Sermon
# 93
Title: Four Names For Our Savior
Text: Revelation 22:16
Reading:
Subject: Four characteristics of Christ as our Savior
Date: Sunday Evening - December 4, 1988
Tape #
Introduction:
The
title os my sermon tonight is: Four
Names For Our Savior. In our text, our Lord uses four names to describe and
identify himself. “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the
churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and the morning star.” In
the Bible the names of Christ show us his personal character, covenant offices,
mediatorial work, and divine authority. In the Scriptures everything revolves
around, is built upon, and points to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. We are saved by faith in his
name (Acts 4:12; 10:43).
2. We are baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:38).
3. We pray in the name of
Christ (John 14:13-14; 16:23-26).
4. We gather to worship in his
name (Matt. 18:20).
5. We preach his name (Acts
9:15).
6. We suffer the afflictions of
the gospel for his name’s sake (Acts 5:41).
7. We are preserved, kept, and
accepted of God in his name (Rev. 22:4).
8. And one day soon all the
world will know his name (Phil. 2:8-11).
The
prophet Isaiah tells us, “His name shall
be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). Tonight, I want to simply show you the meaning
of these four names used by our Lord to describe himself. I pray that God the
Holy Spirit will graciously give you the comfort and strength to be found only
in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Proposition:
Our Lord’s name tells us who he is and what he
does for us as our God and Savior.
I. OUR
SAVIOR’S NAME IS “JESUS”. (See Matt. 1:21.)
Though
he is exalted in the glory of heaven, our Savior still wears the name of his
humiliation to assure us that he is the same now as he ever was. He says, “I Jesus.”
“The name of Jesus is so
sweet,
I love its music to repeat;
It makes my joys full and
complete,
The precious name of Jesus!
“I love the name of Him
whose heart,
Knows all my griefs and
bears a part;
Who bids all anxious fears
depart -
I love the name of Jesus!
“That name I fondly love to
hear,
It never fails my heart to
cheer;
Its music dries the falling
tear,
Exalt the name of Jesus!
No word of man can ever tell
How sweet the name I love so
well;
O let its praises ever
swell,
O praise the name of Jesus!
“‘Jesus’ - O how sweet the
name,
‘Jesus’ - Every day the
same,
‘Jesus’ - Let all saints
proclaim
Its worthy praise forever!”
The
angel said to Joseph, “Thou shalt call
his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” The name of
the incarnate Son of God is “Jesus,” “Deliverer.” It tells us what he came into
this world to do. This angelic messenger told Joseph and us three things about
this “Jesus” who is the Christ of God.
A. Jesus, who is the Christ, has a people
in this world.
Long before he came into the world, the Son
of God had a people in the world, chosen by him in eternal election and given
to him in the covenant of grace - There are many today called “Jesus.” But
Jesus who is the Christ of God is the Jesus of sovereign, electing grace (John
15:16; Matt. 11:25-27).
The
Lord’s choice of his people in election was:
·
An eternal choice.
·
An immutable choice.
·
A sovereign choice.
·
An unconditional choice.
·
A loving choice.
B. Jesus Christ came into this world on an
errand of mercy, with a mission to accomplish and a work to perform.
The Son of God did not come into this world
to start a new religion, to establish a Jewish kingdom, or to bring about a
moral, social revelation. He came here to save his people from their sins. he
did not come to provide salvation, but to save. He did not come to make
salvation possible, but to save. He did not come to save all people in general,
but his people in particular.
·
John 6:37-40
·
Hebrews 10:5-14
C. And this Jesus, who is the Christ,
is an effectual, successful Savior.
He came to save his people from their sins,
and save them he does!
1. He saved all his people from
the penalty of their sins by his obedience unto death (Heb. 9:12, 27).
2. He saves all his people from
the power of their sins by his almighty power and sovereign graces (John 17:2).
3. He will save all his people
from the presence of sin by bringing them home to heaven at last (Heb. 2:13).
The
Lord Jesus Christ is so glorious a Savior that he saves his people from all
sin, all punishment, all the consequences of sin, and all the sorrow of sin!
Who are the people Christ Jesus came to save?
·
God’s elect!
