Title: The Sign
Scripture: Isaiah 7: 14
Date: December 24, 2009
Place: SGBC, Princeton, NJ
There is but one Sign that the Lord gives. The Sign is Christ Jesus.
I. THE LORD SHALL/MUST GIVE THE SIGN.
Isaiah 7: 14: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign.
This is the first doctrine of the Sign. The Lord himself shall give it. The sign is the Lord himself, given by the Lord himself; the child born is the Son given. He is the Truth, the Sign, the Son given, which the Lord himself shall give (Isaiah 9:6; I John 4: 9, 10.)
LOVE FOR GOD-HATERS
The reason this is such a miracle of God’s grace is because all the children God elected to save are, by nature, dead, pious, self-righteous haters of God just like Ahaz. The LORD tells Ahaz to ask for a Sign of the LORD. The Sign is the same whether in the height above or in the depth below. But Ahaz was too pious, too self-righteous, to obey God. Under a pretense of honoring God, Ahaz refuses the truth of the gospel. Isaiah 7: 12: But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. This is all men by nature.
Isaiah rebukes his hypocrisy with all authority. 13: And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; These were the direct descendents of David from whose lineage Christ our Salvation would be born, but salvation is not of blood. Ahaz’s resistance of the gospel was wearisome to Isaiah, but worse it was hypocrisy against God. Is it a small thing for you to weary men, [God’s messenger] but will ye weary my God also?
AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS PEOPLE SEEK A SIGN
Why does the Lord command him to ask a sign when in the New Testament he said and evil and adulterous generations seeks after a sign? The Jews—religious men--seek after a sign other than the one Sign given by the Lord himself….which is Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Lord himself.
God sends Isaiah with no other gospel because no other divine revelation than the Lord Jesus Christ will make men believe God in truth. That is why our Lord said “no sign shall be given” except the one Sign that God has given. But they said, “We would see a sign from thee. We will believe any thing, do anything, follow any one, any where if you give us any other sign than the One Sign, the Lord himself.”
Therefore, the Lord himself must give the Sign. The Lord himself must make his children to behold he is the Sign given or else we will take to ourselves his governing power and honor. The first doctrine is: the Lord himself shall give you a sign.
II. JESUS IS GOD THE SON
Illustration: Is Jesus God?
Jesus the Man is God the Son--all God and all Man.
Isaiah 7: 14: Behold, a virgin shall conceive (turn to Matthew 1)
CONCEIVED OF THE HOLY GHOST, NOT MAN
Christ Jesus is the Seed of woman in Genesis 3: 15. He is the Seed promised to Abraham in whom God’s elect from among all people on earth will be blessed in Genesis 22: 18; Galatians 3: 16.) Christ is the Holy Seed, the Substance, the Life, within that leafless tree called Israel in Isaiah 6: 13 and for which his remnant was preserved. This is that new thing done in the earth in Jeremiah 31: 22.
Matthew 1: 18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19: Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Jesus is flesh and blood, a Man. But Joseph is not the father of Jesus. Jesus was conceived in the virgin of God the Holy Ghost. Jesus is God the Son. Here are two reasons this is of utmost importance:
GOD IS THE JUSTIFIER OF ALL WHO BELIEVE
First, for God to be the Justifier of his people, God had to come in the person of his Son. God will provide himself a Lamb (Genesis 22: 8.) God was in Christ reconciling his elect Jew and Gentile unto himself (2 Corinthians 5: 19.) God is just and THE JUSTIFIER of all who believe (Romans 3: 26.)
JESUS IS HOLY MAN AND A FIT SACRIFICE FOR SIN
Secondly, in order to save his people from their sins, Christ Jesus had to be a Man like his brethren but holy, without sin. Every child conceived of a man is conceived in sin. I was conceived in sin from my father, him from his, back to Adam. From our inward part out, we are sin because we are conceived in sin and grow in sin in the womb.
Psalm 51:5: Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6: Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
We are separated from God in sin from the womb.
Psalm 58:3: The wicked are estranged from the womb:
The result of being sin by conception is…as soon as we are born all we do is think, speak and do only sin—“they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”
Psalm 58: 1: Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? 2: Yea, in heart ye work wickedness;
God accepts only holy perfection. Being born of the Holy Ghost, Jesus is holy from conception.
Luke 1:35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Our text says:
Isaiah 7: 15: Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
When Christ Jesus was born, he grew in wisdom and stature as a man and the grace of God was upon.
