Historical Posts
Isaiah 61:1-2; 42:6-7 – Christ: The Fulfillment of Prophecy – audio
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Text: Isaiah 61:1-2; 42:6-7
Introduction
Many years before the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, many prophets foretold the people about him. Perhaps Isaiah, the “Messianic Prophet,” is most well-known.
Isaiah records prophecies of His birth (Isaiah 7:14-15) and death (Isaiah 53). Many other important aspects of His life are also included throughout the book.
When Jesus finally came to this earth, His mission was not to destroy the things said of Him, but rather to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-18). Yes, every single prophecy of Him came true (Luke 16:17; 24:44).
Peter preached the fulfillment of His suffering (Acts 3:18), and Paul the fulfillment of His death (Acts 13:29). Jesus knew these would be fulfilled, and prepared His disciples (Luke 18:31-33).
Body
Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy in the hearing of many in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16-21). Isaiah prophesied these words (Isaiah 61:1-2; 42:6-7), and now the time has come for them to be fulfilled.
A. The Spirit of the LORD was upon Him (Luke 4:18). This was true at one point physically at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:16-17), but always spiritually (John 3:34).
B. Jesus was anointed to preach the gospel to the poor (Luke 4:18). The disciples of John saw and heard this (Luke 7:22; Matthew 11:5). Jesus said those that were poor in this world were blessed because the kingdom of God had come to them (Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20). The apostles Paul and James explained that even though we may poor in this world, we can be rich through Christ (2 Corinthians 6:10; 8:9; James 2:5).
C. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18). Many times people suffered physically because of heartache, and Jesus healed them (as in the death of Lazarus, John 11). However, Jesus also healed the hearts that were broken spiritually (Luke 24:25-27; Acts 2:37ff.).
D. Jesus proclaimed liberty to the captives (Luke 4:18). There was a time when slaves and property were set free: in the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8ff.). Some commentators see Jesus liberating men in this regard, but also all sinners are set free from their sin in Christ (John 8:31-32; 14:6; 17:17; 2 Peter 2:19).
E. Jesus recovered sight to the blind (Luke 4:18). There are many instances in which Jesus healed a blind person, as John’s disciples were witnesses (Matthew 11:5). A blind man was healed in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-25), Bartimaeus outside of Jericho (Luke 8:46-52), the man in the pool of Siloam (John 9:1-7), and countless others. However, there are many spiritually blind that Jesus can help to see! He taught the Pharisees that is one reason He came into the world (John 9:39-41). He also taught His disciples they needed to see spiritually (Mark 8:18). Sadly, no matter what Jesus did, some still did not believe and thus were blinded (John 12:37-41; Isaiah 53:1; 6:9-10). Later Paul explained Christ’s role in our spiritual lives (Romans 11:7-10).
F. Jesus set at liberty those that were oppressed (Luke 4:18). This is very similar to those that were captive and set free (see II. D. above). Isaiah prophesied of this as well (Isaiah 58:6), knowing that he could proclaim liberty; only Christ could grant liberty!
G. Jesus proclaimed the acceptable year of the LORD (Luke 4:19). Just as Isaiah prophesied about the acceptable time and day of salvation (Isaiah 49:8), Christ realized it! Paul said that time is here, and the day is now (2 Corinthians 6:2)!
Conclusion
Yes, every prophecy of Christ has come true. He is the Son of God, and gives us eternal salvation. Won’t you accept Him, and be saved today?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Isaiah 01:18 Jesus Paid It All – audio
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Text: Isaiah 1:18
Based on the Hymn, “Jesus Paid It All”
Introduction
A. What did Jesus pay? What was the cost?
B. It has been stated that all religious systems can be spelled with just two letters—D O. The gospel of Christ, however, is spelled with four letters—D O N E!
1. According to author K. W. Osbeck in, “Amazing grace: 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions” this hymn text, written by a woman named Elvina Hall, speaks pointedly to this basic truth, which is the very basis of our Christian faith.
