Weekly Sermon
Isaiah 9:6-7 reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: 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 justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Now, the fullness of this promise and prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. The Lord Jesus Christ has not yet come in the fullness of His glory as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule and reign over the whole world from the throne of David in Jerusalem. Yet the fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has indeed begun to be fulfilled. Unto us that Child has been born. Unto us that Son has been given. The zeal of the Lord is already at work. God the Father has already sent God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be born into this world as God in human flesh. The fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has already begun in Christ’s first coming, and most certainly the fulfillment will be completed in Christ’s second coming. Amen, and amen. “Even so come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20)
However, the focus of this message is not upon the coming of our Lord, but upon the character of our Lord. In the closing portion of verse 6 five titles are given to reveal the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son who was given to be born in human flesh – “And his name [His title] shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” In this message let us consider three truths concern-ing the first of these titles – “And His name shall be called Wonderful.”
Now, the word “wonderful” refers to someone or something that is so positively unusual that it causes pleasant surprise and joyful amazement. So then, in what ways is our Lord Jesus Christ to be called Wonderful?
Isaiah 9:6-7 reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: 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 justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Now, the fullness of this promise and prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. The Lord Jesus Christ has not yet come in the fullness of His glory as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule and reign over the whole world from the throne of David in Jerusalem. Yet the fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has indeed begun to be fulfilled. Unto us that Child has been born. Unto us that Son has been given. The zeal of the Lord is already at work. God the Father has already sent God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be born into this world as God in human flesh. The fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has already begun in Christ’s first coming, and most certainly the fulfillment will be completed in Christ’s second coming. Amen, and amen. “Even so come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20)
However, the focus of this message is not upon the coming of our Lord, but upon the character of our Lord. In the closing portion of verse 6 five titles are given to reveal the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son who was given to be born in human flesh – “And his name [His title] shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” In this message let us consider three truths concern-ing the first of these titles – “And His name shall be called Wonderful.”
Now, the word “wonderful” refers to someone or something that is so positively unusual that it causes pleasant surprise and joyful amazement. So then, in what ways is our Lord Jesus Christ to be called Wonderful?
He is Wonderful as the Son of God.
In John 1:1-4 God’s Word declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” Now, the Word of verses 1-2 is not the written Word of God; for in 3-4 this Word is referred to as Him. Who then is this One that is called the Word? In verse 14 we find the answer – “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Who then is this One who is the only begotten of God the Father? Verses 15-18 continue, saying, “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared him.” This Word, who was made flesh and dwelt among us, who is the child born and the son given, who is the only begotten of God the Father, is our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is God the Son, the second Person of the triune (three-in-one) Godhead. He is God the Son who was in the beginning with God the Father. He is God the Son who was eternally with God the Father in perfect unity. He is God the Son who was eternally in the bosom of God the Father in the perfect unity and equality of the triune (three-in-one) Godhead. He is the Creator God; for “all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” He is the life and light of the world, for “in him was life; and the life was the light of men.” He came to dwell among us as God in the flesh. He came to dwell among us in the perfect fullness of grace and truth; for, as Colossians 2:9 declares, “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” He came to reveal the fullness of God the Father’s glory unto mankind; for, as Hebrews 1:2 reveals, He is the very brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of the Father’s person. Even so, before Him “every knee should bow” and “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) Even so, Psalm 2:10-12 proclaims to all the earth, “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” “And his name shall be called Wonderful.”
He is Wonderful as the Servant of the Lord.
In Philippians 2:6 God’s Word speaks concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, saying, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” This verse refers to His place as God the Son, being in perfect unity and equality with God the Father in the eternal essence and glory of the eternal Godhead. Yet verse 7 continues, saying, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” He who was eternally unified with God the Father in the perfect equality and glory of the Godhead humbled Himself and took upon Himself the form and place of a servant. To be made in the likeness of mankind, to be born in human flesh, He who is God the Son had to take the greatest step of humility ever taken. He stepped down from the highest glory of heaven’s throne to be born as a human babe. The Creator of all was born in the form of the creation.
Yet there was more to His step of humility; for Philippians 2:8 adds, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Even so, He Himself declared in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man [That was always Jesus name for Himself, referring to Himself as the Son that was given to be born in human flesh.] came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” This is the reason that He came to be born as God in the flesh. He came to sacrifice His life on the cross for us sinners. He came to bare our sins upon Himself on the cross. (1 Peter 2:24) He came to be “wounded for our transgressions.” (Isaiah 53:5) He came to be “bruised for our iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:5) He came to be “made a curse for us” in order to redeem us from the curse and condemnation of the law. (Galatians 3:13) He came to be made sin for us “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Even so, in Isaiah 53:10-11 God’s Word declares, “Yet it pleased the LORD [that is – God the Father] to bruise him; he [God the Father] hath put him to grief: when thou [God the Father] shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he [God the Father] shall see his seed, he [God the Father] shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He [God the Father] shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” “And his name shall be called Wonderful.”
