Three Ways Jesus and the Church Change the World

THREE WAYS JESUS AND THE CHURCH CHANGE THE WORLD Spring Valley Mennonite; January 15, 2023; Isaiah 42:1-9; John 14:12 Living as we do in the 21st century, more than 2000 years after the birth of Jesus Christ, it is easy to take for granted the monumental changes brought about by Jesus' first Advent. Isaiah prophesied of these changes and this morning we are going to examine three profound predictions present in the first nine verses of Isaiah 42. Jesus said in John 14:12, "Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father." The world-wide preaching of the Gospel through the last 2000 years have borne out the truth of that statement, as millions of believers have personally been transformed and have brought about change in society. Each of these three world-changing purposes are in the DNA of the church as we are the Body of Christ. We find the first purpose in the first four verses of chapter 42 (Read vv. 1-4) I. JESUS WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE The latter part of verse 1 tells us, "He will bring forth justice to the nations." Justice has many connotations in our society: it is seen by those with a strong "Law and Order" bent to mean strong punishment for all criminals. For others, Justice means that we should wage war on poverty and work to rid the system of all inequalities. Today we hear of "wage inequality" with the aim of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor. By the way, Communism has this as a goal but history proves that economic equality is impossible to achieve. Justice as defined in the Bible is founded upon the fact that God has revealed the norms and standards by which all human behavior is to be judged. Justice is doing what is harmonious to God's revealed norms and standards. Justice begins within the character of God. Deuteronomy 34:4: "The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are Just, a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He." Justice is not an abstract concept but is intensely practical. As we lovingly live by God's laws in relation to others, we will be doing justice. Micah 6:8 gives us this pattern: "He has told you O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." Larry Richards defines Justice like this: "Justice is doing good to others and showing an active concern for the well-being of the weak. The just society and the just individual alike demonstrate this active concern to meet the needs of the powerless and to defend the oppressed."1 But doing justice is contrary to the basic sin nature of man. The sin nature of man leads him to selfishly take advantage of others. On his own sinful man cannot and will not live in a just manner. Laws and societal pressure attempt to limit injustice, but only heart change will overcome our natural selfishness. The Bible predicts that upon the Lord's return, a just society will be established. Until then we are to do what we can to help the weak and powerless. God is genuinely concerned about justice. He established moral and civil laws for the Hebrews governing crime and punishment. Each community was responsible for enforcing justice through the judgment of Elders. The Old Testament justice system relied heavily upon the existence of a community in which individuals were responsive to God and to His laws. Israel's history shows that with few exceptions, God's standard of justice was rarely seen. But as Isaiah predicts, when the Messiah would come, He would establish justice in the whole world (note the influence of the Messiah would reach far beyond the borders of Israel.) The fullest aspect of Christ's just reign is yet to be fulfilled. Yet, at the first coming of Christ, power was given to believers to live justly and righteously; God fixed the individual; at His second coming He will completely fix the system. It is encouraging to look back on the last 2000 years and see how transformed believers have changed society. For example, where Christianity has flourished, the status of women has been elevated, slavery has been outlawed, and the underprivileged have been protected. Hospitals in the third world are overwhelmingly a result of Christian support. Christian Missionary influence has brought about literacy and civilized behavior. After Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, the testimony of victims was that it was not the government or FEMA but the churches and their volunteers who truly provided help, even for years after the disaster. Such efforts continue worldwide by groups like MDS and Samaritan's Purse. It is mainly Christian Rescue Missions that provide food and shelter to the homeless, practically working to fight inequality. Much more could be said about the Christian influence to bring about justice in society. When we support ministries such as these, we are doing justice. When we volunteer our time and effort or money in a disaster, we are doing justice and bringing glory to God. The second purpose of Messiah Jesus in His role as Servant is seen in the words, "I will appoint you as a covenant to the people," found in verses 5 and 6 (READ). II. JESUS WOULD BRING ABOUT A NEW COVENANT At