Jesus: Both Lord and Christ

Jesus: Both Lord and Christ

By Pastor Matt Black

August 27, 2006
Lord's Day Evening
Isaiah 9:7

Introduction: Again we come to this text of Isaiah 9 tonight. Stand with me as we read verses 1-7. Tonight we are going to see how in the midst of nation rising up against nation, how Christ himself forms and governs His own kingdom. This kingdom is not in the earthly realm, but in the heavenly realm. The title of tonight’s message is “Jesus: Both Lord and Christ”.

Let’s look at the first seven verses of Isaiah 9, “Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The 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. 3 Thou 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. 4 For 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. 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For 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 for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Review: Remember we have a promise in verse one that the darkness (or “dimness”) of the two war-torn Assyrian invasions would not remain in Israel. There would be a Great Light that would shine from this land so filled with death and the shadow of death. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist refers to this verse in his prayer and prophecy for his new born son. Look over at Luke 1:76-79. Zacharias was “filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied saying (verse 67)… (76) And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

John was to go before the face of the LORD, the Messiah, and prepare the way for Him. He says this was during the time when “the dayspring from on high” visits us for the purpose of giving light “to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death”.

So Christ came to this most despised part of Israel, “Galilee of the nations” where the pagans had intermarried with the 10 northern tribes. Now remember something great is going to happen at His birth. This is not at some future event, but something that happens at His birth.

Verse 3 tells us that through the birth of the Messiah, God would enlarge the nation of Israel. Think about how one was added to the nation. To be added to God’s covenant through circumcision was to be added to the nation. Remember what Paul said so clearly in Romans 2:29, “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

The Jews were an outward people. Hebrews 10:12 tells us that all of the outward institutions in the Old Testament were just “a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things”.

Let’s look at some New Testament examples.

Circumcision: we just looked at this. Romans 2:29, “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart” The Jews circumcised the flesh, but this was only a shadow, or a picture of regeneration, that is one who is cut to heart with conviction in the inner man, known as “circumcision of the heart.”

The Temple: The Jews had a Temple where they met God. Yet God tells us in the Old Testament that He dwells not in temples made with hands. This temple was just a shadow, a picture of the real thing. Where is it that God dwells? What is His temple. His temple is you! Look at 1 Corinthians 6:19, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

The Sacrifices: Each year the Jews would over sacrifices for their sins. Year after year. The high priest would also enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice. These sacrifices did not accomplish anything! They only pointed to something. What did they point to? Look at Hebrews 9:8, “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present…” So the Tabernacle and the Temple were “a figure for the time then present” (verse 9). The text goes on, “in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience…” So the Tabernacle and the Temple were “a figure for the time then present” (verse 9). The sacrifices that those people offered, verse 9 says “could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience”—there was no forgiveness, not power in those sacrifices to remove even one sin! So what good was the Tabernacle and Temple and the sacrifices. Look at verse 11—“ Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” The good in these Old Testament institutions was that they all pointed to Christ! The sacrifices pointed to Christ. Verse 13 of Hebrews 9 continues: “12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

So Christ is the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). We don’t need to keep offering sacrifices continually. As Hebrews 10:10 says, “we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

The Nation of Israel: Now if these institutions are temporal and just pictures of the real thing, then what about the nation of Israel? God promised Abraham a nation. That happened. Israel was numerous. Yet this was only a picture of the true nation of God’s people.

Let’s ask ourselves:

· Who are the children of Abraham? Galatians 3:7 has the only right answer. “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” So Abraham’s children—those that make up God’s people are those who have faith in Christ.

· But what about all the promises to Israel in the Old Testament? Are they for the church? Are they for me? Look at what Paul says further down in Galatians 3:16 says, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” So would you agree that God made all the promises to Abraham concerning Christ? This is crystal clear in the text. But who do these promises belong to? They belong to the “Abraham and his seed”. There are many well-meaning Christians who make a mistake here. Who are “Abraham and his seed”? Who is this? Is it physical Israel? Is it the physical descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Let us let the Bible interpret the Bible. The promises concerning Christ in the Old Testament are directed to “Abraham and his seed”. That is clear. But who is “Abraham’s seed”? Look down at Galatians 3 and verse 29, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Those who are Christ’s are “Abraham’s seed” and we are the heirs of all those promises. So are the promises to Israel ours or are they reserved for the physical descendents of Abraham? The Bible says they are ours if we belong to Christ. These promises are all for the church—for the spiritual people of God of all ages, and no one else. Can I say that again? All the promises to Israel of the Old Testament are not for the unbelieving Jews of the Old Testament. Nor are they for the physical descendents of Abraham in our day. Those who are lost, though they be Jews, whether it be Old Testament times or New Testament times; those who are lost, thought they be physical descendents of Abraham are as heathen and lost and outside of God’s covenant as all the heathen nations around them. The promises of the Old Testament are given for who? What does Galatians 3:29 say? Abraham’s seed! “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Are you still not convinced? Turn to Paul says in Romans 9:8. Paul is unequivocal: “They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” They might be physical Jews, but they are not “children of the promise” but only “children of the flesh”.

