Sermon #1489 Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: THAT
NAME
Text: Isaiah
9:6-7
Subject: The Incarnation, Character
and Exaltation of Christ
Date: Sunday Evening –
Tape # W-77a
Introduction:
What a blessed season this is! Our hearts rejoice to celebrate the incarnation of God’s darling Son! We celebrate the coming of God to us in humiliation, for he came that we might go back to him in glory (2 Cor. 8:9).
(2
Corinthians 8:9) For ye know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Our Lord Jesus Christ came here to die as the second Adam, that
we who died in the first Adam might live forever with him in glory. He came
here to restore that which he took not away by paying the debt we owed to the
offended justice of the Holy Lord God. – The Price was his own life’s blood!
Truly, in Christ, it must be said, “Where sin
abounded grace did much more abound!” Tonight, I want to direct your
hearts once more to him in whom the grace of God comes bounding and abounding
to sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our text will be Isaiah 9:6-7.
Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his
name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The
mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his
government and peace there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to
establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The
zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
This Is My Savior! This
is the Christ upon whom I rest the weight of my immortal soul. This is the One
I want you to know, and trust, and love.
In the opening verses of this chapter, Isaiah told us of a time
of great spiritual darkness, when God would send
blindness to the nation of
1.
To give light to those who sat in darkness (v. 2).
(Isaiah 9:2) The people that walked in darkness have seen
a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them
hath the light shined.
2.
To multiply and increase the number of His people (v. 3).
(Isaiah 9:3) Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy
before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when
they divide the spoil.
3.
To give joy unspeakable to His elect (v. 3).
(Isaiah 9:3) Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy
before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when
they divide the spoil.
4.
To give liberty to those who had long been held in bondage (v. 4).
(Isaiah 9:4) For thou hast broken the
yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as
in the day of Midian.
5.
To give victory through grace to all His people (v. 5).
(Isaiah 9:5)
For every battle of the warrior is
with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and
fuel of fire.
Though he threatened wrath against that nation which would not
hearken to his voice, in wrath our God remembered mercy and promised great
mercy to all who hear his voice and believe his word. But how can these
promises be fulfilled? These great comprehensive
promises of grace sounded good. But they must have seemed terribly unlikely.
How can this Word of God be fulfilled?
Proposition: In verses 6-7 Isaiah
proclaimed that God would fulfill his word of grace by sending his own dear Son
into the world, by the incarnation, virgin birth, extraordinary character, and
glorious exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Divisions: In verses 1-5 God promised
to bring salvation to his elect. In verses 6-7 he tells how he would accomplish
his great purpose of grace. Let me show you four things revealed in these few
verses about our Savior.
1.
The Incarnation and Virgin Birth Of Christ.
2.
The Amazing Character Of Our Savior.
3.
The Glorious Exaltation Of Our Redeemer.
4.
The Infallible Security Of God’s Purpose.
I.
Our text opens by declaring THE
INCARNATION AND VIRGIN BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. -- “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son
is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder.”
Without question, Isaiah is
here elaborating upon the prophesy he had given in
chapter seven, verse fourteen. -- “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his
name Immanuel.” He is telling us that in order for God to save us,
God himself must come into the world in human flesh!
In this opening sentence the prophet of God tells us three
things about the Messiah, the Savior whom God had promised.
A. First, he declares the
humanity of Christ. -- “For unto us a child is born.”
Behold the humiliation of our Savior. Though he comes to reign as king forever, he is born into this world as a little child! In his state of humiliation he was as helpless as any other baby, requiring the sustenance of his mother’s breasts, the care of her hands, and the warmth of the blankets she wrapped around him.
1.
Our Savior is a man like us, touched with the feeling our infirmities.
2.
Because he came to suffer the wrath of God and die in our place, he
assumed a nature capable of suffering and death.
3.
Because he came to redeem men, not angels, he took on him the seed of
Abraham (Heb.
(Hebrews 2:16)
For verily he took not on him the
nature of angels; but he took on him the
seed of Abraham.
(2 Corinthians 8:9)
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was
rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be
rich.
(Philippians 2:5-8)
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
B. Second, Isaiah speaks of the deity of Christ. -- “Unto us a son is given.”
As the Son of Man, Christ is a child born. But as the Son of God, he is a Son given. You see, this little child is himself the eternal Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is God in our nature. Our Savior must be both God and man in one glorious Person!
·
This is the great mystery of godliness (1 Tim.
(1 Timothy 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.
·
This is the great mystery of grace. – This child was born and this
Son was given “unto us!”
1.
Man had broken God’s law and a man must repair it; but his obedience to
the law could be of no value to us were he not also the infinite God.
2.
Man had sinned and man must die; but his death could never satisfy the
justice of God for us were he not himself the infinite God. -- His deity gives
merit to all that he did as a man.
3.
Christ Jesus our Savior is the Gift of God’s love (John
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(1 John 4:9-10)
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent
his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved
God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to
be the propitiation for our sins.
His is the Son given…
·
In the Covenant of Grace.
·
In the Incarnation.
·
Into the Hands of Justice on the Cross.
·
In the New Birth.
·
In Heaven’s Glory.
C. Third, Isaiah proclaims the dominion of our Savior. -- “And the government shall be upon his shoulder.”
Remember, Isaiah is here
talking about Christ as the Mediator, the incarnate God-Man, our Redeemer. And
he tells us that as the result of his obedience to God, “the government shall be upon his shoulder.” This is the result of
and reward of his redemptive work (John 17:2). But what government is he
talking about?
