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Sermon #31 — Isaiah Series

 

Title:                           This is my Savior

 

Text:                            Isaiah 9:6-7

Subject:                     The Glorious Character of Our Savior

Date:                          Sunday Evening — August 27, 2017

Readings:     Rex Bartley and Mark Daniel

Introduction:

 

(Isaiah 9:6-7) ÒFor 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 forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.Ó

 

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 Israel and that apostate nation would be cut off and left desolate. But he promised GodÕs elect remnant that for them it would be a time of great mercy. Upon them God promised to pour out his super abundant, saving grace. He promised É

 

1. To give light to those who sit in darkness (v. 2).

 

(Isaiah 9:2) ÒThe 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.Ó

 

2. To multiply and increase the number of his people (v. 3).

 

(Isaiah 9:3) ÒThou 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.Ó

 

3. To give joy unspeakable to his elect (v. 3).

 

(Isaiah 9:3) ÒThou 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.Ó

 

4. To give liberty to those who have long been held in bondage (v. 4).

 

(Isaiah 9:4) ÒFor 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.Ó

 

5. To give victory through grace to all his people (v. 5).

 

(Isaiah 9:5) ÒFor every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.Ó

 

Though the Lord God threatens wrath against the ungodly, though he will by no means clear the guilty, though he has sworn, ÒThe soul that sinneth, it shall die,Ó in wrath our God remembers mercy and promises great mercy to all who hear his voice and trust him. But how can such promises be fulfilled? All the great, comprehensive promises of grace, those promises of salvation and eternal life, could be fulfilled only by God sending his Son into the world in human flesh.

 

Proposition: In Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah proclaimed that God would fulfil 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. Here, in verses 6-7, he tells how he has purposed to accomplish his great purpose of grace. Let me show you four things revealed in these two 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 GodÕs Purpose.

 

The Incarnation

 

1st — Our text begins with a prophecy of the incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. — ÒFor unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder.Ó Without question, Isaiah is here elaborating upon the prophesy he had given in chapter seven, verse fourteen. — ÒBehold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name ImmanuelHe is telling us that in order for God to save us, God himself must come into the world in human flesh! God must become one of us!

 

Three Things

 

In this opening sentence, the prophet of God tells us three things about the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior he would send.

 

First, he declares the humanity of Christ. — ÒFor unto us a child is born.Ó 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 motherÕs breasts, the care of her hands, and the warmth of the blankets she wrapped around him.

á      Our Savior is a man like us, touched with the feeling our infirmities.

á      Because he came to suffer the wrath of God and die in our place, he assumed a nature capable of suffering and death.

á      Because he came to redeem men, not angels, he took on him the seed of Abraham, his elect, his covenant people (Hebrews 2:16; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:5-8).

 

(Hebrews 2:16) ÒFor verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.Ó

 

(2 Corinthians 8:9) ÒFor 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.Ó

 

(Philippians 2:5-8) ÒLet 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.Ó

 

Second, Isaiah speaks of the deity of our blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. — ÒUnto us a Son is givenAs 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 God, the eternal Son, 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! — God could not suffer and die, and man could not satisfy; but the God-man both suffered and died and satisfied the wrath and justice of God for us!

 

  • This is the great mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16).

 

(1 Timothy 3:16) ÒAnd 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.Ó

 

  • This is the great mystery of grace. This child was born and this Son was given Òunto us!Ó

 

Man had broken GodÕs law and a man must repair it; but this manÕs obedience to the law could be of no value to us were he not also the infinite God. — Man had sinned and man must die; but this manÕs death could never satisfy the justice of God for us were he not himself the infinite God. His deity gives merit and efficacy to all that he did as a man. — Christ Jesus our Savior is the Gift of GodÕs love (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10).

 

(John 3:16) ÒFor God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.Ó

 

(1 John 4:9-10) ÒIn 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.Ó

 

He is the Son givenÉ

á      In the Covenant of Grace.

á      In the Incarnation.

á      Into the Hands of Justice on the Cross.

á      In the New Birth.

á      In HeavenÕs Glory.

 

(Romans 8:32 ÒHe that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?Ó

 

Third, Isaiah proclaims the dominion of our Savior.ÒAnd the government shall be upon his shoulder.Ó 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 Father as our Mediator and Surety, Òthe government shall be upon his shoulderThis is the result and reward of his redemptive accomplishments (John 17:2). But what government is he talking about?

á      The Government of All Creation.

á      The Government of All Providence.

á      The Government of All Men.

á      The Government of All Creatures.

á      The Government of His Church and Kingdom.

á      The Government of All Grace.

 

ÒAs in the days of his flesh he exercised the most unlimited authority over diseases, devils, and the very elements, so now everything fulfils his unerring counsels.Ó — (Charles Simeon)

 

What a mighty Savior we have! What broad shoulders his shoulders are! — The government of the universe is upon his shoulders

 

Our SaviorÕs Character

 

2nd — Look at the next part of our text. Here the prophet of God shows us the amazing character of our Savior. — ÒAnd his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Ó Here are five names by which our Savior is called, the name by which we call upon and worship our great God, the Triune Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. His name is his character. He is called these five things because this is who is and what he is! You who know him will bear me witness that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, isÉ

 

ÒWonderful!Ó — Wonderful in His Person. — Wonderful in His Works. — Wonderful in His Accomplishments. — Wonderful in His Love. — Wonderful in His Grace. — Wonderful in His Death! — Wonderful in His Resurrection! — Wonderful in His Exaltation! — Wonderful in His Intercession! — Wonderful in His Second Coming!

