The First and Second Advent

Isaiah 9:6-7

Today we will be taking our text from Isaiah 9:6-7. In this season of Advent, when we celebrate the coming of Christ to earth, I wanted to focus on the meaning of Christmas for the believer. We can get so wrapped up in what our society sells us as the meaning of Christmas, whether it is all of the shopping and consumerism, the giving and receiving of gifts, the extra day or days off from work, that we lose sight of what Christmas really means. We lose sight and understanding that the meaning of Christmas is that of salvation, it is the meaning of relationship restored between man and God, it is the beginning of the path that would ultimately lead to the cross, the resurrection, and Christ ascending back to heaven to prepare a place for all those the Father gave to Him, and finally His triumphant return to gather His sheep.

When we look at the birth of Christ, it is a fulfillment of hundreds of years of promise, a time of waiting on the promise of God to mankind to be fulfilled. That while men fell and were doomed to death and destruction through the sin and disobedience of Adam, a second Adam would come, and that second Adam would provide a way out of judgment.

1 Corinthians 15:45–49 (ESV)

45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Isaiah was sent to remind Israel of this promise and its future fulfillment. At this time the Israelites were under Assyrian rule. Their King had turned his back on God and all the things of God, and instead worshiped the false gods of the Assyrians. Isaiah prophesied that God would send the one that would redeem His people and that would rule as King for eternity.

The prophecies of Isaiah here are only a few of the prophecies throughout the Old Testament that pointed to the messiah coming. Each of these prophecies were undeniably fulfilled by Christ. Matthew points this out throughout his retelling of the life of Christ. Many times He references events that happened so that the prophecies might be fulfilled.

At the beginning of this chapter Isaiah prophecies in verse 2

Isaiah 9:2 “2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

Isaiah tells that a light was going to shine through the darkness. The nation of Israel at this time had been defeated but they were reminded that the promise would still be fulfilled, and that this promise would be a bright light that would cut through the darkness of the world they lived in. In this prophecy it was not just to Israel, but to all those that would believe and follow the coming Messiah. Jesus is the light that came and cut through the darkness surrounding us.

John 1:4–5 “4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Jesus would come and He would cut through the darkness that surrounds us on every side in the filthiness and the slavery to sin that the world brings. This light that Isaiah prophesied would not be able to be overcome by the darkness, this light would be the light of men. This light would bring life and light to our dark and dead souls. This light is our hope and our promise from God that we are not left in darkness, but that we are saved from our slavery to sin, and are given new life. With that life we are given a new hope and a new light to guide us.

We celebrate Advent during this season because it was the advent, or entrance of God, in flesh, on this earth. We look forward to a second advent when Christ returns to take all of His sheep that the Father has given Him home to be with Him. We have an eternal hope and promise that we are not only saved from the darkness of our sin and the darkness of this earth, but that we will be given a new heaven and a new earth where Jesus will be the light.

In the words of the prophet Isaiah we find comfort in this present life, we find hope, and we find the eternal, never ending promise of our loving Father to His children. The Sovereign God of all creation became flesh, and dwelt among us, so that He could pay the price for our sins with His death on the cross, and give us eternal life to be with Him. The beauty of the redemptive story of God’s grace is something I can not help but marvel at every time I’m reminded of it.

Jesus laid aside the perfected environment of Heaven, and came to this earth where He was tempted just like we are. Where He experienced pain and hardship just like we do. Where He remained without sin, something we can never do, in order that He could save us from the punishment we so justly deserved.

Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Isaiah 7:14 “14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Immanuel, God with us, the promise of Isaiah fulfilled in Jesus when Matthew wrote

Matthew 1:23 “23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

God would be with us and the glory of God would be seen by us.

John 1:14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The grace and truth of God, fulfilled and seen in the birth of the Son of God, the fulfillment of God’s promise to humanity, we celebrate during this season of Advent.

