In just 10 verses a lot of theological truth is condensed. Consequently, there is no time to fully explore the depth of all Paul says here. We’re not going to fully exhaust these verses. I trust, by God’s grace, we will be deeply encouraged and challenged. Central to an understanding of this passage is that God has appointed two individuals to represent men. These are our federal heads: Adam and Jesus Christ. All that we ever will be revolves around our relationship with these two men. There is a repeated contrast. Paul mentions the one man, then the many, or all. The action of the one has a profound effect for the all, the many.
By nature, we are in Adam but our future destiny depends if we are also in Christ. Adam was a type of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45). Paul emphasises the human nature of Jesus. Paul focuses on Jesus being our representative. Just as Adam had been appointed as a federal head, so Jesus is a federal head. Adam and Jesus are similar in that they could be appointed by God to be our representative. However, there is a difference. Adam’s failure brought disaster. Christ brought hope.
Sin and death in Adam. When Adam fell into sin (v12), we all sinned in him. Sin began with Satan (Revelation 12:7-8), with Adam succumbing to Satan’s temptation. Adam had been created by God perfect, with an ability to resist Satan’s temptation. But he did not. He becomes a slave to sin. What is more, because Adam is our representative, when he fell, we fell with him. So, like him, we are sinful creatures under the dominion of sin. As we all sinned in Adam, we are all condemned in Adam (v16, 18). We are justly condemned before the righteousness of God (Ephesians 4:2). This means we are under sentence of death. God warned Adam if he disobeyed Him, he would surely die (Genesis 2:17).
After Adams fall, after his disobedience, God in His mercy did not enforce the sentence of death on Adam immediately in a physical way. But he was cut off from the fellowship with God. This seed of death would consume him to death. The same sin condemns us (1 Corinthians 15:20). Even at this moment, you and I are the walking dead. We are spiritually dead, cut off from God, from the moment we drew our first breath (Romans 6:23). Sin and death in Adam.
‘How can I be held responsible for what Adam did?’ This is what many people say in the West. Yet, other people understand this (reference to village chiefs – where the chief or elder represent their tribe). When God appointed Adam as our federal head He chose the best candidate. Adam was given the ability to resist temptation. None of us would have done any better.
If we object to Adam being our federal head, our representative, we must also object to Jesus Christ be in our federal head, our representative – therefore, removing all possibility of salvation. In that case, we reject men being sons of God. Adam, even before the fall, was but a creature who had a relationship with God. But Adam was not a child of God – for it was only when the Son of God came into this world and became the Son of Man, one with us and through grace being one with Him, then becoming a child of God.
With Adam we are in a desperate situation, justly condemned. Nothing we can do can change this. We are hopelessly lost. That is why we need to look to God for salvation. He alone can save us. Therefore, Paul speaks of grace and life in grace. In His loving kindness, in His mercy, God appoints a second federal head – Jesus Christ Himself. He becomes our Saviour. In His grace (v15) God offers us the free gift of salvation.
This grace is abundant (v15, 17, 20). This grace is not universal; not all men are saved. But neither is this grace rationed, it is for many. Paul emphasises this by drawing a contrast between the judgement that came because of one man’s disobedience, with salvation that comes to a great many people (v16).
How is this salvation secured? By Christ’s obedience (v18-19). Our second head gloriously succeeded. He perfectly obeyed. In His humility, Christ laid aside glory and honour and humbled Himself to come into this sin-sick world, in obedience to the will of God the father. He lived a sinless life. He lived the life of a perfect man which Adam and all of us failed to do. Even more, He offered Himself up to death in our place on the cross. He bought the wages of our sin on the cross. He offered Himself as a sacrifice, as our substitute, dying under the penalty of the law.
Through this obedience Jesus brings us:
i. Justification (v16). We are declared not guilty of our sin because our sin was imputed, credited to Christ. God pronounced the judgement of death on Jesus in our place. As He pays in full our debt before the law, we are justified. It is just as if I have never sinned.
ii. Righteousness (v17, 21). In salvation through His obedience, the Lord Jesus Christ provides for us justification and also righteousness. Our sinfulness is credited to Him. At the same time, His sinlessness is credited to us, as if we lived the perfect life of obedience. Therefore, we are accepted by God. Consequently, those who repent of their sin, having Him as their Saviour, knowing that He is the federal head, are saved. They have received new life, eternal life (v17, 21).
This means restored spiritual life in the soul. A new life floods our souls as fellowship with God is restored. Because there is new life in the soul, there will be restoration of physical life (1 Corinthians 15:22). Here then is hope for the hopeless, in Jesus Christ with all its glorious blessings.
Are you alive in Christ, or still dead in Adam? It is one or the other, there is no in-between. If you are in Adam, the second death is eternal punishment for your sin in hell (Revelation). If you come to Christ in repentance and trust in Christ as your saviour, you will experience spiritual restoration and resurrection joy. Which one will it be for you – alive in Christ or dead in Adam?
Come to Jesus now. It is a free gift, you do not earn it. We are not worthy to receive it, but it is freely given in God’s abundant grace to all who turn from sin and trust in Jesus for forgiveness. Come. Don’t hesitate.
If you are in Christ, remember your salvation is not of your own making. It is by God’s grace, so endlessly praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You can rejoice with thankfulness if you are a child of God in Christ. This is the greatest privilege. It is the source of all blessing. You have great cause to rejoice, to be glad and glorify your Saviour’s name.
This parable touched me. As Jesus walked through the countryside, He often spoke to people in parables, word pictures.
In verse 9 Jesus warns us. This parable is aimed at people who trust in themselves. The Pharisees were very self-righteous people who distinguishing tassels on their robes, had thousands of rules and were very self-righteous in their ways. Self-righteousness was not just found in the Pharisees but also in many Christians who trust in themselves.
What is self-righteousness? It is something we all know well, a tendency to have too high an opinion of ourselves. The more we think about it, the more we realise that that thought is sin. Sin runs through the whole human race. We all have a desire to flatter ourselves, to look at ourselves in a good light. We see ourselves in a wonderful light, we think God sees us in the same way. Self-righteousness is another word for pride, for selfishness. It is a sin the Lord Jesus Christ warns us about in this parable. We cannot hide this sin from God, although we may hide it from one another. The Lord Jesus Christ came among us and took on the form of a servant. He had no form of flattery. His whole nature was flawless and pure, completely without self-centeredness. He warned us about this sin of self-importance.
In verses 10-12 Jesus condemns the Pharisee’s prayer. Here, two men are praying in a holy place. One is great at praying, very respectable, a model man. He is every man’s idea of what it means to be religious, a man of God. He is standing in a temple where everyone can see him. The prayer is not heard by God. Jews, when they pray, would look at the sky, often raising their hands. They may look to where they think God is. But this Pharisee’s prayer is nothing more than a recitation. You can almost hear the pomp. Five times he refers to ‘I.’ Other people are listening but God is not hearing his prayer. Why not? He has one glaring fault – he has no sense of sin (v11). Never make the mistake of comparing yourself to other people. The Pharisee has no sense of need, no profession of guilt, no sense of shame, no confession of sin. There is no cry for mercy, asking for grace or salvation. He is not standing there knowing that atonement has been made.
If this is the only kind of prayer you can offer, God will have no time for you. Jesus is contradicting every idea of religion. You cannot come to God with a long list of your own merits. This Pharisee is proud of his achievements and has a very low opinion of the tax collector. If you are pleased with yourself you are comparing yourself with others.
Jesus is saying, ‘Can you see what is missing in your life – a sense of God?’ We all fall short of the glory of God in every way. What Jesus does is condemn the Pharisee’s prayer and warns us, but he approves the prayer of the tax collector.
The tax collector would not even raise his eyes to heaven. Here is a man who is not good enough yet he goes home justified, declared righteous, just as if he had never sinned. This man prays, walks out of the temple and Jesus declares him righteous. He commends him to God. The prayer in verse 13 shows how to get right with God.