the first advent, Jesus did not fulfill the Old Testament Covenants which pertained to Israel, such as sovereignly establishing His earthly Kingdom in Jerusalem accompanied by a regathering of all Jews, but He did something much more significant in establishing a New Covenant for all people. A New Covenant to be made with Israel is spoken of in Jeremiah 31:33, "But this is the covenant which will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord, I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God and they shall be My people." Larry Richards states, "The difference between the old and new is striking. The old covenant knew a law that was carved in cold stone. The new covenant takes the righteousness that was expressed in law and supernaturally infused that righteousness into the very character of the believer."2 But the way this New Covenant would be instituted and how it would affect the Gentile world was a mystery until Christ's death. In the upper room at the last supper, as Jesus passed the cup He said, "This is the New Covenant in my blood which is shed for you." At the cross, the Old Covenant was fulfilled by Jesus' perfect life and death as He became the perfect sacrifice for all sin. His resurrection proved the acceptance of the Son's perfect sacrifice by the Father. It soon became apparent that under the New Covenant Gentiles were also to included in the newly born church, birthed at Pentecost with Jewish believers. The promise made to Abraham that all the world would be blessed through his descendant soon became a reality. Beginning with the Samaritans in Acts 8 (who were half-Jewish), then continuing to the first Gentile convert (the Roman Centurion Cornelius) the church emerged as a new entity with Jews and Gentiles as equal members. The Church became a new creation where ones' racial background as Jew or Gentile meant nothing. The Church Age began at Pentecost, and God set aside, for a time, the nation of Israel and began working through the church. 2 Corinthians 3:6 tells us that the church is a servant of the new covenant. The Jewish nation as a whole will embrace the New Covenant at the end of the Tribulation Period when Christ returns. The blessings of the New Covenant, including the rule of Justice over all the earth will be experienced in the Millennium following the Great Tribulation. Jesus Christ will rule here on earth, His throne being in Jerusalem, and Justice will be enforced all over the earth. The third aspect of Messiah Jesus' purpose relates to the first two purposes of establishing Justice and the New Covenant. This purpose is: III. THE MESSIAH WILL BE A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS This idea, although largely overlooked by the Jews, was not a new idea found only in Isaiah's prophesy. God's plan as stated to Abraham was that he would be a blessing to all the nations, speaking of all non-Jews. Israel was to be a missionary nation to the whole world, being an object lesson to all others of the existence and power of YHWH. When God delivered Israel out of Egypt, He was shown to be more powerful than all the gods of Egypt, each plague aimed at a particular Egyptian god, culminating in the death of Pharaoh's son right along with all other first-borns. Pharaoh was considered a god. Every time God gave Israel victory over their enemies, it was not by their own might and power, but by God's strong right hand. God was proving He was the One True God. We recall Gideon and his 300 men defeating the mighty army of the Midionites who were said to be more numerous than locusts. Recall David's defeat of Goliath and Hezekiah defeating the Assyrians. All these battles were illustrations of the One True God and His power. The incredible wealth, wisdom, and influence of Kings David and Solomon spoke to the blessings attached to worshipping YHWH. But the crowning event of God's missionary heart and His desire to redeem all men was when God the Son came to earth to accomplish the work of redemption. Mankind's greatest enemies of sin and death were defeated at the cross and empty tomb. Look at verse 7 where Messiah's greatest purpose is stated: "To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison." All humans are blinded by sin, enslaved by the god of this age. All mankind are prisoners, locked in the deepest dungeon, dwelling spiritual darkness. To all men lost in the darkness of sin, the Light was born in the Bethlehem stable. Isaiah said in 9:2, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them." God has so structured the world as an object lesson on the necessity of light. Without light plants cannot carry on the process of photosynthesis on which all food production depends. Without the warmth and light from the sun, life would not be able to exist. In the book of John, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." But the presence of light doesn't help a blind person. The story is told of a blind golfer. He had a friend who would stand in the fairway and shout, and the blind golfer would hit toward the sound. One day this blind golfer challenged the club pro to a match. "I'll wager $10,000 I can beat you on a round of golf." The pro, although skeptical, agreed to the match. "Name the tee time, and I'll show up." The blind golfer smiled and said, "Meet me on the first tee at midnight." We understand that light means nothing to a blind man. For him to see, his blind eyes must be opened. Jesus opened the eyes of many who were blind physically, but greater than such miracles is the opening of the eyes of sinners so that they can see the light of the gospel. