of eternal election in Christ.

b. Has it not often been the comfort and stay of your heart to look unto Jesus and say, “I bless thy Holy Name, thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever?” Thus we attribute to Him immutability as the Mighty God.

Immutable His will,

Though dark may be my frame,

His loving heart is still

Unchangeably the same.

My soul through many changes goes:

His love no variation knows.

c. Whenever we gather for prayer do we not attribute to Him omnipresences’ as the Mighty God, saying to one another “where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them?”

d. How we rejoice to call Him the Mighty God, as we go to Him in prayer, comforting ourselves with His omniscience.

Beloved, if others never know the truth of Isaiah’s prophecy, we know it and rejoice to affirm that His name is “called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God!”

B. We call Christ the Mighty God in our dependence upon Him as Mediator.

We worship Christ as Mediator between our souls and God.

1. In order to mediate for us He must be one of our own nature.

a. He must be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.

b. He must be tempted in all points like as we are.

c. He must keep the law as a man.

2. In order to mediate for us with God, He must be Jehovah’s own fellow.

C. We call Christ the Mighty God when we bow before Him and trust Him as Savior.

1. None but God could bear the sins of all His people.

2. None but God could endure and satisfy divine wrath and justice.

3. None but God can say to me, “Go thy way, thy sins are all forgiven.”

Thus, it is evident that throughout all the world the church of Christ calls Him “The Mighty God.” But, why does He deserve such a reverence as this from men? By His very nature He deserves it, but we delight to call Him such because of what He has done for us.

III. IN ALL THAT HE DOES CHRIST JESUS, BY HIS ACTS, PROVES THAT HE IS - THE MIGHTY GOD.

My soul has no hero but Jesus - The Mighty God. He is my man of valor.

A. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God in His Confrontation.

1. He confronted Satan in the wilderness and came away the conqueror.

2. He confronted Satan daily and withstood his temptation.

3. He confronted Satan in Gethsemane, and though He sweat great drops of blood, the garment of His righteousness was untarnished.

B. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God in His Crucifixion.

Beloved at Calvary the man died but the Son conquered.

1. He silenced the law against me.

2. He bound Satan and cast him out of Heaven.

C. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God in His Conquest.

After He was crucified the man lay captive in the grave but the Mighty God sat upon His throne awaiting the appointed hour and with the dawn of the third day He came forth from the grave carrying the keys of death and hell at His side.

D. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God in His Crowning.

1. He has been crowned with Glory.

2. He has been given Sovereign Authority.

3. He is the Judge of all the earth.

E. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God in Calling.

1. He convinced me of sin.

2. He broke my will.

3. He took away the enmity of my heart.

4. He showed me His glory.

5. He called me to Himself.

6. He gave me faith.

F. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God in His Care.

1. He protects us.

2. He provides for us.

3. He preserves us.

G. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God in His Communion.

1. He comes to my soul and sups with me.

2. He shows me the secrets of His covenant.

3. He guides my feet.

4. He cheers me with His promises.

5. He sanctifies me by His presence.

H. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God in His Coming.

1. He will come as my God.

2. When He comes you will confess Him as God.

I. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God in His Consumation.

1. He is ruling now, and He will continue to rule until He has put all things under His feet.

2. He will present His church, His kingdom, to the Father without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.

3. He will get glory to Himself in all His creation.

Application:

1. Saints, worship, trust, love, and obey your Mighty God.

2. Sinner, there is only one way that you can ever call Him the Mighty God. It must be given to you (Matt. 16:1-19).

3. Bow, bow to Christ - The Mighty God (Jude 24-25).