The prayer of the tax collector is quite short. He asked for himself, praying in a personal way. Then he asks formerly, afar off, when no one can see. He is so ashamed of himself. He asks for mercy. God is perfectly righteousness in punishing the sinner. God stands over him with a sword of righteous anger and this man asks for mercy. He asks for forgiveness because of a sacrifice. That is precisely how sinners come to God. He is beating his breast as he speaks. He is moved in the Spirit and he’s crushed. He sees God, he sees his sin and his only hope is God’s atoning grace and sacrifice. If only the world could learn from this lesson. There is no hope for anyone until they feel the weight of their sins, to know they are lost. Fall on the mercy of God. This is a person who was eternally justified. Salvation is of God alone. It is not of ourselves. Jesus warns us. He condemns the Pharisee’s prayer and approves the tax collector’s prayer. But He doesn’t end there.
In verse 14 we see Jesus underlines a vital living principle. This is the way of God, of the gospel. God deals with us on the principle of verse 14. On thar final day we will see that principle vindicated. Jesus came to earth, took on the form of a lowly servant. He was a sacrifice for the sins of man. If you want the mercy of God for yourself you must humble yourselves, pray and call out for mercy and forgiveness. Jesus has paid the price.
This chapter falls in the centre of three chapters which present the gospel in a wonderful way. It is also preceded by a chapter which ends the section of prophecies for the whole world in which the city of confusion is judged. In these four chapters we see references to two cities:
The earth (universal judgement).
Isaiah 24:1-23.
The city of confusion is broken down; every house is shut up, so that none may go in.
24:10.
In the city desolation is left, and the gate is stricken with destruction.
24:12.
Praise for the Lord’s great work on “this mountain.”
Isaiah 25:1-12.
For You have made a city a ruin, a fortified city a ruin, a palace of foreigners to be a city no more; It will never be rebuilt.
25:2.
Therefore the strong people will glorify You; the city of the terrible nations will fear You.
25:3.
The song of the just and the fate of the wicked.
Isaiah 26:1-21.
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.
26:1.
For He brings down those who dwell on high, the lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the dust.
26:5.
The end of Leviathan!
Isaiah 27:1-13.
Yet the fortified city will be desolate, the habitation forsaken and left like a wilderness; there the calf will feed, and there it will lie down And consume its branches.
27:10.
Isaiah 25 speaks of the great sacrifice on Calvary informing us of the defeat of death and the flesh on “this mountain” in Zion.
Isaiah 27 speaks of the defeat of Satan (leviathan), further information about the gospel age and reference to the end of the age.
In Isaiah 26 we have the two cities contrasted.
What we have in our passage of Isaiah 26:1-11 is description of the entire world of men and their natures or characteristics.
There are 2 cities. One is strong (literally OZ!) the other is lofty (elevated – to lift oneself up – pride).
Scripture really only knows of two distinct types of people – the righteous and the wicked.
The righteous walk the path of the just, whilst the wicked journey on the road of destruction.
These two themes are ones we can see in many places in Scripture. Consider, for example, our Lord’s mention of the “broad” and “narrow” ways (Matthew 7:13).
The first reference to this theme of two types of people can be found in the book of Genesis and is illustrated by the two genealogical lists of Genesis 4 and 5. In one is the line of Cain and the outcome is pure worldliness as exemplified by the offspring of the godless Lamech. In the other is the line of Seth (the substitute for Abel killed by Cain) out of which comes the righteous Noah who would bring rest. Here in our text in Isaiah we have the righteous and just contrasted with the wicked and the ways that each traverse. There is a natural break in the text. Verses 1 to 6 speak of these two cities. Verses 7 to 11 speak of the various inhabitants. We shall consider each city in turn both as to its main characteristics and as to its dwellers.
[1] The strong city. [a] Characteristics of the strong city. [b] The way of the just.
[2] The lofty city. [a] Characteristics of the lofty city. [b] The end of the wicked.
There will be 7 ideas from each heading and sub-heading.
[1] The strong city. Note first that there is only this one description of the city of God in contrast the four descriptions of the city of this world:
The city of confusion (24:10).
The fortified city (25:2; 27:10)
The city of the terrible nations (25:3)
The lofty city (26:5).
[a] Characteristics of the strong city.
There are 7 features to this strong city.
[i] All of grace.
עִיר עָז-לָנוּ Literally: “a city strong unto us”
Literally rendered it should read: “a strong city unto us” – highlights the fact that the strong city is in fact a gift and not something that has become strong by anything done or generated by its inhabitants.
[ii] A place of great joy where songs are sung.
[iii] Identified with God Himself. (Therefore strong).
The last part of verse 1: “God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks” is a rendering which seeks to deal with the Hebrew as best it can, but which hides something wonderfully exciting! Ought to be:
Salvation – [He] sets up – walls and ramparts (fortresses/bulwarks)
# יְשׁוּעָה יָשִׁית חוֹמוֹת וָחֵל Literally: Salvation – [He] sets up – walls and ramparts (fortresses/bulwarks)
The word “salvation” is significant. It comes first in this part of the sentence. BUT translators have assumed that God is the main character despite the fact that we do not read His name until verse 4. To make sense of the Hebrew the translators supply “God” at the start (which is why in the NKJV it is in italics suggesting that it is not in the original Hebrew). Salvation then assumed to be the outcome of God’s action in making a strong city with walls/ramparts.
BUT: “salvation” is yeshu’a – very close in sound and meaning to the name “Joshua” (yehoshe’a). We could then consider the word “salvation” as representing the Saviour.
In Isaiah 12:2,3 we have a very closely related statement. God is described directly as “salvation”in Isaiah. So “Salvation” (yeshu’a) is the one who is about to set up walls and ramparts for safety. Here then, we have a reference to the pre-incarnate Christ! The strong city, therefore, is God Himself who is also designated in our passage as Salvation. The city of God where the people of God dwell is none other than the Lord Himself, and this means that our dwelling place is not some visible structure but the invisible God. We are “in Christ” and He is the Head – we are the body (Acts 17:28). See also Psalm 48:12-14 and Psalm 87.
[iv] An open city – but only for the righteous.
The city of God is full of wonder and joy. Its very walls and ramparts are built for salvation. Now because it a safe and secure place it is possible for a “righteous nation” to come home.
Note two things: First, there is only one entrance, exclusively through the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in Him alone is the only way of entering this strong city. Second, we need to highlight the truth that these gates are open. The way of salvation is open. This is a most wonderful thing because there is ready access. BUT only the “righteous nation” can enter.
How is it that the nation is described as being “righteous”? In verse 4 we shall find that the Lord is the focus for faith. Being “in” the Lord means that no longer do the people have their own life apart from the Lord God. Righteousness is not inherent but imputed. The Lord Himself entered the city by right because His hands were clean and pure (He knew no sin) and so we may enter in after Him as though we are “in Him” because He passes this righteousness onto us (Romans 3:22; 4:11; 5:17; 10:6; 2Corinthians 5:21). The righteous nation (righteous since “in” the Messiah), can come in because they “keep the truth.”
Holding to the truth is an essential part of being righteous.
[v] True to its name – a place of peace.
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
It is not just peace but “peace [upon] peace.” That is, a lasting peace. The mind that rests or leans upon the Lord is the one who will experience peace.
[vi] A place where true faith is exercised.
4 Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
In these verses we have the beginning of this idea of an identity between the city and God’s saving presence. At the very heart of this passage we have the Lord mentioned, highlighting the need for us to make Him central in all we do. But there is more, for here in verse 4 we have the Lord’s name mentioned 3 times indicating the Holy Trinity (“Lord,” “Yah,” “Lord”). Further we have reference to the Lord as the “Rock.” Finally we have a reference to eternity. We are exhorted to trust Him forever, for He is the Rock of eternity (the eternal Rock).
In Isaiah 25 we have a prophecy of Christ’s victory at Calvary over death and over the flesh (Moab).
# Here we are taught repeatedly that in our experience the Lord (“He”) will bring down all that opposes His great goodness. This victory is demonstrated clearly in the NT (Colossians 2:14-15, Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 3:8).
[b] The way of the just.
There are seven key characteristics of the just.
[i] Righteous.