He is Wonderful as the Savior of sinners.
In 1 Timothy 1:15 God’s word proclaims, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Indeed, this includes each one of us; for, as Romans 3:23 declares, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ came to save each one of us sinners who is spiritually lost in our sinfulness. Even so, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself revealed in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Thus in Romans 5:6-8 God’s Word states, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth [expressed and exalted] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Again in John 3:16-17 God’s Word states, “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” There is eternal redemption in Him. There is eternal salvation in Him. There is eternal life in Him. Through faith in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us and rose again, we shall be saved from our sins.
Even so, Romans 10:9-13 gives the promise, “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 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. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Thus the opening portion of John 3:18 gives the promise, “He that believeth on him is not condemned.” Yet the closing portion of John 3:18 gives the warning, “But he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Again the opening portion of John 3:36 gives the promise, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” Yet again the closing portion of John 3:36 gives the warning, “And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” “And his name shall be called Wonderful.”
In John 1:1-4 God’s Word declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” Now, the Word of verses 1-2 is not the written Word of God; for in 3-4 this Word is referred to as Him. Who then is this One that is called the Word? In verse 14 we find the answer – “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Who then is this One who is the only begotten of God the Father? Verses 15-18 continue, saying, “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared him.” This Word, who was made flesh and dwelt among us, who is the child born and the son given, who is the only begotten of God the Father, is our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is God the Son, the second Person of the triune (three-in-one) Godhead. He is God the Son who was in the beginning with God the Father. He is God the Son who was eternally with God the Father in perfect unity. He is God the Son who was eternally in the bosom of God the Father in the perfect unity and equality of the triune (three-in-one) Godhead. He is the Creator God; for “all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” He is the life and light of the world, for “in him was life; and the life was the light of men.” He came to dwell among us as God in the flesh. He came to dwell among us in the perfect fullness of grace and truth; for, as Colossians 2:9 declares, “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” He came to reveal the fullness of God the Father’s glory unto mankind; for, as Hebrews 1:2 reveals, He is the very brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of the Father’s person. Even so, before Him “every knee should bow” and “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) Even so, Psalm 2:10-12 proclaims to all the earth, “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” “And his name shall be called Wonderful.”
He is Wonderful as the Servant of the Lord.
In Philippians 2:6 God’s Word speaks concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, saying, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” This verse refers to His place as God the Son, being in perfect unity and equality with God the Father in the eternal essence and glory of the eternal Godhead. Yet verse 7 continues, saying, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” He who was eternally unified with God the Father in the perfect equality and glory of the Godhead humbled Himself and took upon Himself the form and place of a servant. To be made in the likeness of mankind, to be born in human flesh, He who is God the Son had to take the greatest step of humility ever taken. He stepped down from the highest glory of heaven’s throne to be born as a human babe. The Creator of all was born in the form of the creation.
Yet there was more to His step of humility; for Philippians 2:8 adds, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Even so, He Himself declared in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man [That was always Jesus name for Himself, referring to Himself as the Son that was given to be born in human flesh.] came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” This is the reason that He came to be born as God in the flesh. He came to sacrifice His life on the cross for us sinners. He came to bare our sins upon Himself on the cross. (1 Peter 2:24) He came to be “wounded for our transgressions.” (Isaiah 53:5) He came to be “bruised for our iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:5) He came to be “made a curse for us” in order to redeem us from the curse and condemnation of the law. (Galatians 3:13) He came to be made sin for us “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Even so, in Isaiah 53:10-11 God’s Word declares, “Yet it pleased the LORD [that is – God the Father] to bruise him; he [God the Father] hath put him to grief: when thou [God the Father] shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he [God the Father] shall see his seed, he [God the Father] shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He [God the Father] shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” “And his name shall be called Wonderful.”
He is Wonderful as the Savior of sinners.
In 1 Timothy 1:15 God’s word proclaims, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Indeed, this includes each one of us; for, as Romans 3:23 declares, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ came to save each one of us sinners who is spiritually lost in our sinfulness. Even so, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself revealed in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Thus in Romans 5:6-8 God’s Word states, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth [expressed and exalted] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Again in John 3:16-17 God’s Word states, “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” There is eternal redemption in Him. There is eternal salvation in Him. There is eternal life in Him. Through faith in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us and rose again, we shall be saved from our sins.
Even so, Romans 10:9-13 gives the promise, “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 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. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Thus the opening portion of John 3:18 gives the promise, “He that believeth on him is not condemned.” Yet the closing portion of John 3:18 gives the warning, “But he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Again the opening portion of John 3:36 gives the promise, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” Yet again the closing portion of John 3:36 gives the warning, “And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” “And his name shall be called Wonderful.”
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Isaiah, God the Son Jesus Christ, Sacrificial Death of Christ, Salvation & Eternal Life
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