Sermon #119 Series: Isaiah

Title: ”For His Righteousness’ Sake”

Text: Isaiah 42:21

Subject: The Righteousness of God in All His Works

Date: Sunday Evening - May 24, 1992

Introduction:

The title of my message tonight is - ”For His Righteousness’ Sake”. I want you to see that…

Proposition: The Lord our God is righteous in all his works! Everything God is righteous. Everything God does is righteous. And everything, God does, he does “for his righteousness’ sake.”

How often have you heard men say, “I want nothing to do with a just and righteous God. I want a God of grace and mercy”? Such language leaves people with the impression that if God is just and righteous he cannot be gracious and merciful, or if he is gracious and merciful he cannot be just and righteous. And there are many who actually teach that God has set aside his justice and lowered his righteousness that he might be merciful and save sinners by grace! But that is not so!

The gospel does not set aside, or lower God’s justice or his righteousness. The gospel of Christ sets forth his righteousness and justice as well as his mercy and grace. (Ps. 85:9-11).

Be sure you understand this- Everything God does he does in righteousness, for his righteousness’ sake. If he saves you, it will be for his righteousness’ sake. If he pours out his everlasting wrath upon you in eternal judgment, it will be for his righteousness’ sake. When David declares the reason for God’s wrath upon the wicked and the reason for his acceptance of the upright he gives one reason for both- “For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness!” (Ps. 11:6-7).

Now look at our text again (Isa. 42:21). Basically, there are four interpretations given to these words by those commentators who believe the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ. The opinions of others are insignificant.

1. Some say that these words declare God’s reason for all that he had done for Israel in the past; and they are right.

He had delighted with them, chose them above all the people that dwell upon the earth, and distinguished them from all others with his favors for “his righteousness’ sake,” because of his faithfulness to the promises he had made to their fathers (Deut. 10:15; 7:6; 4: 7-8).

God’s goodness to Israel is mentioned here as an aggravation of their blindness, ignorance ingratitude, and disobedience.

2. Others say that our text is given as the reason for what the Lord would do for his elect remnant in Judah and throughout the world in his gracious favor; they are right too.

Though they were now so ignorant and disobedient, yet in the time of salvation, when Christ came, his blind ones would be made to see and his deaf ones would be made to hear, not for their sakes, but “for his righteousness’ sake” (Ezek. 36:21-23).

3. Still, others assert that our text declares the reason for God’s judgment upon the nation of Israel; again, they are right.

He rejected and cast off that nation and people who had, contrary to so much light, despised and rejected his Son, whom he sent to them. His judgment upon Israel, his punishment of that apostate nation, was “for his righteousness’ sake.” (Rom. 9:31-33).

While all three of these interpretations state that which is certainly true, I think they all miss the primary meaning of the text.

I read one commentary last week in which the man said, “Those who apply these words to the Person and work of Christ totally misinterpret the text.” Guess what…

4. I am convinced that this text, in its primary, fullest sense is a prophecy of the Person and Work of Christ as Our Mediator and God’s acceptance of him as such.

If you read the text in the light of the whole chapter, I do not see how you could interpret it any other way.

vv. 1-4 - The Success of Christ as Jehovah’s Servant.

vv. 5-9 - The Covenant Engagements of Christ as Our Surety.

vv. 10-17 - The Salvation of God’s Elect throughout the World by Christ- Jesus and Gentiles (v. 16).

vv. 18-25 - The Casting Away of Israel as a Nation because of their Rejection of Christ.

The whole chapter is talking about Christ!

Okay, the text is a prophecy of Christ our Mediator. What does this text teach us? Four Things:

I. The Holy Lord God is Well-Pleased with Christ as Our Mediator, because God is Righteous.

Seven times in the word of God, the Lord God declares that he is well-pleased with his Son. All seven times the immediate context refers to the work of Christ as our Mediator- (Isa. 42:2; Matt. 3:17; 12:18; 17:5; Mk. 1:11; Lk. 3:22; II Pet. 1:17).

