Sermon
# 224 Series: Isaiah
Title: THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST – THE
PROCLAMATION OF HIS VICTORY
Text: Isaiah
62:10-63:6
Subject: Christ’s Sure Conquest And
Over All His Enemies
Date:
Sunday Evening – October 29, 1995
Tape
# R-89
Introduction:
The
title of my message tonight is The Gospel of Christ – The
Proclamation of His Victory. I have told you before that
the chapter and verse divisions of our English Bible are sometimes unfortunate
and misleading. Certainly that is the
case in our text tonight. Most commentators treat the opening verses of Isaiah 63 as though they
had no connection to the closing verses of chapter 62. But, in reality, there should be no chapter
division here at all. Isaiah 62:10
through 63:6 from one paragraph. And
that paragraph will be our text tonight.
Without
question, this passage, like many in the Old Testament has reference both to our Lord’s first advent to redeem his people from
their sins, and to his second advent in which he will redeem our bodies from
the grave and destroy all evil, triumphing gloriously over all his
enemies. Frequently, the
Bible blends together as one, the glory of Christ’s first advent and the glory
of his second advent (Isa. 65:17-25). We are plainly told that the new creation, which has its beginning in Christ’s first advent,
will have its consummation in his second advent (II Cor. 5:17; II Pet. 3:7-13;
Rom. 8:19-23).
This
passage of Scripture (Isa. 62:10 - 63:6) is poetical and
allegorical. The battle described is altogether
spiritual. The conflict is with sin and the powers of
darkness. The Conqueror returns from the field of
battle, having destroyed all his foes and having saved all his people. This mighty Conqueror has been and must
forever be Victorious. And he makes all his people to be “more than conquerors.”
There
are two passages in the New Testament that have an obvious reference
to the text before us. One refers to
our Lord’s first advent to redeem and save his people. - Colossians 2:15. The other refers to his second advent to
destroy his enemies and ours. – Revelation 19:11-21.
Proposition: In these verses the Prophet of God describes the
whole work of Christ, from his first advent to his glorious second coming, as
one tremendous interpretation of grace, by which he subdues all things unto
himself.
Divisions: These verses contain three things that I want you to
see, as I show you Isaisah’s vision of our great and glorious Savior.
I. First, our text contains A Proclamation of Salvation (vv. 10-12).
I will not dwell on the details of our text, because I preached to you from these verses just a few weeks ago. But I want everyone here to understand that the gospel proclaims salvation – Not as a possibility, but as a fact! – Not as an opportunity, but as an accomplishment!
“Behold,
thy salvation cometh!”
There
are five Things clearly taught in these verses of Inspiration. All five are of vital importance.
A. Salvation is something that
comes to you, not
something that arises from within you!
“Behold, thy salvation cometh.”
“Salvation
is of the Lord!”
B. Salvation is in and by a
Person, The
Lord Jesus Christ. “Behold, thy
salvation cometh; behold his reward is with him, and his work before him.”
Do
not look to rites and rituals, creeds and confessions, experiences and
emotions, or feelings and formulas – Look to a Person, the Lord Jesus
Christ. He is our Salvation!
C. Salvation makes sinners holy –
“They shall
call them, the Holy people.” (Eph. 1:4; Rom. 8:29).
D. Salvation comes to sinners by
redemption – By Blood Atonement. “The Redeemed of the Lord!”
In
the Word of God, there is no salvation without redemption, no forgiveness
without blood atonement. Redemption by
substitution is the gospel.
This
title, “The Redeemed of the Lord” is a declaration of…
E. This salvation that comes from
God is a thorough, complete salvation.
1. Here is the beginning of it – “Sought Our!”
“Jesus sought me, whom a
stranger,
Wand’ring from the fold of
God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious
blood.”
And “He will keep me till the
river
Rolls its waters at my feet.
Then, He’ll bear me safely
over,
Where my Savior I shall meet!”
II. Secondly, our text contains A Question of Astonishment (63:1-2). “Who is this…? “Wherefore art thou red in thine
apparel…?”
It
appears from our text that the person asking these questions knows who this
mighty Conqueror is and where he has been.
These are questions of astonished adoration. Isaiah seems to be saying, “Is this my God? Has he done all this for me?”
A. He sees Where the Savior
has been. Down in Edom, in the field of
battle!
B. He sees the glorious
apparel of our
Redeemer. – The Keys of Death and Hell are on his girdle!
C. He sees the greatness of
Christ’s strength.
D. The prophet also observes with reverence The color of the Savior’s garments (v. 2).
Listen
to me now – Our Savior never looks so lovely, and never appears so glorious, as
when he appears “red” in his apparel, as the Lamb of God, slain for us.
E. Perhaps the question implies an intense longing to know him, whom to know is life
eternal. Philippians 3:10.
III. Thirdly, The Mighty Conqueror himself speaks
to give us An Answer of Mercy (vv. 1-6).
Notice
how the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God here describes himself.
A. HE describes himself as the Revealer of Righteousness – “I that speak in
righteousness.”
B. Our Lord describes himself as A Mighty Savior – “Mighty to Save!”
Psalm 89:19.
C. Our Lord Jesus describes himself as One Who Has Redeemed Us By Himself (vv. 3-5).
NOTE: The blood that stains his garments is his own blood,
the blood of atonement. Yet, it is our blood representively, gushing forth from
him who was trampled in his own fury as our Substitute!
NOTE: Verse 3 refers to Christ’s work of redemption. Verse 6 refers to his work of judgment.
D. In verse 6, the Son of God
gives warning of judgment to come. – Acts 17:31.
Application:
1. Christ Prevailed over His Enemies at Calvary.