So when a person tells you that the promises of the Old Testament are not for you, but for physical Israel, they are contradicting Holy Spirit inspired Scripture. They are contradicting Paul the apostle himself!

Jesus said that the unbelieving Jews would have no part in the Kingdom of God. Look at Matthew 21:43 where Christ says, “I [say] unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Who is this “nation” that brings forth the fruit of repentance? It is of course the church. Gentiles are added to the nation. We become part of the Kingdom of God; we as Gentiles are “graffed in” to spiritual Israel (Romans 11:17).

Application: We who believe in Christ are Israel. We are the sons of Jacob. We are the offspring of Isaac. We are the children of the promise. We are the covenant people of God. Abraham is our father. We are Jews. We are those circumcised in the heart. We are the Temple of God. God dwells in the Holy of holies—our hearts! We have the once for all sacrifice applied to us so that we might approach God at any time! We, as Abraham have the imputed righteousness of Christ on our account. As Romans 4:11 tells us that Abraham is a “father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.”

Ok, having looked at how God will enlarge the nation through Christ’s birth, let us look at verse 4. Verse 4 tells us that Christ will conquer our enemies and oppressors “as in the day of Midian.” Again we learned that those Midianites were defeated not by sword and chariot, but by lanterns and trumpets. Three hundred scrawny men defeated the mighty Midianite army. This was a conquering via the Spirit of God. As Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Verse 5 confirms that physical warfare for the people of God will cease. There was coming a day when there would no longer be need to go to battle with the heathen nations. They wouldn’t have to fight Assyria or Aram or Egypt! Verse 5 tells us that the noise of battle would disappear and all the weapons of warfare and the “garments rolled in blood” will all be thrown into the bonfire. They “shall be with burning and fuel of fire.” It is as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”

Last week we saw in verse 6 that it is this Child that is born that is God in the flesh that will make all of this take place. The government is upon His shoulder! He is the head of the church! He has the preeminence! He rules with a rod of iron! He is the lawgiver!

Now we come to our text in verse 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 for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

First we need to establish how Christ’s government increases.

“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 for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Look at Matthew 13. We see two parables here about the increase of Christ’s government:

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

verse 31, “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

The Parable of Leaven

Verse 33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

Jesus said in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

What does Jesus say in Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

That is the government of Messiah will increase! People will be saved. Then the end will come!

So we have see the increase of Christ’s government. Now we have to establish when Christ sat on the throne of David.

Turn over to Acts 2:29-35, “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, [SO WHAT IS THE OATH OR PROMISE?] that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This 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.” What does Peter mean when he says he makes Jesus “both Lord and Christ”. He is saying that Christ has assumed his throne. The throne of David is Christ’s exalted throne. Christ sitting on the right hand of God making his enemies his footstool is the present reign of Christ. Christ conquers all, whether by conversion or condemnation on the last day, He makes all His enemies (all the human race) His footstool.

So when Isaiah says about Christ: “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 for ever.” He is talking about the Church.

Turn over to Genesis 49:8. This is the prophecy of Judah. Of course you know Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Jacob called his sons together before he died, and he gave a prophecy of the twelve tribes of Israel. What we are looking at is Judah’s prophecy. It is directly referring to the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at Genesis 49 and beginning with verse 8, “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. 9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”

Here is a direct prophecy of Christ. The scepter shall be Christ’s. Here we see the prediction of Shiloh, which is “the gathering of the people”. This is of course a prophecy of the church. What is the church? A called out assembly. God has gathered us together as a people in Christ. Shiloh has come. Christ is ruling and reigning over His kingdom.

Conclusion: Turn to Matthew 6:33. Are you living for the kingdom? Are you seeking first the kingdom?

Closing Hymn: 491 Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God