Psalm 40:8: I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Jesus Christ the Son of God, from conception, to the cross, to the tomb—became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He is perfection in nature, AND he thought, spoke and did perfection, faithful to his Father and to his brethren.
Because he knew no sin, he was a fit, spotless sacrifice, without spot or blemish. He is the spotless Lamb of God, the High Priest, the Mercy Seat, the Propitiation for the sin of his people.
Hebrews 10: 5: Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7: Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,)to do thy will, O God…9. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10: By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
Review: God shall give this One; secondly, Jesus is the GodMan-all God and all Man, holy, the spotless Lamb of God.
III. JESUS IS THE FIRSTBORN SON OF GOD
THE FIRSTBORN AND THE PASSOVER LAMB
Throughout scripture, God’s word concerning the firstborn pointed to Christ Jesus. In Egypt, all the firstborn in the land of Egypt died, man and beast. Yet, Israel’s firstborn sons were not slain because, in type, God gave his Firstborn Son, Christ Jesus, the Passover Lamb, who died in their place, redeeming them out of the house of bondage. That Passover Lamb foreshadowed the strength of God’s hand, Jesus Christ, the Firstborn, Son of God, the Lamb of God, the Redeemer of his people.
Illustration: God glories in his Son. We like to talk about our children. God will have his Firstborn Son proclaimed as long as time is.
Our text, Ahaz is in the midst of an international, political hotbed, but God sent Isaiah to king Ahaz with no other message but the gospel of his Son. So too, after delivering Israel from Egypt, God would have his true children to declare the message of his Firstborn Son, the Lamb of God, over and over and over to their sons and daughters throughout their generations. So God gave them his word concerning the firstborn.
Exodus 13: 1: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2: Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine [they were to slay the firstborn of beast and redeem the firstborn of their children] 14: And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: 15: And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. 16: And it shall be for a token [a sign, the gospel of salvation] upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
THE FIRST TO OPEN THE WOMB
As with all the law of God, no one ever truly fulfilled this law because no child ever opened the womb. The womb is opened at conception, not at birth. BUT THE FIRSTBORN SON OF GOD FULFILLED THIS LAW!
Isaiah 7: 14: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, AND [Behold, a virgin shall] bear [GIVE BIRTH] to a son…
THE HONOR OF THE FIRSTBORN
The significance of the Firstborn is that the firstborn son is holy, separated unto God, the one to whom the Father entrusts his house and all his brethren. Therefore, the Firstborn receives all the inheritance and blessing from his Father and all the glory and praise from his brethren.
Genesis 49: 3: Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: [Jacob took the birthright from him because he sinned against his own father. He gave it to Judah] 8: Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. 9: Judah is a lion’s whelp:…my son,…unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11: Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
Christ Jesus is God’s Firstborn, God the Father’s Might, He is the Beginning , The Excellency of Dignity and Power (not excellency of speech, but stand in Excellency of his Power.) He has broken the neck of his enemies, he washed his garments in wine—made sin for us. He was faithful through and through, his teeth white with milk—he knew no sin. He made his people the righteousness of God in him. He is bound to us and we to him. All his father’s children shall bow down before him—every knee shall confess he is Lord of lords and King of kings
Colossians 1: 15: [HE] is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature:…18: And he is the Head of the body, the church: who is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all…he might have the preeminence. 19: For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
I hope to look more at this another time, but for now try to meditate on this wonderful blessing of God: Jesus the Firstborn Son of God and his spiritual brethren are so inseparably one that God the Father calls his Son his Firstborn and he calls his elect, spiritual Israel his firstborn. Jesus Christ the Firstborn Son is holy unto the Lord—those chosen and called of God are holy and separated unto God in him. Jesus Christ the Firstborn Son is the glory of the Father—those justified in the Firstborn are the glory of the Father.
THE INHERITANCE BELONGS TO THE FIRSTBORN SON
Every blessing that belongs to Jesus the Firstborn belongs to his brethren. Wherever you find mention of Christ the Firstborn—you find mention of inheritance. The context of Romans 8: to give the believer assurance to walk after the Spirit because we are One with Christ Jesus the Firstborn.