Righteous by faith in Christ alone. They are just because of the justness and righteousness of God who is “Most Upright.” There is no shadow of turning and no variation or alteration in Him whatsoever. James 1:17. He is pure. He is light. Their way is “uprightness.” Holiness is essential. Without it we will never see God in heaven (Hebrews 12:14). These just ones dwell in “the land of uprightness.” That is they have influence and effect on those around them. They are salt and light.
[ii] Trained by Father.
The Lord is vitally involved with us in our life of righteousness. There is Fatherly concern about his child’s growth and development. Psalm 33:15 tells us that God fashions the hearts of people “individually” and that He considers all their works. Thus, God’s path for us is tailor made. We are destined to be more and more like Jesus. Recognise fully that the Lord is sovereign over all and He determines the steps we take.
[iii] Loving the Father.
What excites and energises the just is to know the will of the Lord? They seek to be guided by the Lord in all things.
[iv] Their boast is God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
It is this desire that God be faithfully represented and declared which is uppermost in the heart and mind of the just. The way in which we stand for the glory of the Lord is vital. In Proverbs we learn that wisdom was stationed at the main meeting points of life, at the junctions in the highways, and there wisdom called aloud. We ought to be declaring truths about the Lord openly and publicly that all may see we truly love the Lord (Proverbs 8:1f).
[v] Resting exclusively on the Lord.
The fifth characteristic of the just is to rest and wait on the Lord completely in wholehearted worship and devotion. All our worth, all our treasure, all our sum and substance is to be found in Him. We may have a zeal for the honour of God but we must not strike out in our own strength as Peter did on the night before Christ died, for if we do, we may well be fighting against the very thing the Lord is working towards. Our desire is Christ! It is to know Him.
[vi] Compassion for the lost.
How is it that the Lord’s judgements are in the earth? The only way this can be true is if true believers are in the world demonstrating the fact. They do this by their lives which show how the Lord’s judgements and decisions work in practice. They also do this by speaking about the judgements of the Lord. Thus evangelism is an expression of concern for the lost. We seek to show forth the testimony of Jesus. The Lord Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and we are commissioned to be His ambassadors showing to the world what the heavenly Kingdom is like.
NOTE: It is worth pausing for thought here concerning our nation. There have been many times when the gospel was widespread and well known. I do not think that that is the case today. Consider this fact for starters. Did you know that according to the office of national statistics, 697,852 children were born in the year 2015.[1] That amounts to 1,911 children born each day, or 1.3 children born every minute. Will these dear folk know of Christ and His great goodness? Sadly they will not. Their parents may never have heard about Christ so what chance have these new ones? Then also think of the tremendous changes there have been in our population through the later half of the twentieth and on into this century. Perhaps the multitudes who have come to our shores have been sent of the Lord so that they may hear the truth of the gospel? In the thunder and bluster of excessive immigration do we as believers stop to consider that this is a tremendous blessing? The Lord has brought the mission field to our door
[vii] Grace.
The seventh (final) feature of the just is one we may have expected to be put first. Only expressed in our text amongst the statements made concerning the wicked. But we remember that it was the first feature of the strong city for in verse 1 the text reads literally: “a strong city unto us.” It is not earned nor built by us but given. All that the just experience is a work of “grace.” Whatever we have, we have as a gift of God. May it never be that we forget this! We stand ONLY in grace – unmerited favour:
[] this grace in which we stand. (Romans 5:2).
[] the true grace of God in which you stand. (1Peter 5:12).
I sometimes think that it is because we forget our true standing (in grace) that we fail so badly in our witness, our evangelism, our declaration of the great goodness of God and so on.
[2] The lofty city.
[a] Characteristics of the lofty city.
[i] High (for the moment) but only in this world.
These are the ones who live in the safe and secure places as far as this world is concerned – see Isaiah 2
[ii] Only of this earth.
They are ground and dust. Lord: Noah’s day who had thought only about the things of this earth.
[iii] Their progression is from bad to worse.
They start out as “lofty.” They are then laid “low.” Then they are brought “low to the ground.” Finally they are brought “down to the dust.” This downward progression is shown wonderfully in Daniel 2. The image of gold head, silver chest, bronze belly, iron legs, iron and clay feet which is obliterated to dust by the stone cut out without hands which then becomes a vast mountain that covers the whole earth.
Paul speaks about this downward progression in the world:
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2Timothy 3:13).
[iv] They are reaping the wages of sin. Their whole aim and drift is DEATH not LIFE.
The lofty city is earning its wages. The wages of sin is death. To dust (Genesis 3). Downward progression. The cursed life. Life cut off from God. Self-satisfied (Isaiah 2, Romans 1).
They are brought so low that they become one with “the dust.” Idea hints at creation of Adam who was made from the dust of the ground and so suggests an unmaking, or an ‘un-creating’ of the city.
[v] The whole world is indicated by this “lofty city.”
We read that “He” (the Lord):
Brings down those who dwell on high, the lofty city;
Lays it low,
Lays it low to the ground,
Brings it down to the dust.
Four times we are meant to understand this as covering the entire globe – the four corners of the world.
[vi] It is city defeated by the Lord.
He did this at calvary but it will be completed at His return. (See Isaiah 2).
[vii] It is a city over which we have victory.
6 The foot shall tread it down— the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.”
How do we play a part in this defeat and victory? “The foot” – implying a single foot will tread down pride. “The feet” – implying many together by their steps – walk of life. Whom will do this? “The poor” “The needy.” The Lord humbles the proud.
[b] The end of the wicked .
[i] They are ungodly.
Even though they are shown grace: They “will not learn righteousness.” (Verse 10). They “will deal unjustly.” (Verse 10). They “will not behold the majesty of the Lord.” (Verse 10). The apostle Paul highlights this type of attitude in his letter to the Romans. He declares that the unrighteous suppress the truth.
[ii] They refuse to learn.
This is a problem when we consider the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Our main mission is to teach and make disciples. But the wicked will not learn righteousness. So, we need to be praying in earnest. Unless the Lord does a work within those we engage we will have no hope of seeing people saved or of declaring God’s goodness. If you plead for grace and you educate with passion, then if the Lord grants salvation, the result will be a new born believer!
We must teach with prayer – much prayer. We must seek the Lord for His help both to teach and for the saving of the souls we minister to. Let it never be said that teaching is not necessary, I believe that teaching is more vital today than it has been for a century. People (Christian people) do not know their Bibles and in not knowing their Bibles they show poor knowledge of the living God.
[iii] They will deal unjustly.
They will deal unjustly even amongst and in the land of uprightness. Such folk live and breathe with fewer and fewer restraints on their practices. The more the nation throws off the shackles that bind them, the more corrupt the nation and individuals become. A person is only truly “free” and at peace when they are “in Christ” and in obedience to His will/ways. We have been made to be in good and right relationship with the Lord. We need to rely on the Lord completely because we will face opposition from those who reject righteousness, and the task of bringing people in will require much prayer.
[iv] Refusal to see Christ as He is.
Many years ago I was living in an area which had many humanists who were very vocal about their faith and very antagonistic about the Christian faith. I managed to get an article in the local newspaper in which I challenged the humanists to consider something key to their viewpoint. If they wanted to exalt the best in humanity as the ideal that should be followed, then why not start with the greatest human being that has ever lived? There can be no doubt whatsoever that Christ, the second and last Adam, was the greatest human being that ever lived.
[v] Refusal to see the truth/obvious.
The fifth characteristic of the wicked is their refusal to see things when they are plainly shown them. The Hand lifted up speaks of:
Judgement. Both final and temporal.
Christ as the right hand of God on Calvary (John 3:14-16).
When there are judgements or chastisements from the hand of God in the world, the world chooses not to see them for what they are. This is particularly true when it comes to the great flood.
[] A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
[] The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
[vi] Unsatisfied and envious.
The wicked exhibit envy and great dissatisfaction. Only the way of the just leads to satisfaction and delight. The way of the wicked always leads to envy and dissatisfaction. This stands to reason because if a person rejects the Lord who made them, and chooses some other deity (themselves, a partner, money, fame or whatever), they will always be unhappy. Such ‘gods’ cannot satisfy!