NOTE: In Matthew 12:12, our Lord combines Isaiah 42: 1 and 2 and makes both verses a prophecy of himself.

A. It goes without saying that God is well pleased with his Son as God!

B. But it must be plainly and unmistakably revealed that God is well pleased with the man Christ Jesus as our Mediator.

1. When our Lord was baptized, signifying the means by which he would fulfil all righteousness for his people- By His Death as our Substitute- The Lord God declared that he was and is forever well pleased with his sacrifice for sin (Matt. 3:17; Mk. 1:11; Lk. 3:22).

Our faith in Christ is based upon the Father’s acceptance of him and his testimony that he has accepted him.

1. He went to the grave willingly.

2. He died and was buried.

3. He rose again- Then “the heavens were opened…” The resurrection is God’s public declaration of his acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice!

2. On the Mt. Of Transfiguration God the Father put honor and glory upon Christ as the only one with whom he is well pleased (Matt. 17:5; II Pet. 1:17).

a. Moses was there; but God was not well pleased with him.

b. Elijah was there; but God was not well pleased with him.

c. Peter was there; but God was not well pleased with him.

d. John was there; but God was not well pleased with him.

e. James was there; but God was not well pleased with him.

The righteous God could never be well pleased with any sinful man considered in himself!

f. Only the Lord Jesus Christ, the holy, sinless God-man, our Mediator is declared to be the One with and in whom the holy Lord God is well-pleased!

Why is it that God is well pleased with Christ and only with Christ?

II. God is well pleased with his Son, for his righteousness’ sake, because Christ his Son has magnified the law and made it honorable, as the God-man, our Mediator.

The law of God is great and honorable in itself. It is the law of God! It is holy, just, and good! But it never appeared so honorable as when Christ appeared to fulfil and satisfy it.

Our Lord Jesus has magnified the law and made it honorable in three ways:

A. He magnified the law and made it honorable by being made under the law that he might redeem us from its curse (Gal. 4:4-5).

B. He magnified the law and made it honorable by his obedience to it that he might establish righteousness for his people (Rom. 5:1).

1. We had to be punished for our sins- We had to die?

2. We must be freed from all sin.

3. We must be made righteous.

· Imputation.

· Imparted.

C. He magnified the law and made it honorable by bearing the penalty of it- by satisfying its justice in the room and stead of his people- (Rom. 3:24-26; Gal. 3:13).

The law of God appears more glorious and honorable, being fulfilled by Christ, than it could ever appear were it perfectly kept by all angels and men. The justice of the law, though honorable in the execution of wrath, now appears glorious.

1. Now God is both just and the Justifier of all who believe.

2. Now the Justice of God demands the salvation of every sinner for whom Christ died.

III. God is well pleased with His People in Christ, for His righteousness’ sake, because Christ magnified the law and made it honorable on our behalf.

Imagine that!

A. God is well pleased with us for Christ’s sake (Eph. 1:6; 4:32).

1. His blood justifies us from all sin forever (Rom. 8:34).

2. His righteousness, being imputed to us, makes us comely and beautiful in God’s sight (Ezek. 16:14).

B. God is even well pleased with our worship and service, which we render to him for Christ’s sake (Heb. 13:15-16).

Proof of His Being Well-Pleased…

1. Election.

2. Adoption.

3. Marriage.

4. Inheritance.

IV. God will never be well pleased with anyone apart from Christ. (I Cor. 10:1-5).

God will not accept you or me apart from Christ. It does not matter who your father is. It does not matter what rituals you have performed. It does not matter what experiences you have had. If you do not have Christ, you will perish in this wilderness!

Application:

The only way God will ever be well pleased with you is by faith in Christ- (Heb. 11:6)- (Rom. 3:31).

1. God will save all who trust Christ, “for his righteousness sake.”

2. He will, in the day of judgment, reward you with everlasting life and glory, “for his righteousness’ sake.”

3. If you done meet God without Christ, he will forever punish you with everlasting destruction in hell, “for his righteousness’ sake.”