2. Mrs. Hall wrote these words one Sunday morning while seated in the choir loft of the Monument Street Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland, supposedly listening to the sermon by her pastor, the Revelation George Schrick. The pastor recalled that the church organist, John Grape, had just previously given him a copy of a new tune that he had composed, which he had titled “All to Christ I Owe.” To the amazement of all, they soon discovered that John Grape’s tune fit perfectly with Elvina Hall’s words scribbled on the flyleaf page of the hymnal.
3. Since its first published appearance in 1874, this hymn has been widely used in churches, especially for the communion services.
Body
I. LET US HEAR WHAT THE SAVIOR SAYS TO US.
A. He tells us that our strength indeed is small.
1. Paul says that when we were yet without strength Christ died for us – Romans 5:6
2. We are unable to stand against sin without God on our side – 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
a. We can do all things with Christ – Philippians 4:13
b. However we can do nothing without Christ – John 15:1-6
c. We have no hope without Christ – Ephesians 2:12
B. We are children of weakness, but we need to watch and pray.
1. This refers to the child of God.
a. We are to watch for the second coming – Matthew 25:13
b. We are to pray for forgiveness of our sins – Matthew 6:12
c. We are to pray that others will come to Christ – 1 John 5:16
2. Though the flesh is weak, our spirit is to be strong – Matthew 26:41
C. We are to find everything we need in Christ.
1. We do that by studying his word – 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 1:3
2. He word makes us complete and thoroughly furnishes us – 2 Timothy 3:17
D. Most people look in all the wrong places – Matthew 7:13, 14
1. Some look to the wisdom of the world – 1 Corinthians 1:19-21
2. Some look to themselves for answers – Jeremiah 10:23
3. We all need to look to Christ – Hebrew 12:2
II. LET US NOTICE THAT WE HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO OFFER CHRIST.
A. We are saved by God’s grace Ephesians 2:8, 9
1. This does not mean that we are saved by grace alone – James 2:24, 26
2. This does mean that God has given us an opportunity to come to him and without that opportunity we would be lost – Romans 6:17
B. Salvation is free and cannot be bought – Romans 6:23
C. We must wash ourselves in the blood of the lamb – Revelation 7:14
III. LET US NOTICE THAT WHEN WE STAND BEFORE THE THRONE.
A. We shall all appear before the throne – 2 Corinthians 5:10
1. Every tongue shall confess – Romans 14:10-12
2. Every eye shall see him – Revelation 1:7
B. We shall stand in him complete.
1. If we live as he commands we will be complete and will have salvation – 1 John 5:13
2. We won’t have to wonder where we will spend eternity – Matthew 25:34
Conclusion
A. We have seen that
1. The Savior tells us that our strength indeed is small, that we are to watch and pray and find in Him our all in all.
2. Nothing good have we that would buy his grace, we will wash our garments white in the blood of the lamb.
3. When before the throne, we will stand in Him complete; Jesus died our souls to save and our lips shall still repeat.
B. Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Isaiah 53:04-06 Jesus Bore it all that You Might Live – audio
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Text: Isaiah 53:4-6
Introduction
You and I have a great burden, load, or weight, something in which is very heavy, we can not bear alone.
This burden that needs lifted from our shoulders is the deadly weight of sin – 1 John 3:4
All of us have this weight on our shoulders – Romans 3:10, 23
Jesus bore all the weight of our sin on the cross that we might live. We stood condemned to die, but Jesus freely took our place that we might live – 1 Peter 2:24
Body
- Before Jesus went to the cross, He bore mockings of the solders whom stripped Him of His clothes and platted a crown of thorns on His head, saying “Hail King of the Jews – Matthew 27:27-31. Jesus, bore the physical pain and shame of crucifixion, He bore the cruel mockings of the Jews – Matthew 27:39-43. He also bore ridicule of one of the malefactors crucified with Him – Luke 23:39.
- Why did Jesus have to bear it all for the sins of the world? Because, almost all things, by the law, are purged by shedding blood – Hebrews 9:22. And that the animal sacrifices of the Law of Moses were not sufficient to take away sins – Hebrews 10:1-4. This is why Jesus offered himself once for the sins of the world because, He is the perfect sacrifice for sin – Hebrews 9:28.
