Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon:  Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory - James 2:1 (Part 1)

James 2:1 reads, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”

Herein the Biblical prohibition is delivered that we must not attempt to combine a daily Christian walk of faith with the practice of showing respect to persons.  Involved in this presentation is the truth that our daily walk of faith is centered upon “our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.”  By referring to the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord Jesus Christ, James was publicly confessing his inclusion among those who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  In addition, by declaring that the Lord Jesus Christ is “the Lord of glory,” James was also confessing his belief in the true identity and full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Just as David referred to Jehovah of hosts as “the King of glory” in Psalm 24:7-10, and just as David referred to Jehovah God as “the God of glory” in Psalm 29:3, and just as the apostle Paul referred to God the Father as “the Father of glory” in Ephesians 1:17, and just as Stephen referred to the One who met who Moses through the burning bush as “the God of glory” in Acts 7:2, even so James here refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as “the Lord of glory.”  Before Jesus sacrificial death on the cross and bodily resurrection out of the dead, James, as well as Jesus other biological brethren through Mary, had not accepted Jesus’ claims as the only-begotten Son of God and as the eternal Savior of the world.  Yet it is apparent that after his encounter with the risen Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:7, James discarded his unbelief and wholeheartedly placed his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and sovereign Lord.  Indeed, he set his wholeheartedly devotion upon the Lord Jesus Christ as “the Lord of Glory,” as the One in whom dwells all the majestic fullness “of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)  Even so, there are six facets of truth in this title, “the Lord of glory,” for us to consider.  Already in the first part of the message, we considered the first three of these truths.  Now in this second part of the message, let us consider the latter three of these truths.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon:  And His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful - Isaiah 9:6     

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 four truths concerning the second of these titles – “And his name shall be called . . . Counsellor.”

Now, the word “consellor” refers to someone who possesses such wisdom that he behaves wisely in his own conduct and is able to deliver wise counsels and correctives unto others.  So then, in what ways is our Lord Jesus Christ to be called Counsellor?

Weekly Sermon

Matthew 16:27 reads, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”  What a wonderful promise is given to us in this verse – Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again.  As the song written by John W. Peterson proclaims:

     Marvelous message we bring, Glorious carol we sing, 
          Wonderful word of the King: Jesus is coming again!
     Coming again, Coming again; 
          Maybe morning, maybe noon, Maybe evening and maybe soon.
     Coming again, Coming again;
          O what a wonderful day it will be – Jesus is coming again!

Let us then consider three important truths out of Matthew 16:27 concerning this great and glorious promise of our Lord’s Second Coming.

Weekly Sermon

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 reads, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

At the time that the apostle Paul wrote these things unto believers at Corinth, there were false teachers out and about.  Some of those false teachers were falsely teaching that there was no such thing as a resurrection from the dead.  Therefore, the apostle wrote 1 Corinthians 15 in order to defeat this false teaching.  In sod doing, the apostle began by communicating the elements of the gospel message and the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ's resurrection out of the dead.

In verses 1-2 the apostle declared unto the believers at Corinth, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” Now, the word “gospel” means “good news.”  Herein the apostle Paul was speaking of the gospel, the good news; and in verses 3-4 he revealed the three elements of this good news, saying, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”