 

ÒCounselor!Ó — He stood as our Counselor in the Covenant of Grace. — He gives Counsel to His People in this World by his Spirit and by His Word. — He is our Counselor at the Bar of God in Heaven.

 

ÒThe Mighty God!Ó Jesus Christ is God, the Mighty One. Sometimes in the Scriptures angels and magistrates are called ÒgodsÓ because of their God-given authority. But Christ is himself the God, the Mighty One! — Though he assumed our nature, he never ceased to be God, the Mighty One. — Though he died under the wrath of God, he who died upon the cursed tree is God, the Mighty One (Acts 20:28). — Though he sits in heaven in a human body, that man in heaven is God, the Mighty One. — Because he is God, the Mighty One, he is able to accomplish all he has undertaken as a our Surety, Mediator, and Substitute.

á      Righteousness (Romans 5:19)

á      Redemption (Hebrews 9:12)

á      Salvation (Hebrews 7:25)

 

ÒThe Everlasting Father!Ó — 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. — The Lord Jesus Christ, our God-man Savior, is the Father of His Spiritual Seed, the Church (Ephesians 3:15). — He is the Father of an Everlasting Age. — He is the Father of the World to come. — Christ is to us The Everlasting Father!

á      We are Born of His Spirit.

á      We have His Nature.

á      We wear His Name.

á      We are under His Care.

á      We live upon His Provisions.

á      We shall Possess His Inheritance.

 

ÒThe Prince of Peace!Ó — He is the Prince by whom peace comes!

á      He purchased peace for us.

á      He promises peace to us.

á      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 SaviorÕs character is amazing, more than amazing, astonishing. He is Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace!

 

ChristÕs Exaltation

 

3rd — Look now at verse 7. Here Isaiah proclaims the glorious exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was hinted at earlier. Here it is more fully described. — ÒOf 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 forever

 

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 Psalm 2:6; Isaiah 45:23-25; 53:12; Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 2:32-36).

 

(Psalms 2:6) ÒYet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.Ó

 

(Isaiah 45:23-25) ÒI 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 Israel be justified, and shall glory.Ó

 

(Isaiah 53:12) ÒTherefore 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.Ó

 

(Acts 2:32-36) ÒThis 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) ÒWherefore 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.Ó

 

ChristÕs kingdom is an ever-increasing kingdom. His government is a peaceful rule.

á      He rules the hearts of men.

á      He rules by love.

á      He rules through the gospel.

 

And his rule is established in the hearts of men by wisdom and justice.

á      He makes us to see the wisdom of God in redemption.

á      He causes us to know the justice of God in grace.

 

ChristÕs kingdom is an everlasting, eternal kingdom. — ÒOf his kingdom there shall be no end

 

Secure Purpose

 

4th — Now look at the last sentence of our text. Isaiah assures us of the infallible security of GodÕs sovereign, eternal purpose of grace in Christ. ÒThe zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.Ó God himself, the eternal, omnipotent, sovereign God of the universe, the Triune Jehovah has himself undertaken to perform all these things. They cannot fail.

á      GodÕs zeal for his own name will perform it.

á      GodÕs zeal for his peopleÕs good will perform it.

á      GodÕs zeal for ChristÕs glory will perform it.

 

JehovahÕs zeal is his fervent flaming love. His fervent, burning love moves him to perform his purpose, and is effectual to accomplish it.

á      His fervent love for his own glory, which is his ultimate end in all his works of creation, providence, and grace, moves him to fulfil all that is here revealed by the prophet. — The Birth of Christ — His Offices — Redemption by His Blood — The Fulness of His Kingdom.

á      JehovahÕs zeal or fervent love to his Son, shown in giving all things into his hands, in committing all judgment to him, that men may honor him as they do the Father, moved the Triune Jehovah to increase his government and peace, and make Christ, the Firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

á      And his zeal or fervent love to his elect assures us that he will perform all these great promises of mercy, love, and grace for us.

á      Everything the queen of Sheba said of Solomon may be said of Christ and his people. — ÒBlessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justiceÓ (1 Kings 10:9).

 

Application

 

What does all of this mean? How do these things apply to us?

á      You can trust this Christ.

á      How we ought to admire such a Savior.

á      How grateful we should be to our Redeemer. — ÒThanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift!Ó

á      How devoted we ought to be to our God.

á      How we ought to rejoice in our SaviorÕs name! This is his name. This is his character. This is the One we trust. This is my Savior!

 

(Isaiah 9:6-7) ÒFor 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 forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.Ó

 

(Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

(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.

 

ÒJesus, Jesus, Jesus!

ThereÕs 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 thereÕs something about that name!Ó

 

ThereÕs something about that name that prevails with God! — ThereÕs something about that name that gives sinners acceptance with God! — ThereÕs something about that name that satisfies my soulÕs needs! — ThereÕs something about that name that cheers my heart! — ThereÕs something about that name that gives me hope! — ThereÕs something about that name that gives me hope for you!

 

(Romans 10:9-13) ÒThat 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. (11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (12) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.Ó

 

What more can I say? ÒHis name is Wonderful!Ó — Publish it everywhere!

 

His name is Wonderful,

His name is Wonderful,

His name is Wonderful,

Jesus my Lord;

He is the mighty King,

Master of everything,

His name is Wonderful,

Jesus, my Lord.

 

HeÕs the great Shepherd,

The Rock of all ages,

Almighty God is He!

Bow down before Him,

Love and adore Him,

His name is Wonderful,

Jesus, my Lord.

 

Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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