- Jesus bore it all to break the chains/bonds of sin and to set the captives free. Jesus bore it all to conquer sin and death, so those that would believe and obey Jesus Christ would be saved – John 3:16.
- The Holy Spirit along with Jesus is pleading with you to come that you might live – Revelation 22:17.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Harry (Andy) Anderson Jr.Return to the Home Page
Isaiah 09:06-07 Christmas
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(The Celebration of Christmas)
Text: Isaiah 9:6-7
Introduction
1. “Christmas” is an annual holiday celebrated by many
a. Millions commemorate the birth of Jesus on this day
b. Many consider it as one of “the most holy” of religious holidays
c. For some, it marks one of the few times they attend church services
2. But were you aware that…?
a. Christians in the NT did not celebrate the birth of Jesus as an annual observance?
b. Most Protestant churches did not begin celebrating Christmas until the 19th century?
c. Most churches of Christ still do not have annual observances of Christ’s birth
3. This may prompt questions in the minds of some
a. How did the yearly observance of Jesus’ birth get started?
b. Should the Lord’s church involve herself in such a holiday?
c. How about observing certain elements of it as individuals?
Body
I. THE BIRTH OF JESUS
A. IN THE BIBLE
1. “The New Testament provides no clues in this regard.” – Encyclopedia Britannica
2. The NT simply states that it happened in the days of Caesar Augustus and while Quirinius was governing Syria – Luke 2:1-2
3. Most scholars place the year of Jesus’ birth between 4 – 6 B.C.
4. The actual year is uncertain, let alone the month and day
B. IN HISTORY
1. Sextus Julius Africanus popularized the idea that Jesus was born on December 25 in his Chronographiai, a reference book written in 221 AD. – Wikipedia, “Christmas”
a. Based on the assumption that Jesus died on March 25
b. Based on a Jewish belief that prophets died on the same date as their conception
c. Thus if Jesus was conceived on March 25, then He was born nine months later assuming a gestation period lasting exactly nine months
2. However, Orthodox churches celebrate the birth of Jesus on January 6th or 7th
3. The fact is that no really knows what day, month, or year Jesus was born
4. If we don’t know exactly when Jesus was born, then how did the annual celebrations of His birth begin?
II. THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS
A. IN THE BIBLE
1. There is no reference to Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus as an annual observance
2. The only event of Jesus’ life that was celebrated regularly was His death, done weekly in the observance of the Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7
3. Paul expressed concern about observing days, months, and years – Galatians 4:9-10
4. The Bible does not support the idea of an annual celebration of the birth of Jesus
B. IN HISTORY
1. The identification of the birth date of Jesus did not at first inspire feasting or celebration – Wikipedia, “Christmas”
a. Tertullian does not mention it as a major feast day
b. In 245 A.D, Origen denounced the idea of celebrating Jesus’ birthday
c. The earliest reference to Christmas is in a calendar in 354 A.D.
d. Soon after it was introduced to Constantinople (379), Antioch (380), Alexandria (430)
2. Among Protestant churches, especially in the US – ibid.
a. During the Reformation, Protestants condemned Christmas as”trappings of popery” (Christmas literally means “the Mass of Christ”, or “mass on Christ’s day”)
b. England’s Puritan rulers banned it in 1647, it was reinstated in 1660
c. Puritans of New England disapproved of Christmas, it was outlawed from 1659 to 1681
d. Christmas fell out of favor in the US after the American Revolution, as it was considered an English custom
e. Interest in Christmas in America was revived through novels by Washington Irvin and by immigrants from Europe bringing their customs
f. Christmas was declared a U.S. federal holiday in 1870
g. The annual observance of the birth of Christ has been adopted only after great controversy among both Catholic and Protestant churches
3. So we don’t know when Jesus was born, and we do know that an annual observance of His birth did not begin for hundreds of years after the church began, what about today…?
