His Name Shall Be Called (3)

Introduction: During this Christmas season we have been focusing our attention on an Old Testament prophesy that was made about the coming messiah. Specifically, we have discovered how that Jesus Christ, born to a virgin in Bethlehem, has fulfilled the names that would identify the Messiah. We observed Jesus being called the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and today we focus on Everlasting Father. Turn with me first to Isaiah chapter 9 and follow along with me as we read again the prophecy given hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus.

Transition: Read Is. 9:1-7 _____ Pg #

Explanation:There are many places throughout the New Testament where we see the fulfillment of this prophecy. It is plain, from the writings of the apostles that they and the early church believed that Jesus fulfilled the name “everlasting Father.” However, this morning we are going to spend our time looking at how Jesus Himself clearly understood and taught this about Himself. (John 14:1-9) _____ Pg #

Main Point: Jesus’s repeated phrase, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” “Whoever has seen me, has seen the Father.” In John 10:30, Jesus made the emphatic statement that, “I and the father are one.”

Explanation: Keep in mind the context of what Jesus is doing; He is preparing His disciples for His soon departure. This truth was going to “calm their troubled hearts”, it would fuel the lives of Jesus’ apostles to preach the gospel across the world. Because Jesus and the father are one, His disciples would serve Him unto death. When we keep reading the rest of the new testament, we discover impact that this truth had on the lives of Jesus’ apostles, but what about our lives?

Transition: We are going to focus on three key ways this truth about Christ impacts us…

Three ways this truth impacts our lives...

Truth: “I and the father are One.”

1. Our faith in Jesus (14:10-11)

Explain: There are many idols competing for our faith. We are often tempted to put our total trust in people, money, careers, education, governments, and the list goes on. Those kind of temptations should be fairly obvious. The more subtle temptation, is to trust in our own version of Jesus. Phillip, was having difficulty connecting the dots that Jesus was more than a man… and Jesus is reminding Phillip of His full identity. We might say , another layer to the reality of who He is.

Point: Jesus is calling Phillip and us today, to believe that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. Jesus is helping us answer the question: How can His name be called “Everlasting Father”. It is because Jesus is one with God the Father, so much so that to hear Jesus speak is to hear the authoritative words of the Father. And to see Jesus work, is to see the works of the Father. The way this truth has been communicated over the centuries of church history is with the word Trinity. This means that we worship one God who has revealed Himself in three distinct persons. The Godhead exists as; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As difficult as it may seem to wrap our finite minds around this infinite God, we are called to believe Jesus on this truth. Jesus is making this claim, and the apostles taught this truth. The reason it is so important today is because we cannot claim to be follower of Jesus but only trust our own version of who we think or want Him to be.

Example: There are many false religions, false churches with the name Christian on the door, many false believers claiming to be followers of Jesus but are following after a mirage, because they are not believing Jesus for who He revealed Himself to be. Namely, one with the Father. So then, the question before us is this…

Transition: Am I truly trusting Jesus Christ? Not an ideology, not a religious perspective, not a moral sentiment, or spiritual notion. Rather, the question we all must answer is, Am I truly trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ? If we are.. then our lives will also be impacted with “empowered obedience.”

2. Our empowered obedience (14:12-17)

Example: (After reading) Jesus is telling His followers that those who believe in Him will be empowered for obedience.

Point: Our works follow our faith. Those who are born again by the Spirit of God are empowered by the same Holy Spirit to love Christ and obey His commands.

Notice, on particular work of prayer (14:12-14) Jesus makes note that as we ask in His name, the Father is glorified because Jesus the Son is answering the request. Even though He is now in heaven, God the Holy Spirit is empowering us… He is helping us… to ask and obey. And so, When we participate in the work of prayer, we are in communion with the triune God. Father being glorified. Son answering. Spirit helping. (Romans 8:26)

Illustration: Think of it like this. Suppose we have a lot of cars that must be transported across the United States to be delivered in California. The method of transportation decided upon is by train. The cars must be loaded, but the engine of the train will be the force that actually moves the cars down the tracks. In a similar way, the truth about Christ being one with the Father, was the engine that drove the apostles to take the message of salvation across the world. The engine that empowers obedience. And so it is for us today…

For those trusting in Christ, our obedience is empowered by the everlasting Father, by the eternal Son, by the comforting Holy Spirit.

A good question to be asking at this point would be; Why is this is empowered obedience so important? One answer; because it removes any boasting in our own abilities. Those who belong to Christ by faith, understand that we do not work to get or to keep our relationship with Christ. Rather, we work because we are empowered to obey our King. (THIS PART NEEDS WORK) This is not a passive or apathetic obedience, rather it is obedience that is rooted in the truth of Christ. if we are truly converted we will truly obey. If our obedience is motivated by guilt or religious duty, we will fail, falter at best and at worst we will live a false Christianity that is full of self-righteous condemnation.

Transition: Which leads us to our final consideration… The fact that Jesus and the Father are One impacts…

3.Our hope of salvation (14:18-20)

Explanation: Jesus disciples go on to have more questions for Him, even as I’m sure many of you will have more questions after we are finished here this morning. As well you should. But we must notice, that Jesus is making a promise to His disciples. He says, I will not leave you as orphans.. In other words I will not leave you without a Father. Then he says, I will come to you.

Point: For those who belong to Jesus Christ, this is our great and wonderful hope. One day, in the future we will be with Christ forever. He does not abandon us. He will not forsake us. He will never leave us alone. This hope of salvation is a comforting reality through every season of our Christian lives.

Example: Just this week we gathered in this sanctuary to celebrate and grieve the physical death of one of our long time members of our church family; Al Lucas. This was his hope. This is the hope that Elsie has. This is the hope we have. That because Jesus lives, so too will we live. That because Jesus is who He said He is is, and has done exactly what the father has given Him to do, and that the Holy Spirit has applied to our lives what Jesus has accomplished… we have hope beyond this life.

Closing: There is No end to Jesus’ rule and reign of peace! He and the Father are one. Do you believe this? Are you trusting in Christ alone to be reconciled with God. Are you trusting His perfect death and Resurrection for the forgiveness of your sins? Are you being empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey His commands? Do you have the confident assurance of eternal salvation? This gift is available for you today. Will you trust Him?