·
Sinners!
·
All who believe! (I preach a
free gospelto all men. I am not afraid that some of the non-elect might get
in!)
Now
notice this - The Lord Jesus Christ, though he is exalted to heaven’s glory, is
still Jesus, the friend of sinners! He says, “I Jesus” (Heb. 13:8).
II. OUR
SAVIOR, JESUS, IS “THE ROOT OF DAVID.”
That simply means that Jesus Christ, the man,
is himself almighty God! He is the Root, the source and cause of David’s
existence, faith, spiritual life, and everlasting glory. David was what he was,
did what he did, and is what he is in heaven today, because of and by the power
of Jesus Christ, our eternal God. Let us never, for a moment, lose sight of
this glorious truth - Our blessed Savior, Redeemer, and King is himself God
(John 1:1; I Tim. 3:16; Rom. 9:4; Acts 20:28; Col. 2:9-10).
III. OUR
SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST OUR GOD, IS ALSO “THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID.”
That is to say, “Christ Jesus is a Man, born
of the lineage of David, and rightful heir
to the throne of Israel, the Messiah.” (See Rom. 1:1-5). “The Gospel”
is...
·
Of God.
·
Promised by his prophets in
the Holy Scriptures.
·
Concerning his Son.
·
Made of the seed of David.
·
Declared to be the Son of
God.
·
By whom we have received
grace and faith.
God
and man are forever united in immutable and indissolvable union in the Person
of Jesus Christ. By means of his miraculous incarnation, the Son of God took
into union with himself manhood. Thank God! (Gal. 4:4-6).
·
Only as Man could he obey the
law nd suffer the penalty of the law for men (Heb. 2:10, 17).
·
But only as God could his
obedience and death be effectual, meritorious, and satisfying for the
accomplishment of our salvation.
·
Only a Man in heaven could be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
·
But only God could
effectually deliver us from our infirmities.
IV. AND OUR
DEAR SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, IS “THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR.”
He is the Light by whom God is revealed and
known to men. In his light we live now and shall live forever (John 1:5, 9; I
John 2:5; Rev. 21:23).
The
voice of prophecy announced Christ’s coming as “a Star out of Jacob” who should come (Num. 24:26-17). But here our
Lord calls himself “the bright and
morning star.” The morning star does not merely show forth light. All the
stars do that. The morning star announces and ushers in the day. That is what
Christ is! He is the Bright and Morning Star, who announces and ushers in the
Day!
A. When our Savior first arose in this
world, he dispelled the darkness of Judaism and ushered in the gospel day.
Before he came, there were faint sparkles of
light in the types and shadows of the law. But as soon as he began to preach
the gospel, light shined into the world.
·
The Pharisees obscured the
law with tradition in darkness.
·
He gave light to the law.
·
By his life, his death, and
his resurrection, our Lord fulfilled the dark shadows of the law.
·
By sending his Spirit and his
gospel into the world, he dispelled the darkness of heathenism and brought the
light of day.
He
appeared as “the Day-spring from on high”
(Lk. 1:78), and “the Sun of
Righteousness with healing in his wings” (Mal. 4:2).
B. In conversion Christ arises as the Day
Star in the hearts of his people and drives away darkness (II Pet. 1:19).
·
We see the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ (II Cor. 4:6).
·
He enlightens our minds and
instructs our hearts by his Spirit (I Cor. 2:14-16).
·
He gives hope of a brighter
day (I Cor. 13:12).
C. When the Bright and Morning Star shall
appear at the end of this world, he will introduce eternal day.
In that great day, he will give his elect “the Morning Star,” all that the Morning
Star promises (Rev. 2:28). In that great day, our great Savior will bring all
things to light, and we shall see all things clearly.
·
All the purposes of God.
·
All the despensations of
providence.
·
All the work of redemption.
·
All the fulness of the
covenant.\
·
All the glory of grace.
·
Why he saved me!
Application:
This is the name of our dear Savior.
1. “Jesus” - Our Savior.
2. “The Root of David” - Our God.
3. “The Offspring of David” - Our Mediator.
4. “The Bright and Morning Star” - Our Revelation.