III. SHOULD CHRISTMAS BE A WORK OF THE CHURCH?
A. PAUL GAVE WARNINGS REGARDING FEAST DAYS
1. He expressed his concern for the churches in Galatia – Galatians 4: 8-11
a. Not that their practice was wrong per se, only but he was concerned
b. From the context, his concern pertained to “why” they were doing these things
1) If they believed it was necessary to be saved, then Paul’s labor among them was in danger of being in vain
2) For seeking justification through the Law, religious feast days, etc., causes one to fall from grace and become estranged from Christ! – cf. Galatians 5:4
2. Paul admonished the Colossians not to let anyone “judge” them – Colossians 2:16-17
a. Some were seeking to bind the Law upon the Gentile believers – Acts 15:1,5
b. Gentile Christians were told not to let any one judge (condemn) them, for salvation is in Christ, not in the keeping of the religious feast days of the Law
3. Yet Paul himself was not averse to observing certain feast days apart from the church
a. He did not hesitate to keep Jewish customs when expedient 1 Corinthians 9:19-20
1) He had Timothy circumcised – Acts 16:1-3
2) He took a vow – Acts 18:18
3) He sought to keep a Jewish feast in Jerusalem – Acts 18:19-21
4) He participated in purification ceremonies, which included animal sacrifices – Acts 21:17-26; cf. Numbers 6:13-20
b. However, his teaching made clear:
1) It should be kept on an individual basis – cf. Romans 14:5-6
2) It should not be bound on others – cf. Galatians 2:3-5
3) It had nothing to do with our justification in Christ – Galatians 5:4-6
4. Where Paul drew the line was in making such matters church doctrine or practice, in which people would be compelled to participate in them
B. JESUS WARNED OF THE DANGER OF HUMAN TRADITIONS
1. He rebuked the scribes Pharisees for their use of traditions – Mark 7:1-13
a. They made their traditions necessary for all to observe – Mark 7:7
b. In keeping their traditions, they laid aside the commands of God – Mark 7:8-9
2. Traditions of men are wrong when they:
a. Become matters of doctrine or required practice, bound upon all
b. Displace the commands of God by the very keeping of the traditions
3. Feast days are therefore like traditions; in certain situations they can be matters of expediency, but they can become a stumbling block to others!
C. MAKING APPLICATION IN REGARDS TO CHRISTMAS
1. The Bible is silent regarding any observance of Christ’s birth
a. God and Jesus evidently did not deem it necessary for the church
b. Any observance is based upon human tradition, not God’s Word
2. As a human tradition, we must be very careful – cf. Mark 7:7-9
a. It cannot become a matter of doctrine, which is bound upon others
b. It cannot displace the keeping of God’s commandments (do those who come only on Easter believe that it renders the command in Hebrews 10:25 of none effect?)
3. An annual observance by the church is certainly unwise, if not wrong
a. It intertwines human traditions with God’s commands for His church
b. It forces people to observe what is a human tradition
4. On an individual basis, if one wishes to esteem one day above another:
a. It is between him and the Lord – Romans 14:5-6
b. Be careful not to condemn those who differ – Romans 14:4, 10-12
c. Be sensitive to the convictions of others – Romans 14:13-19
5. As for pagan elements that have become intertwined with the Christmas holiday
a. Perhaps this is best left on an individual basis
b. My own understanding is that we are free in Christ to change what may have been a religious practice at one time for personal use as expediency
1) E.g., using circumcision for hygienic purposes
2) E.g., exchanging gifts among friends and family
Conclusion
1. My view of Christmas is similar to how I view Thanksgiving
a. I know the idea of an annual observance is foreign to the Scriptures
b. As Christians we should give thanks and celebrate Christ’s birth year around
2. But seeking to “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42)
a. The Lord’s church should refrain from adding human traditions to its work and worship
b. Even so, I am grateful that at least once a year people think about Jesus’ birth
3. My prayer is that people will do more than think about His birth once a year
a. That we be thankful for His coming to this earth every day
b. That we will submit to His rule and be citizens of His kingdom foretold long ago:
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. – Isaiah 9:6-7
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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