[vii] Shame and destruction.
There will come a day when the wicked will be made to see what they have done and what they have rejected. Our task is to make the wicked (unsaved, lost), see the truth by preaching and living the gospel. However, the day is coming when every eye will see and know what is true and right (Revelation 1:7).
Psalm 98:1-3 God’s power to save, salvation for the nations, redemption of creation.
On this first Sunday of the New Year we’re going to focus our attention on the power of God, the One we look to. We are meeting here this morning in Roch in Pembrokeshire. Pembrokeshire is in Wales, in the continent of Europe. Europe is on the planet called Earth. Planet Earth is orbiting around a star called the Sun. The Sun belongs to a galaxy called the Milky Way, which contains about 100,000 million other stars. Our galaxy is not the only galaxy in this vast universe; it is one of maybe 100,000 million other galaxies. Who is our God? He is the One who made all of that.
If you were to get in a car that could drive on a new intergalactic highway on a journey to the Sun, driving at a constant speed of 150 miles an hour for 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, it would take about 15 years.
If you set off at the same speed to get to the next nearest star, Alpha Centauri, it would take you about 15 million years to get there. Consider the vastness of our universe. God made it all! This psalm begins,
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” Psalm 98:1
There is a new song because God has done something new. We see that phrase in scripture, “Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things! When you trace those verses, that phrase usually refers to something new that has happened. There is a new song because God has done something new. God has done something specific.
People speculate about what was the occasion of this psalm. What was the new thing that God has done? Possibly, this Psalm was written in response to the exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem. They had been away for 70 years but the Lord had brought them back from captivity. Perhaps this psalm was written in response to this. They sing a new song for this marvellous thing.
“His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”
The sense is that only God could have done this thing that has happened. You will find these words in several places in scripture. They refer to things that only the Lord Himself could have brought about. God’s power is the only explanation.
If the event being remembered is the Exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem, certainly only the Lord could have brought that about. Why did the Exiles return from Babylon? It wasn’t because the fought a military campaign.
Ezra 1:1 tells us is this extraordinary thing, “The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation.”Cyrus makes the proclamation. The people could return home to the city, to their temple, and start rebuilding because the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, the Persian king. He was a pagan king, yet, in Isaiah, God refers to him as, ‘My servant.’
“Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” (Isaiah 44:28).
The only explanation that the people could return was the Lord’s power at work, His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”
Perhaps, this psalm doesn’t remember this event. The Israelites were a people who could trace their history and see the Lord’s hand and see His mighty arm at work. There are several events we could perhaps associate with this psalm. Think of when Israel was captive in Egypt for 400 years. Only the Lord could save them from slavery.
We can think of another deliverance, before exile, when the Assyrian King Sennacherib defeated Israel to the north. Jerusalem was under siege (2 kings 19). The Lord sent word, through Isaiah, that he himself would fight for Israel. Israel is in trouble. The city of Jerusalem is surrounded, but then extraordinary things happen. The deliverance is a deliverance where the Lord is the only explanation.
Maybe, at some point over Christmas, we may have read Luke chapter 1. There are similarities between where Mary sings the Magnificat and Psalm 98. Mary is saying the only explanation of what has been revealed to her is God’s power.
God’s power to save.
Let us be strengthened by the theme of this Psalm. God is doing powerful things for the sake of His people. Can you look at your own salvation and say, ‘He has done wonderful things for me?’ As a Christian, in a secular society, you are quite strange! But the Lord has worked in your life, He has done marvellous things. Why are you here today? God is the only reason. It is the Lord’s power. Who do you look to? It is another year – you may be feeling weak. Perhaps we are discouraged? Look to the Lord. He has saved you.
2. Salvation for the nations.
“The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” Psalm 98:2
Think of the various deliverances of Israel. If this is a song that was written in response to the Exiles returning from Babylon, that was done in the sight of the nations. The mighty Persian Empire, the world superpower of the day, bound together by one king, king Cyrus, yet these people get to go home. The nations see it. The nations wonder at it.
Think of the deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Pharaoh pursued the Israelites but he didn’t return home. Where is Pharaoh? Where are the chariots that went out? They had been consumed by the Red Sea. As Israel journeyed to the Promised Land, the other nations heard about what the Lord had done for Israel. The nations feared because of what God had done for Israel.
When the Lord does marvellous things, works salvation in the lives of His people, the nations, the world around us, our community, see it. Do you want the world around you to see you are different? They may not believe the gospel, but they will wonder at it. They will wonder at the strangeness of it.
The Lord Jesus is the friend of sinners. The world sees. The world wonders. Do you want the world to see that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? You live in a world of service to Him. The world will notice, “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.“ (v.3b).
3. Redemption of Creation
“He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
Psalm 98:3
The Lord remembers something. We can forget things. God never forgets. He remembers His steadfast love. It is just the language of poetry. He never forgets. He is true to His covenants. If the Lord told people they would return from exile after 70 years, they would return after 70 years.
“He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.” Psalm 147:4
However many stars there are, He gives them all names. He knows everything about every star. If that is the case, do you think He well forget His people? Won’t you commit to His care? Won’t you walk in His shelter? What is the problem of our lives? Sin. What is the answer? The Lord Jesus Christ. He came to deal with my sin. He died on the cross for my sin, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). There is the greatest demonstration of His love for you. If He Has done that, will you doubt He is with you in every circumstance in your life?
We are walking through the gravestones of this world. Life is difficult. The closer we walk with Him, the safer we feel. He cares for His people. Do you trust Him? Are you singing a new song? Are you living out your Christian life in the sight of nations, so that all who see you know that you belong to Him? Are you walking and knowing the joy of walking in His shelter?
I want to welcome you here on this most special of Days, which we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. This morning we will have a look at the account of His glorious birth and sing carols of praise to our king.
What do you enjoy about Christmas? Sometimes people say to me, ‘I’m so looking forward to time off work or school, to see friends, to have a break, to relax with food and family, to get lots of presents.’ While some of these things are important, it is nothing compared to the real meaning of Christmas. Everywhere you go people will wish you a happy Christmas. However all the money that is spent and the hustle and bustle means people can tend to forget the real meaning of Christmas. I want to tell you this morning of the greatest gift ever given, foretold for centuries, and is still the greatest gift 2000 years after it was given to us – that gift has been given to us if we accept it.
The First Christmas an angel appeared to some shepherds and said, ‘I bring you good tidings of great Joy.’ (Luke 2: 10-11). At Christmas you can be happy about the gifts, the nice things to eat and the other surprises that you might get on Christmas day. However, you can be especially joyful that the Lord Jesus came to be our Saviour. Without Him there would be no forgiveness for the wrong things we have done, there would be no hope of going to Heaven to be with Him. The promised Saviour came.
The announcement of the angel must have come as a surprise to the shepherds. They were afraid. They did not fully understand all that it meant that the Saviour was born. Here was the most important event in the history of the world so far and they were the first to know that the Saviour had come. What a privilege!
Before this great event in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, let us look further back to the prophet Isaiah who foretold this at least 700 years beforehand. This is a story of a baby born in the most lowly of stables despite being the King of Kings who can save each and every one of us. He is also with us in every circumstance. He is God who is with us!
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
Matthew records the fulfilment of this prophecy in his gospel, 1:18-25. We are here this morning to celebrate the fulfilment of the prophecy from Isaiah 9, which was over 700 years before this account in Matthew chapter 1, when our Creator stepped into His creation in the most unbelievable way, stepping out of eternity into the constraints of time.
The Gospel of Matthew begins by introducing us to the “with-us” Jesus (1:23) and concludes with the same emphasis when Jesus told the disciples: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (28:20).
Matthew 1:22-23 is an important marker in his book. These verses record a momentous fulfillment of prophecy. The fact that Matthew highlights the ‘with us’ theme so early in his gospel unveils this as a key theme. All throughout his account we read of God’s presence with us and ultimately reaching its climax in the last verse when Jesus states to His disciples and us, (Matt 28:20).
God came down from the infinite glory of heaven into the finite world of man. The omnipotent Creator became one of creation’s most helpless – a new born baby.