Romans 8: 16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together....[According to his eternal purpose, God shall work all things together for the good of them who love God, them that ARE THE CALLED--CALLED FIRSTBORN SONS IN HIS FIRSTBORN] 29: For whom he did foreknow,…[all in one simultaneous choosing of his people he blessed us with all spiritual blessings: God foreknew, predestinated, called, justified and glorified all his elect in Christ the Firstborn. He did it for this reason] that he might be the Firstborn among many brethren…31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32: He that spared not his own Son,[Firstborn Son] but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him [just as his Firstborn has been givgen the inheritance] also freely give all things? [Our Elder Brother will divide the inheritance with us] 33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Luke 1: 32: He shall be great [Elder, Firstborn), and shall be called the Son of the Highest: [Immanuel Jesus God our Savior with us, the Son of God] and the Lord God shall give unto him [the inheritance] the throne of his father David: 33: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end….Isaiah 9: 6: The government shall be upon his shoulder…7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Review: This is the Sign of God’s salvation: 1. The LORD shall/must give the Sign.—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his only begotten Son the propititiation for our sins. 2. Jesus Christ is God the Son--Behold, a virgin shall conceive, born of the Holy Ghost, holy and separate from sinners, the spotless Lamb of God--:lo a body hast thou prepared me, lo, I come to do thy will O, God.” 3. Jesus Christ is the Firstborn— Behold, a virgin shall bear a son. He is the glory of God, the excellency and power of God the Father, the Captain over all our enemies, to whom his brethren shall come and who receives the inheritance and makes us partaker with him-- Here is the fourth sign.
IV. ALL HIS CHILDREN SHALL WORSHIP HIM.
Isaiah 7: 14:…and [thou O virgin] shall call his name Immanuel.
Mathew 1: 21: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22: Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Be turning to Luke 1: 45-55.)
GOD'S VIRGINS
Those whom God saves by his grace are his virgins—pure, white, washed, called, kept, preserved and presented to himself without spot or wrinkle—they shall call Jesus, Immanuel—God our Savior. In Isaiah, it says “the Virgin” shall call his name Immanuel. In Matthew 1: 23, it says “they” shall call his name Immanuel. Everything in Isaiah 7 is specifically said about the miracle of grace which God worked in the virgin, Mary. If we find out what God did for Mary, how she called his name Immanuel, then we will find out how all the “they” truly call him, Immanuel. Those whom God saves by his grace are his virgins—pure, white, washed, called, kept, preserved and presented to himself without spot or wrinkle—they shall call Jesus, Immanuel—God our Savior. No man can but by the Holy Ghost.
While as yet Mary was a virgin, before she ever gave birth, God revealed who it was in her womb and she worshipped the one in her womb.
Isaiah 7: 14:…and [thou O virgin] shall call his name Immanuel.
Here is how the virgin, and how all God’s true virgins, call Christ Jesus Immanuel: read Luke 1: 45-55. God chose her. The Lord proclaimed to her everything we have heard here tonight. He shall give the Sign. God made her to behold the one in her womb is God her Savior, the Firstborn, the Lamb of God. God made her willing to worship him.
ALL GOD REQUIRES
The law of the firstborn called for the parents to come before the High Priest with the firstborn, to declare this is the firstborn, and to redeem him with the pure shekel of the sanctuary. Also, it was a time to offer a sacrifice, a lamb, but for those too poor as was Mary, a pair of turtledoves.
But by faith in Christ, with that infant in her arms she came with the High Priest, with the Firstborn, with the Pure Shekel of the Sanctuary, with the Lamb of God, with him who was the end of the law and all her acceptance with God.
Review: First, the Lord himself shall give the Sign. Secondly, the Sign is Jesus the GodMan, holy and without sin. Thirdly, the Sign is the Firstborn, the Lamb of God, the one on whom the government of God rests, who alone is the salvation and the worker of all good works for God and his brethren. Fourthly, the Sign is all his virgins shall be brought to call him Lord our Savior.
APPLICATION:
First, repent from attempting to save yourself to God and believe on his Son, Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 7: 4: And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted… [concerning all your enemies] 7: Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.9:…If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
Secondly, if you are a witness of Christ then be a witness of Christ—hold forth the Sign. Isaiah preached repentance from all vain refuge to God and faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. No other Sign shall be given, God our Savior must save his people from their sins, and he shall.
Thirdly, as you hold forth the Sign, continue in him. Though the world goes after other confederacies as did Ahaz, though religious multitudes refuse the waters of Shiloah that go softly, continue to, “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted…believe and be established."