Sermon # 171             Series: Isaiah

 

Title:  “Jesus Died For Me!”

Text:  Isaiah 53:4-5

Scripture Reading:  Psalm 85:1-13

Subject:  The True Cause of Christ’s Torments

Date:   Sunday Morning – January 2, 1994

 

Introduction:

 

During his last illness, just before he died at Mentone, France someone asked Mr. Spurgeon to declare his faith briefly, simply, and clearly.  This is what he said, “Jesus died for me.”  Fear, simple words, but four more comforting, soul-cheering words could never be spoken by a sinner.  “Jesus died for me.”  I take those four simple words for the title of my message this morning – “Jesus died for me.”

 

Should you ask me what I believe, this is my answer – “Jesus died for me!”  Should you inquire about the basis of my hope, this is it – “Jesus died for me!”  Should you ask what assurance I have of eternal happiness, the answer would be the same, “Jesus died for me.”

 

It is my prayer that before you leave here today, you will everyone be able to say, with gladness and joy and faith, “Jesus died for me!”  Oh, may this beginning of the new year be the beginning of eternal life for you by the blessed power and grace of God the Holy Spirit.

 

This is my hope, this is my plea,

That when Christ died, He died for me!

 

Proposition:  Those for whom Christ once died shall never perish!

 

Divisions:  Turn to Isaiah 53:4-5.  Read these two verses carefully.  Notice the personal, possessive pronouns that the prophet of God uses when he talks about the death of Christ upon the cross and the consequences of it.  When he talks about the suffering, the sorrow, and the satisfaction for sin, it is “he,” “him,” “he,” “he,” “he,” all “he,” because he did everything!  When he talks about the benefits of redemption it is “We” “our,” “we,” “we,” all “we,” because we get all the benefit by God’s free grace.  This morning, I want to talk to you about three things revealed in these two verses.

 

  1. A very Common Problem (v. 4).
  2. The True Cause of Our Savior’s Torments (v. 5).
  3. The Just and Absolutely Certain Consequence of Christ’s Sufferings (v. 6).

 

I.  First, in verse 4 Isaiah identifies A Very Common Problem (v.4).

 

It has always been the commonly received opinion of men that great sorrows and afflictions are a clear indication of great sin and of God’s great displeasure.  Speaking as the representative of the nation of Israel and as the representative of all God’s elect before conversion, Isaiah says, “We did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”  A man of sorrows, constantly acquainted with grief, despised and rejected of men, must be a peculiarly evil man and the peculiar object of God’s displeasure and wrath.”

 

A.  This was the opinion of Job’s miserable friends (Job 4:6-9).

B.  This was the opinion of the Jews in our Lord’s day (Luke 13:2,4).

C.  This was the opinion of the heathen in Paul’s day (Acts 28:4).

D.  Regretably, this is often the opinion of true believers, when they allow themselves to think often the flesh and speak like proud Pharisees (John 9:2).

 

 

II.  Secondly, Isaiah shows us The True Cause of Our Savior’s Torments (v. 4, 5).

 

There are three things given in this text as the real cause of our Savior’s torments.  As you read of his sufferings as our Substitute and know that men and devils tormented him, be sure that you remember that Our Savior’s torments were:

 

 

Our Savior suffered nothing by accident, or as the helpless victim of circumstances beyond his control.  All that he endured, he endure deliberately, on purpose, for us.  He suffered with an end, a goal in view.  It was the accomplishment of that goal, the certain confidence that his purpose in suffering would be accomplished, that sustained him in the midst of his sorrows – (Heb. 12:1-2).

 

There are many things spoken of in this chapter and elsewhere in the Scriptures that were objects and aims of Christ in his sufferings.  But in this 4th and 5th verse of Isaiah 53 the Spirit of God shows us three reasons, three causes for our Lord’s ignominious agony and torment as Our Substitute.

 

A. Number 1 – The Lord Jesus Christ bore all the torments of the wrath of the Holy Lord God as Our Substitute, that he might put away all our sins by the satisfaction of divine justice (4).

 

“Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows!”  Matthew translates these words, “He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Matt. 8:17).

 

 

Now look at verse 5.  When the Lord Jesus bore our grief and carried our sorrows, when he bore our sins in his own body on the tree (I Pet. 2:24; II Cor. 5:21), “He was wounded (tormented!) for our transgressions.  He was bruised (crushed!) for our iniquities.”

 

  1. Our sins were made to be his sins! – Imputation!
  2. He suffered the just penalty of our sins. – Death!
  3. He did it because there was no other way for him, no other way for God to put away sin (Gal. 3:21; Heb. 10:1-4; Rom. 3:24-26; I John 1:9).

 

“A just God and a Savior!”

 

Illus: The Chief and the Chicken Thief.

 

Hebrews 1:3; 9:26  (Jer. 50:20)

 

B.  Number 2 – The Son of God endured the painful, shameful, ignominious death of the cross for us that he might obtain peace for us.

 

He was treated as the enemy of God so that we might be received as the sons of God.  “The chastisement of our peace was upon him.”

 

Peace with God cannot be obtained except upon the grounds of justice satisfied.  Christ bore the chastisement of our peace that we might have peace – (Ps. 85:10).  II Corinthians 5:18-20; Colossians 1:20-27.

 

Illus:  The war is over!  Isa. 40:2

 

C.  Number 3 – The Son of God, our Savior, endured all the wrath of God in the room  and stead of God’s elect, so that he might heal all the disorders of sin in our souls and in our bodies and thus restore fallen men to the perfection of manhood as God intended manhood to be.

 

The blood of Christ is the healing balm for sin-sick souls, by which the dead are healed!  Read this last line, “And with his stripes we are healed!”  (Tit. 2:14; I Pet. 2:24).  The merit and power of Christ’s shed blood secures for every redeemed sinner…

 

·         Regenerating Grace!

 

III.  Now, thirdly, this last line of verse 5 reveals The Just and Absolutely Certain Consequence of Christ’s Sufferings – “And with his stripes we are healed!”

 

It is not possible for God in heaven to condemn or fail to save a single sinner for whom the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died.  All for whom the Son of God was stricken in death, all for whom his blood was spilt by the sword of justice shall be healed by the merit of his sufferings unto death.

 

A.  Justice Demands It!  (Love – Grace)

B.  Immutability, Demands It!

C.  Divine Faithfulness Demands It!

D.  The Glory of the Triune God Demands It!

 

Application:

 

“Be ye reconciled to God!”  In the light of these things, I am calling for all you who hear my voice to….

 

  1. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. Love the Son of God.
  3. Live for the Glory of this Great God and Savior.