Many sermons will be preached today celebrating the birth of our Saviour, but today I find myself captured by the meaning of one of His names, Immanuel – which means God with us. During this Advent season I have been contemplating the reason why God would leave the glory of heaven to be born in that lowly stable in Bethlehem.
In Matthew He is given two names. We read in verse 21 He is named Jesus, and in verse 23 He is then named Immanuel. What is the significance of these names?
Immanuel – “God with us” reflects Jesus’ unique nature as God in flesh, but also describes the direction of all of God’s actions from Genesis to Revelation. In the Garden of Eden, we see that God placed Adam and Eve there as more than caretakers of His creation, but also to form a special relationship with Himself as He would walk among them in ‘the cool of the day’.
When Adam and Eve sinned, the relationship drastically changed. Yet even sin and judgement did not change the purposeful path of God’s love. Again and again God has been reaching out to His people in order to rescue them and this rescue plan came to being through the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
The name Immanuel describes His nature, whilst the name Jesus describes His mission. The name Jesus means ‘Saviour’. It is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament and given to our Lord because He will save His people from their sins. This is His special mission from God, our Father: He saves us from the guilt of sin by washing us in His own atoning blood and granting us new life through Him, if we place our faith and trust in Him, asking for repentance of sins.
The earthly rulers of this world might have often called themselves great, conquerors, bold, magnificent, yet the Son of God is content to call Himself a servant, to save God’s people from their sins! His role is shown in John 3:17, ‘For God did not send His son Into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’ The Bible tells us our need for salvation and how Jesus has to be a man to redeem us.
But I want us to look this morning and see the heart of a God who desired to come near His children. He was not content to be a distant deity removed from our real day to day life. Not like Bette Midler’s song which said that God was watching from a distance, no, not our God. He came as close as you could ever imagine. He stepped right into our human world and not even as an adult. He could have just appeared as a man at the Jordan river, been baptised and started His ministry, but no, our God wanted the whole human experience from conception to the grave.
The name Immanuel was first given as a prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
This name given to the Lord Jesus shows His nature. God with us, or slightly changed to God manifest in flesh: Jesus is ‘God with us’. He had a nature like our own in all things, except the sinful part. But Jesus was ‘with us’ in human flesh and blood, and at the same time truly God.
Those who followed Jesus for the three years of his earthly ministry experienced the presence of God with them in a very intimate and personal fashion. During Jesus’ last night with His disciples, Phillip asked Him to show them the Father (John 14:8). Jesus responded to him that if they had seen Him, Jesus, they had seen the Father.
In Matthew 18:20, Jesus tells us that where two or three of us gather, in His name, He will be with us. While we no longer see His physical presence among us when we gather, but we can be assured that He is with us. As the church, we are His body. Wherever we are, He is as well.
In the New Testament gospels, Jesus’ followers experienced the presence of God with them in the person of Jesus. Jesus was God in human form, walking, talking, and eating with them. I have often wondered what it would be like to have spent time with Jesus like that.
But the reality is, we have an even more intimate relationship with God now. While Jesus walked side-by-side with the disciples, we have the Holy Spirit living within us. For those who believe in Jesus, God is with us every moment of every day. God personally entered our very humanity so that He would feel what we feel, live what we live, know the same limitations and the same temptations. His human experience allows Him to relate to us at our deepest point of need. The Christmas story is about a God who is near, a God who is here, a God who is real, a God who understands everything you feel.
Immanuel is so much more than Jesus coming. It is Jesus staying. God not only was with us – God is with us. He has always been with us and always will be with us. He is with us even now. From His coming to His going, God has been reminding us that He is with us.
Jesus came to earth to be ‘with us’, just Joseph and Mary found comfort in this truth, you too can have faith and reassurance that Jesus is Immanuel to all who trust in Him. His name is more than a title, it is a promise and it serves as a signpost until we reach our final eternal destination with Him. He alone is worthy of the name Immanuel, as He is the Holy God who draws near to us and the only One through whom we are able to draw near to God. 1 Peter 3:18 says, ‘For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.’
The baby that was born in Bethlehem, the greatest gift ever given, grew up to be a man who was perfect. He performed miracles, healed the sick, drove out demons, walked on water, and died for our sins. He is our wonderful counselor and Mighty God, who rose again on the third day and now is with us for eternity.
The Lord is our strength, our refuge. He is the one we can lean on in every circumstance as He promises that He will never leave or forsake us, if we put our trust in Him this Christmas.
Immanuel is not just a name to remember at Christmas, but throughout the year. The gift of Christ given at Christmas, is with us forever and He will come alongside us, if we accept the wonderful free gift of salvation today. As the hymn says,
‘Every need His hand supplying, Every good in Him I see; On His strength divine relying, He is all in all to me.’
If you do not know the greatest gift for yourself, do not leave here today without speaking to someone after the service. This could be the greatest gift you will receive today.
Matthew 1:1-17 “Jesus Christ, born in The Likeness of us.”
Human Lineage
2) the sinless descendant
The genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you look at your own genealogy, you may be looking for some royal ancestry, but generally there’s something like a skeleton in the cupboard, something sinful. It reminds us that we’re human. The knowledge and experience of God reminds us we are human. It is a solid truth. We have parents, our parents have parents. Some can trace their genealogy back a few generations. We are all descendants of Adam and Eve. We are told that Adam is the son of God, in Luke’s genealogy. God created Adam.
Matthew begins his Christmas story by tracing the lineage of Jesus Christ. This genealogy shows us that the Lord Jesus Christ had a truly human lineage but also that He is the sinless descendant. Jesus Christ was sent to a sinful, needy, week, last, confused, broken, lawless people like you and I.
1.Human Lineage
The human genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ shows us a broad spectrum of people from all walks of life including kings and commoners. But oddly for the patriarchal Jews of Matthew’s day, there are women in this list – women who were Gentiles. Some of the women and men who were named were notoriously immoral. This list clearly isn’t fabricated. It is as it is. No religious Jew would have put this list together to impress the community to show this great pedigree of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone on this list shares one thing in common – every single one is a sinner, in need of a Saviour, in need of forgiveness, in need of restoration, in need of a new life (Romans 1-3).
Every name is important in this genealogy. Because they are descendants of Adam, they are sinners. All are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Even Mary acknowledged her need of a Saviour (Luke). Let us look at 2 characters to highlight the fact that Jesus Christ is a descendant who is truly human.
Tamar (v3) illustrates that Jesus is the Saviour of sinners. He deliberately associated with sinners, such as tax collectors who were notorious scoundrels. We may think we are not a sinful as Tamer, a prostitute. All of us are in need of a Saviour. In Tamar we see Christ brings salvation to sinners.
We all know what Rahab was famous for! She is known to us as the harlot. Like Tamar, she was a Canaanite – outside of the covenant people of God, ‘not from round here.’ (Joshua 2). Remarkably, she believed in the God of the Hebrews. She had faith. As uncomfortable as she is as a subject, by faith she did not perish. She is an example of faith and works. James makes the point that salvation is by grace through faith. Rahab had faith and expressed her faith through works. Salvation that Christ brings comes to sinners by faith. Tamar and Rahab teaches us that salvation is received by faith.
2. The sinless descendant.
Christ was sinless, fitting to be our Saviour. Jesus Christ was rich beyond all splendour, but for our sake He became poor. He became us. He is associated with us. Christ’s lineage, from these people and from Adam, is a real, meaningful association. Christ became completely human. He was 100% human. There is humanity continuity seen in this lineage.
However, there is something radically different about Jesus – He was completely sinless. His nature was sinless. Christ’s birth was a virgin birth. He was sinless. The Lord Jesus Christ was not guilty in His human life of any actual sin. Never did He utter a word that transgressed the law. Never did His emotions get the better of Him. We witness this as we study His life, His integrity and His honesty. Our Lord and Saviour is the sinless One who teaches us to ask for forgiveness of sin.