1.
The Government of All Creation.
2.
The Government of
3.
The Government of His Church and Kingdom.
4.
The Government of All Grace.
“As in the days of his flesh he exercised the most unlimited authority over diseases, devils, and the very elements, so now everything fulfills his unerring counsels.” -- (Charles Simeon)
II. Look at the next part of our
text. Here the prophet of God shows us THE
AMAZING CHARACTER OF OUR SAVIOR. -- “And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The
mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Here are five names by which
our Savior is called. He is called these five things because this is what he
is! You who know him will bear me witness that the Lord Jesus Christ, our
Savior, is…
A. “Wonderful!”
1.
Wonderful in His Person.
2.
Wonderful in His Works.
3.
Wonderful in His Accomplishments.
4.
Wonderful in His Love.
5.
Wonderful in His Grace.
B. “Counselor!”
1.
He stood as our Counselor in the Covenant of Grace.
2.
He gives Counsel to His
people in this world.
3.
He is our Counselor at the Bar of God in Heaven.
C. “The Mighty
God!”
Jesus Christ is God, the Mighty One. Sometimes in the Scriptures angels and magistrates are called “gods” because of their God-given authority. But Christ is the God, the Mighty One!
1.
Though he assumed our nature, he never ceased to be the mighty God.
2.
Though he died under the wrath of God, he who died upon the cursed tree
is the mighty God.
3.
Though he sits in heaven in a human body, that man in heaven is the
mighty God.
4.
Because he is the mighty God, he is able to accomplish all he has undertaken
as a man.
·
Righteousness - (Rom.
·
Redemption - (Heb.
·
Salvation - (Heb.
D. “The
Everlasting Father!”
Isaiah was not confused about the Persons of the Godhead, or the doctrine of the Trinity. He wrote by Divine Inspiration. And his words are precisely accurate.
1.
He is the Father of His Spiritual Seed, the Church (Eph.
2.
He is the Father of an Everlasting Age.
3.
He is the Father of the World to come.
4.
Christ is to us The Everlasting Father!
·
We are born of His Spirit.
·
We have His Nature.
·
We wear His Name.
·
We are under His Care.
·
We live upon His Provisions.
·
We shall possess His Inheritance.
E. “The Prince of Peace!”
He is the Prince by whom
peace comes!
1.
He Purchased Peace for us.
2.
He Promised Peace to us.
3.
He Performs Peace in us.
Wherever the Prince of Peace rules, there is peace. And the more willingly and fully we submit to his rule, the greater our peace shall be.
I told you our Savior’s character is amazing, more than amazing,
astonishing. He is Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace!
III. Look now at verse 7. Here
Isaiah proclaims THE GLORIOUS
EXALTATION OF CHRIST. It was hinted at earlier. Here it is more fully
described. -- “Of the increase of his
government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon
his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice
from henceforth, even for ever.”
Isaiah is talking about the
sovereign rule of Christ, the Messiah, as the Prince of Peace, as the exalted
King and Governor of the Universe, and as the Governor of his church and
kingdom. (Compare Ps. 2:6; Isa. 45:23-25; 53:12; Phil. 2:9-11; Acts 2:32-36).
(Psalms 2:6)
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
(Isaiah 45:23-25)
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25 In the LORD shall all the seed of
(Isaiah 53:12)
Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the
transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors.
(Acts 2:32-36)
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all
are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by
the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of
the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the
heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right
hand, 35 Until
I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore
let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus,
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
(Philippians 2:9-11)
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name: 10 That at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things
in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
A. Christ’s kingdom is an ever-increasing kingdom.
B. Christ’s
government is a peaceful rule.
1.
He rules the hearts of men.
2.
He rules by love.
3.
He rules through the gospel.
C. Christ’s rule
is established in the hearts of men by wisdom and justice.
1.
He makes us to see the Wisdom of God in Redemption.
2.
He causes us to know the Justice of God in Grace.
D. Christ’s
kingdom is an everlasting, eternal kingdom.
“Of his Kingdom there
shall be no end.”
IV. Now look at the last sentence of our text.
Isaiah assures us of THE INFALLIBLE
SECURITY OF GOD’S PURPOSE. -- “The
zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
God himself, the eternal, omnipotent, sovereign God of the universe, the Triune Jehovah has himself undertaken to perform all these things. They cannot fail.
·
God’s zeal for His own name will perform it.
·
God’s zeal for His people’s good will perform it.
Application:
1.
You can trust this Christ.
2.
How we ought to admire such a Savior.
3.
How grateful we should be to our Redeemer.
4.
How devoted we ought to be to our God.
5.
How we ought to rejoice in our Savior’s name!
(Isaiah
9:6-7) For unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty
God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to
establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The
zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
(Acts
(Romans
10:9-10) That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
(Matthew
1:21) And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins.
“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
There’s just something about
that name!
Master, Savior, Jesus,
Like the fragrance after the
rain!
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Let all heaven and earth
proclaim:
Kings and kingdoms will all
pass away,
But there’s something about
that name!”
·
There’s something about that name that prevails with God!
·
There’s something about that name that gives sinners acceptance with
God!
·
There’s something about that name that satisfies my soul’s needs!
·
There’s something about that name that cheers my heart!
·
There’s something about that name that gives me hope!
·
There’s something about that name that gives me hope for you!