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. In the first chapter of John, light is presented as shining in the darkness and overcoming the power of the dark. "And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it." Have you ever considered that darkness has no substance of itself, but is simply the absence of light? Before Christ comes into one's life, light is absent and darkness rules. The natural result of Adam's sin was the loss of inner light, as man lost his relationship with God. From that point on, mankind walked in darkness. When Jesus came into the world, His light exposed the fact that man loves the darkness, for in the light, our evil deeds are exposed. John 3:19-21 tells us that everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light fearing his deeds will be exposed. People react to the light of the gospel just like bugs: some are attracted to it, and some are repulsed. The Pharisees were repelled by the light and proved themselves children of darkness. When people resist the truth of God, it proves they are walking in darkness. Jesus proclaimed, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." When the sun rises, the light permeates into every corner. The light of the world reaches out to everyone, Jesus being "The light which enlightens every man." In Revelation 7 we are given a glimpse of those gathered around the heavenly throne, and we seen people from every nation, all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb clothed in white robes (Revelation 7:9). Here is seen the missionary heart of the Savior. The Servant, the Messiah, our Savior Jesus Christ is the light to the nations. Praise God, there is no place on earth too dark for the light. We don't provide the light; we only carry the light and hold it up in the darkness. Jesus told us to "let your light shine so men might see your good works and glorify God in heaven." While the light goes to the whole world, excluding none, we are not speaking of universal salvation. Only those who follow Jesus are given the light of life. To follow Jesus is to believe on Him. As Jesus Himself tells us in John 12:46, "I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness." The light reveals our sin and need for forgiveness. To believe means we are turning away from sin toward Jesus. Many people were attracted to Jesus but turned away when they realized the cost of following Him. The Pharisees were the best example of those who heard, but because their deeds were evil, Jesus' light constantly exposed their deeds, they fled from the light, rejecting Jesus. John 1:11-12: "He came unto his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." This inner light continues to sustain us from day to day. If you take a plant and place it in a dark closet, it will not survive very long. In one sense, we believers have the light within. But in another sense, we must continue to walk according to that light, or we will stumble. If we foolishly choose to turn away from the Lord, and begin making choices which are contrary to His will, then we can surely expect to stumble. Just as we run into things in the middle of the night when we try to move with the light off, we will surely stumble unless we walk in the light. Just as the path grows dimmer the further you are from the light source, the further we allow ourselves to stray from God, the dimmer out pathway. We begin making mistakes. After we stub a few toes, we learn it is better to walk in the light. How do we turn back to the light? Here is where the Word of God shines light on our path. Psalm 119:105: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." As we read or hear God's Word, the Holy Spirit convicts us of areas which do not conform to His standards. We then must respond by confession of that sin, and turn back toward the light. Ephesians 5 tells us not to partake in the lifestyles of the disobedient for, "you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light." Jesus left the church-you and me-with the privilege and purpose of being light-bearers to a sin dominated and sin enslaved world. Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under a basked, but on the lamp stand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven." We are to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly before God. Jesus' purposes of establishing justice, bearing the good news of the Gospel found in the New Covenant, and letting our inner light shine brightly shine forth are to be our own great purposes. This is walking in the light. 1 Lawrence O. Richards, Expository Dictionary of Bible Words; 1985, Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI; p. 368-9. 2 Richards, ibid; "Covenant," page 198. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ 2