There is no sin inherent in Him. In the Lord Jesus Christ, in His very nature, there was no sin, even though He was 100% human. This Christ is the Lamb without blemish or spot (1 Peter 1). Therefore, He was a fitting sacrifice on the cross. This is why the blood that was shed at Calvary was so gloriously precious; There was no sin in Him. None. Our blood cannot atone because we have inherent sin. Christ has no inherent sin whatsoever. His person is pure and holy (Hebrews 7:26).
God sent forth His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. Christ was in the likeness of our flesh, but without sin. He did not come with sinful flesh. He was made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was not made sinful. There is a vital difference. Our sin was transferred to Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice. His righteousness was transferred to us.
Christ came, in the likeness of sinful flesh. This means that a just and holy God can now look on Him and pardon me. I can be forgiven, I can be atoned for, I can be saved. Christ has died on the cross. I am justified by His amazing grace as I put my trust in Him (Romans 8:3). He is the sinless Saviour who dies for me.
God sent a Saviour for sinners. Christ associates with sinners. As you begin to contemplate the last year, in your failures, God sent Christ for us. This genealogy invites such as me to come to Jesus and ask for pardon, to be washed and cleansed. Praise His name.
God intervenes in the affairs of the world all the time. This world is upheld by Him. You and I are here this morning because we are upheld by His gracious hand. Nothing can happen without God ordaining it, without God allowing it. (Jeremiah 23:20). We are constantly surrounded by His divine interventions. He intervenes in a miraculous way. If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you have made a profession of faith. God has intervened in your life, saving you from darkness into His marvellous light. We give Him the glory.
Divine intervention – He speaks with authority.
We see God’s intervention and authority in the gospels. He says, ‘Go,’ ‘Come unto Me,’ ‘Go into the world,’ ‘Follow Me.’ When judged by Pilate, He says, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” (John 19:11). He has intervened in your life. God the Father sent the Son. We see the Spirit of God working and moving in this world, bringing the word of God to our soul. It reveals to us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). He gave His begotten Son. Rejoice that our salvation is based on the finished work at Calvary’s cross by the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice every day – you have been saved.
Salvation is of the Lord. Appreciate God uses whom He will. We are called for a purpose. He has called us. God has chosen us in Christ, to take the word of God and take it to others. The Spirit of God reveals God’s word. He wants you to take this word to all around us.
When God speaks every human being needs to listen.
The angel Gabriel came to a house in Nazareth. He spoke to a young lady. He brought a message that would change this young woman’s life forever. Do we appreciate our lives have been changed forever? We find a wonderful verse in Isaiah 55:11,
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
It will accomplish what He pleases. It will prosper where He sends it. Regardless of what we may do, God continues to work by His Spirit, changing lives. He continues to work in your life, bringing you to a greater appreciation of who God is.
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6).
How wonderful!
The angel spoke to Mary. She listened. Are you listening? Mary was engaged. It was a contractual agreement. She was at home, probably thinking of the time when she would be officially married to Joseph, having a new home. Maybe she was a little anxious as well as happy. It is a life-changing situation going into something you have never experienced before. Mary was looking forward to life with Joseph, then the angel intervened. All of a sudden, her world was turned upside down. She considered the greeting from the angel. What an amazing message! All of a sudden, the almighty God was speaking and something was happening in Mary’s heart. The saving of our souls is a miracle of grace. We are bought with a price and now belong to God.
We read of the miracle of Elizabeth’s pregnancy – how she was barren and conceived in her old age. This message would have impacted Mary’s life. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Are you challenged? Nothing will be impossible? Do you and I believe it?
On hearing this word, Mary willingly agreed and submitted to God. We hear these wonderful words, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38). Mary’s response is an indication that the Spirit of God was at work in her life. We have in us the gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What impact is that having on you each day?
The Holy Spirit has many functions and activities, “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment,” (John 16:8). God has given every human being a conscience. Every human has some knowledge of Him. The Spirit of God is moving, convicting the world of sin, of righteousness and judgement. The Spirit of God has convicted us we were sinners and needed salvation. He has called each of us to follow, to leave and follow.
Mary rejoiced. When God speaks, He expect a response from you and me. Will you follow Me? Will you go for Me?
When God speaks He expect me to respond.
Mary’s willingness to obey brought the blessing of God’s salvation to all human beings. His song shows a willingness to obey she willingly said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”(v.38).
We are called of God, individually. He has been speaking, sharing with you. Will you go for Him?
The angel said, ‘Leave the impossibilities to God.’ Mary said, “My soul [magnifies the Lord.” (v.46). She was not only rejoicing for herself but that God would bring blessings to you and me. She was going to enjoy the food of the land.
“If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; Isaiah 1:19).
For 30 years the Lord Jesus Christ lived in her home. She cared for Him and loved Him. She had the enjoyment of the very best of heaven. She and Joseph had responsibility for caring for the Son of God. She was also blessed to be an instrument in Jesus’ first act of public service (Marriage at Cana). When they ran out of wine she knew who to go to. Where do you go to? We see her faith in God, her Saviour. Led by the Spirit of God, she said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says, do.’ That’s faith! That is the authority God has given you and me. We are servants of the living God. He is the Saviour of our souls and has brought us life.
At the foot of the cross we see Mary standing next to John, the disciple Jesus loved. She looked up at God, her Saviour, the one who she nursed and cared for (Isaiah 49). This was her son. But He was more than her son, He was her God and Saviour. She felt the pain, not only as a mother but as a servant of God. She would have remembered when He said, ‘Do you not know I must be about My Father’s business.’
Has your life been changed? God has intervened in your life and mine. He has saved our souls, blessed us with eternal life. I am looking forward to sharing His glory. The same God who spoke to Mary and Joseph is speaking to you, saying, ‘Will you follow me?’ Will you be obedient to His calling? All He wants to hear is, ‘I will go for You.’ May that be your answer today. May God bless you.
If you were watching Family Fortunes and 100 people were asked in church, ‘Which verse do you go to for comfort?’ one of the top answers would be from Romans 8. This chapter is full of so many truths which you can turn to for comfort, for assurance, peace and hope. Why is it such a popular passage of scripture? It reminds us of glorious truths that when God justifies guilty, condemned sinners, by grace alone through faith alone, in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, none can take them from His hands.
We are all different. The full details of our lives are not known by all, but are by God, including things not seen by others. Just as God speaks to us as individuals, He also speaks to us collectively. No matter what we face in life, in our different struggles, we should all approach Him in the same way. There will be times when we suffer and face difficulties, but there will also be times in our lives when things go well. No matter what we face, our perspective in life should always be the same.
The Christian life, keeping the right perspective.
Paul recognises that there are two ways of approaching our lives. There are two different perspectives of living, which he refers to as the present sufferings. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (v.18). Paul sees two perspectives – one where we are focused on the sufferings of this world and the other where we focus on the glory that is to come. What are the sufferings he is referring to?
Paul knew what is was to suffer (2 Corinthians 11). The suffering Paul refers to here in Romans 8 is to everything we experience in this present age. Everything is corrupted by sin. Even when we think life is doing very well. All of creation is subjected to the bondage of corruption, marred by sin. But in all Paul experiences, he looks to future glory. He encourages us that we too can live this way.
Do we let the negativity of living in a sinful world get us down? We should be saddened to see the broken world and be comforted. Jesus Himself was saddened by the reality of what He saw, the consequences of what sin had done. (John 11). Never let this sorrow turn to negativity. Why do we become so negative? Because we are focused on the moment.
Think of the word ‘moan.’ M is for the moment. Think of the word ‘groan,’ of the ‘gr’ representing glory revealed. When we focus on the moment we moan, but when we focus on the glory revealed, we groan. We long for that day when everything will be restored to how it should be. We are to acknowledge we are broken people living in a broken world. We are to long for that day when creation will be restored. We are to long for that day when glory will be revealed. Paul writes this letter to challenge us to have the right perspective in life, to live our lives in the right way.
In verses 18-25 Paul explains why life is the way it is, but also explains it is only a temporary thing. One day, God’s glory will be revealed. As believers, we should be looking forward to that day. It is not easy to keep this perspective. The wonderful moments in life can cause us to change our perspective. We should be focused on glory revealed but our attention shifts with distractions. Paul would agree it is not easy to keep this perspective.
Paul has incorporated in this chapter reasons why we are to have this perspective and how we can have this perspective in life. There are four things about how we can look forward to that day when glory will be revealed and why we should be looking forward to that day.
I have four points and truths which make up the acronym LIFE.
L. We as believers live by the Spirit. There are two ways of living this life (v.1-11), walking by the flesh or living in the Spirit. You can live your life by flesh – having a sinful nature in which we gratify ourselves. Paul reminds the readers we are a new creation, not controlled by our sinful nature but by God’s Spirit (v.9). This is what enables us to live every day as His children, to look forward to a day when glory will be revealed (v.9-10). Paul makes it clear the Spirit of God dwells in those who know Christ.
I. We, as believes, are in Christ. Salvation is only available through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works. Paul Knows we so quickly forget we are in Christ. He also knows, all too often we turn to our sinful desires. So, he opens chapter 8 with a great truth – if you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ you face no condemnation for your sins.
F. We are free from the bondage of sin. No one likes to be told what to do. To control someone is so debilitating. We are all slaves to sin. Peter, in his second letter, also tells us we are slaves to sin. Jesus also said this. A slave is forced to do what the master wants them to do – sin. Romans 6 teaches and tells us what it means to be slaves to sin. If we are believers we are free from the bondage of sin. We are now slaves of righteousness. ‘Slaves of righteousness’ can be emotive. So why does Paul use this phrase? All the negative confusion we have of slavery is from a human mind. ‘Slaves of righteousness’ is different; the binding here is a binding to God, the holy, mighty, just, gracious, loving God. We can now call Him our loving, heavenly Father.
E. We are embraced by God. When we feel anxious, remind ourselves we are embraced by the living God. It gives such a sense of security. Paul reminds us of why our hope is so secure. He tells us what it means to be embraced by the living God, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (38-39).
Despite all sufferings and challenges, Paul could still look to the future and be positive and rejoice in his sufferings. Why? Because he knew his hope for the future was secure. He knew it wasn’t dependent on him or what he did, that it was all dependent on the Lord Jesus Christ and what He had accomplished. Paul knew he had been embraced by God the Father in a way that God the Father would embrace the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son. Nothing could separate Him from God the Father. This is why we can look forward to the day when God’s glory will be revealed.
I want just to focus on our unchanging message. We must never compromise the truth, but there must be a willingness to be all things to all men, “but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,” (1:23), “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (2:2).
We live in a world that seems to have lost its moorings. Here in Wales we know the reality of churches closing. Some churches remain closed after Covid. Some men leave the ministry after moral collapse. It seems the foundations are being destroyed. Paul tells us to follow the example of Christ, who does not change. The gospel message does not change. Paul is confident we can go back to the Lord Jesus Christ and the truth of His word. We are not alone. He will never forsake us and will fulfil His purposes.
God’s unchanging purpose is still that lost sinners might be saved, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Romans 5:20b). The church exists for the glory of God and the salvation of sinners. How do we achieve our purpose? By never changing the message, showing there is a Saviour who can take the broken pieces of our lives and use them to His glory.
The unchanging pressure
“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,” (1:22).
Every culture has its own form of opposing the gospel. Every generation has its own ways of saying, ‘We don’t want that! Do it this way.’ When Paul wrote to the Romans he said, ‘Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mould,’ “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). Throughout history God’s prophets have faced the same pressures (Isaiah, Amos). Throughout history people have said, ‘Don’t rock the boat. Don’t cause a disturbance.’ Jesus Himself faced pressure. When He fed 5000 people He began to show that people’s lives had to be changed. We are told in John 6, ‘Many turned away from them.’ Jesus actually said to His disciples, ‘Will you also turn away?’ People are compromising the truth, even within conservative evangelical churches. Are you going to turn away?
People compromise the truth because of the pressure of tolerance. It is not easy. The Christian Institute remind us regularly that there is pressure to ban so-called conversion therapy. If that comes in, in effect every preacher who declares that we are sinners and fallen short of the glory of God, that we need to change our ways, that we need to repent, everyone prepared to do that faces the risk of being arrested. Why? Because it goes against the flow. Friends, it is tough. In our day and age, Christianity is no longer the mainstream. The Christian principles are no longer the undergirding principles. We are supposedly those with hate speech.
How do we respond? With the unchanging message, “but we preach Christ crucified,” (1:23), “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (2:2). Paul says this is his uncompromising, unchanging commitment. He will do things God’s way. Paul knew that his responsibility was to preach the Lord Jesus Christ. The One he had persecuted was the One he was to honour. He would not go in his own strength. The message was Christ – Christ crucified, dead, buried, risen, ascended into heaven, and the Holy Spirit.
Friends, we must remind ourselves constantly that we worship God in Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity has one purpose – that God will be glorified, and sinners may be saved. God sent His Son. The Son came in obedience to the Father. The Son and the Father have sent the Spirit in order that God’s truth might go into our world. Paul was sent to preach Christ, but he was sent to preach in the power of the Spirit.
We live in a day when people are concerned to preach the word, but there is not that same emphasis in preaching through the Spirit. Without the work of the Spirit we will not understand. Paul and the other apostles knew the pressure of being told to tone it down. Obey the Lord rather than man.
“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (2:2). Paul made a conscious decision. He faced this pressure. Paul loved his people, the Jews. His heart’s desire for Israel was they would be saved. He was prepared to lose his own salvation so that his own people might be saved. He knows he cannot succumb to pressure.
What is Paul committed to? “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (2:2). Paul uses his words carefully. He uses the name of Jesus and the title of Christ. He calls Him Jesus because He came to save. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17). Do you believe this? We have the solution to put this world right. This world will never be perfect until the Lord Jesus Christ returns. But every time there has been revival there has been a restoration of order within the wider culture. Jesus saves immediately, but He saves ultimately. He saves eternally. Therefore, when Paul says, ‘I’m going to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified,’ he is saying, ‘There is a way to be saved.’
You will never find peace until you find it in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ is His title – the One anointed by God, set aside by God. The apostles faced pressure and the judgement the Jewish leaders wanted to out on them. They were told not to preach, but they turned around and said, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among menby which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). There is no other way to be saved but through Christ. He is the one that God has appointed.
The message is not only Jesus is Saviour, the only means of salvation, but it is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He is the substitute, the only substitute. Writing 700 years before, Isaiah could say,
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).
My brothers and sisters in Christ, as the Holy Spirit deals with you, are there times that you feel so horribly filthy and think, ‘How can I call myself a Christian?’ Satan will use your conscience, and he will condemn you. But I want to say to you, ‘Look to the cross.’ Christ is no longer on the cross. He died and was buried. On the third day He arose. Death is conquered. The price has been paid. He ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God and continues to intercede for His people.
The letter to the Corinthians is a tragic letter. It shows us a church that was in a right mess. Paul deals with the different issues. But before he finishes his letter, as Paul draws things to a summary, he takes the Corinthians back to this glorious truth, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” (1 Corinthians 15).
The message has not changed. He lived in our place. He died for our sins. He bore our sins. He was raised. God in Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, was active in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the unchanging message. This is the message 21st century Britain needs to hear.
The people in Corinth had been born into the immorality of Corinth. Corinth had a notorious reputation. Paul lists sins that will keep us out of heaven, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Sin will keep us out of heaven. Sin will keep us out of the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote a similar list to the Galatian church. But notice, Paul doesn’t stop there. He says, “And such were some of you.” (1 Corinthians 6:11). He is saying, ‘You were caught up in the immorality of Corinth.’ Today, people are up in the immorality of the 21st century.
Paul preaches the glorious message of the gospel. Do you understand the gospel? My sin, your sin, has been dealt with by the Lord Jesus Christ. You have been made holy, declared not guilty in the presence of God. Why? Because of the Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit begins His work, He will often make you feel very uncomfortable, ashamed and broken. He is showing you your sin. But when you understand your sin, He will show you that it has been put on Him. He has died in your place.
In the compromise and the pressure of the 21st century, don’t compromise on this. Hold fast to it. Tell Roch, tell Haverfordwest, tell Pembrokeshire, tell the nations of the world that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. To Him be all the glory and praise.
This wonderful, dramatic account reminds us that the gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to a new life. Here is a man born blind, who, as a result of Jesus’ intervention, can now see. He is repeatedly referred to as the man who was born blind. The point is made, he is no longer blind – there is a radical transformation.
As we read this passage, we see that all is not well for this man as a result of what Jesus has done in his life. We can see a problem, difficulties. The two themes of Christ’s blessing and the challenge of living in the light of that, is a major theme in this chapter.
At the heart of the Christian gospel is the invitation for you and me to say, ‘Jesus is Lord.’ Against the backdrop of the New Testament, of the Roman Empire, there was huge pressure for people to say that Caesar was lord, to acknowledge him as the name above all names. The Christian gospel calls us not to acknowledge men but to acknowledge Christ, who is both God and Man. The phrase, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ is the reminder that we have come to Him in faith. We no longer live our lives serving Caesar, we say, ‘Jesus is Lord’.
In John’s gospel we see a lot of hostility towards Jesus (John 7:1, 19, 25). Chapter 8 ends with an assassination attempt. In Chapter 7 we see an attempt to physically arrest Jesus. Twice we’re told He is under official surveillance. In John’s gospel there is growing hostility towards Jesus. There is also increasing opposition to His teaching (7:15). List of all, we are told in chapters 7 and chapters 8 people say He is demon-possessed, that He is not the Christ.
Why was there such hostility towards Jesus, the friend of sinners? The great reason is His clear claim to be the Messiah. The religious authorities reject this. There is a long war against Jesus. When Paul writes to the Corinthians, in chapter 1 he reminds people, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18). He goes on to say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” (1 Corinthians 1:19). The message of the gospel does that – it challenges, destroys the preconceptions that we have as human beings, about the world, life, ourselves, God. The gospel comes as an intrusion into that. Just as Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah is a massive intrusion into the established Jewish thinking of His day.
As we come to this chapter, we see Jesus responding to the need in this man’s life in a remarkable way. We see that this story is in four parts:
The healing by Jesus The response of the neighbours Interrogation by the Pharisees The follow-up by our Lord and Saviour of this man.
It is a very moving account.
The healing by Jesus (v1-7) This man has only ever known blindness. The disciples, when they see him, ask a curious question, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (v.2). The assumption is he is blind because someone has sinned. But Jesus’ response tells them, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (v3.). Jesus then heals him. It is rather dramatic. The blind man is a new man. He is transformed, suddenly and wonderfully.
The reaction of the neighbours (v8-12). We see a very human response. They struggled to make sense of it. A conversation goes on. People ask, “How were your eyes opened?” (v.10). How is it that they saw him shuffling down the road that morning, blind, bow he sees?
Interrogation by the Pharisees. This leads to the interrogation by the Pharisees. It’s unpleasant. The evidence appears compelling (v.15). But then we see the healing is denied. The Pharisees were divided amongst themselves. A consensus happens – they refused to accept Jesus of Nazareth had power to do these things. (v.16). They thought there must be another explanation (v18) and thought the man had not been blind and received his sight.
They then called for his parents. Maybe they had rejected him after birth (v.20). The parents do not rejoice that they a son has now received his sight; they just want to get away from the Pharisees. They were afraid of the religious authorities (v.22). The man is not only interrogated by the Pharisees and surrounded by the confusion of his neighbours, he is effectively rejected by his parents and finds himself in a very bleak situation.
When you pull these reactions together you see a pattern of what we often see from people when we seek to bring the news of Christ to them. When we seek to share the gospel, people may be confused. We may experience hostility from some. We may even experience rejection from some.
The fourth movement in this account is most wonderful and glorious. Jesus has been present at the beginning of the chapter. He heals the man then seems to disappear. It’s all about the man, his neighbours, the Pharisees and his parents. That’s the bulk of this chapter – until we read in verse 35 that the man had been thrown out of the synagogue. Being thrown out of the synagogue was a really serious thing, effectively becoming an outcast in the whole community. You are regarded as being unrighteous, a pariah. People would not have wanted to have had anything to do with you at all. You were little better than a leper. This man could see, but now he is incredibly lonely and facing the full rejection of the whole community.
Against that backdrop we read, “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (John 9:35). The phrase, ‘The Son of Man’ is an important one. It’s a phrase that has it roots in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Daniel. One of the visions that Daniel sees is of Christ, the second person of the Godhead, in all His glory and He is referred to as looking like a son of man. When Jesus uses that phrase, He is using it in a theological way to speak of Himself as being the Messiah.
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?” What could make all the rejection that this man had gone through, worth it? The man expresses his ignorance (v.36). Jesus draws attention to Himself (v.37). The man came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (v.38).
What difference should this passage make to you and me? We see the centrality of Jesus. He is central to the blind man, to the neighbours, to the Pharisees, to us. When God is at work, Christ is always central. The Son was sent to do the will of the Father. In all the works of God that go on in the world, Jesus Christ is always at the centre. It is He who answers the disciples’ question about blindness. It is He who calls Himself the Light of the World (v.4). It reminds us that as long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who was sent. Jesus Christ is the centre of the purposes of God, who sent Him into the world with the fullness of the Spirit. It is Jesus who is the centre of everything.
In the church, in all that we do and in all that we seek to do, particularly in our relationship with the unbelieving world around us, we need to make sure that Jesus Christ is the centre of everything. Not just the centre in our praying and in the acknowledgement of the need of God’s blessing upon what we do, but to be the centre of all that we do. When we have opportunities to speak to people about our faith, we need to make sure they hear of Jesus Christ – why He came and what He’s done. We need to point people to Jesus Christ, the one who transforms life.
As well as the centrality of Jesus, we see the power of Jesus. If we would see life and growth in the church, if we would see change and impact into the communities around us, it will be because the focus is on Jesus – for that is where the power is. The power is the power of the Holy Spirit whose great passion is to glorify the Son
The healing of the blind man is utterly supernatural. This reminds us of the radical nature of Biblical Christianity. Paul says the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but power. “For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20). That power is seen in bringing people out of the wisdom of this world to faith in Jesus Christ.
The message we have is proclaim Jesus Christ, who has been raised from the dead. It is ultimately a message of power. Coming to an awareness of the reality of sin is not natural. We need the power of God to do that. What can convince neighbours, friends, you, that you’re a Sinner? The power of God. The church is confident is always in the Holy Spirit. How can we imagine the community of Roch being saved? Humanly speaking, it can’t. But the church rests on the power of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of the gospel. This is why we need a big vision. We must never be comfortable with the way things are.
We see power most clearly in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Christian’s life, having come to see and know Christ, is to be lived for the glory of God. “Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (v.3). To many, this statement is offensive to modern thinking. Why? Jesus is saying, ‘This man was born blind that one day the glory of god might be seen in his life.’ This is seen through his healing. It is being seen now as we recount these words 2,000 years later.
Our lives are to be lived for the glory of God. What is the glory of God? The glory of God is God being God – God doing what only God can do. God acting in ways that only He can act. This is to be seen in your life and in my life as Christians. This is why we are called to live now according to the word of God. We are to live lives which show the fruit of the Spirit. We are to live sacrificially, loving our enemies. We live following Jesus Christ, being more and more like Jesus Christ.
This passage ends on a most wonderful moment. The man who was being rejected by his parents, the religious leaders and confused neighbours, ends with the compassion of Christ. With almost total rejection, Jesus finds him and, in His hum humanity, Jesus didn’t know where he was. He looked for him and went to him in love and compassion. The question, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ Jesus is asking, ‘Was it all worth it?’
The answer is ultimately new life in Jesus Christ. He saw. His understanding was opened. Jesus tells him He is the Son of Man, the Messiah, Christ, and to worship Him, trust Him and come to Him.
Whatever might be the consequences for us living for Christ in this world, of acknowledging His centrality, His uniqueness, wherever His power may take us, He is always compassionate towards His people.
Penuel Baptist Chapel, Roch 