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

6 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 Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 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 forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

There is meaning in a name. One of the things I love is to hear unique names from different cultures and understand what they mean. When you pick the name for your newborn baby their is an importance to the name that is chosen. The child will have that name for their life and many times they tend to reflect in their lives what their name means. You may name them after a relative or you or your spouse, you may pick a Biblical name with great meaning, you may wait until you see the baby after the birth and a name comes to mind that just makes sense.

While we traditionally have three names in our culture, other cultures and traditions might have four or five names that all have meaning to the child that is born. This was the same with Jesus. We read throughout the Scripture, many different names or titles for the prophesied messiah that was to come. We have already talked about the name Immanuel, God with us. That Jesus would be God made flesh, both God and Man simultaneously, come to dwell among us on earth.

Here in this passage Isaiah gives us four more names for the coming Messiah that we want to talk about today. The first two names would deal with the character of the coming King and the second two names would deal with the character of His reign as King. These are names that reflect the characteristics that would make obvious the child was the Messiah. Names that would identify the promise of a deliverer that God had given to men. Isaiah tells us that the child would be called

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

How is it that the Lord Jesus becomes glorious in our eyes; And he whose name is Immanuel is now crowned in our heart with many crowns, and honoured with many titles. What a list of glories we have here! What a burst of song it makes when we sing of the Messiah: “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”! Each work sounds like a salvo of artillery. It is all very well to hear players on instruments and sweet singers rehearse these words but to believe them, and realize them in your own soul, is better far. When every fear and every hope, and every power and every passion of our nature fill the orchestra of our heart, and all unite in one inward song unto the glorious Immanuel, what music it is!Isaiah begins this passage with emphasizing both the humanity and the deity of the coming messiah that would be born. Isaiah tells us that “for a child is born.” The beginning here of “for” tells us to look at this with expectation. That here are the grounds that we should observe and expect for the coming Messiah. This use of the description of a child being born tells us that the messiah would have humanity. He would be born as a child and would grow through the process into maturity as an adult. (C.H. Spurgeon)

Matthew 2:9–12 (ESV)

9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Matthew tells us that Jesus was born as a child, to the virgin Mary, and this reflects the natural birth required for Him to be the second Adam. For Him to be able to save all of humanity from the punishment of their sins. Through the sin of the first Adam all were condemned, but through the sacrifice of the second Adam all would be saved.

This fulfilled prophecy from the very beginning of the fall in the garden of Eden when God said:

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

The Saviour would be the offspring of a woman. Not only would He be a child born but He is also the Son that was given. This portion highlights the deity of Christ. That He is from eternity the Son of God that would be given to humanity to cleanse them from their sins. This is the great mystery that we can never understand fully. That God would come to earth and be both Human and still be God. There is no division or percentage of partially human or partially God but that Jesus is fully human and fully God.

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (Chapter 9)

As a gnat might seek to drink in the ocean, so a finite creature might seek to comprehend the eternal God. A God whom we could understand would be no God. If we could grasp him, he could not be infinite; if we could understand him, then he would not be divine

Something that is often misunderstood in Christianity is many think that God loves them because of what Christ did. By coming to earth and living a perfect life, then dying on the cross and resurrecting from the dead, many may think this is how God is able to love them. We must understand that this is not the case.

God loved all those He called from the beginning of creation to be His own, so much that He sent His Son to die for us. It wasn’t because of Christ’s sacrifice the Father is able to love us, but it is because of the Fathers love for us that Christ came.

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

A son is given because of the Fathers love for us.

Romans 8:29–30 (ESV)

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

God called us to be His while we were still enemies of HIs truth and righteousness. God saw us before the very foundations of the world and set forth a plan to redeem us.

1 John 4:19 (ESV)

19 We love because he first loved us.

God’s choice of us was not because we were holy, but to make us holy; and God’s purpose will not be fulfilled unless we are made holy. Blessing For Blessing, Volume 38, Sermon #2266 - Ephesians 1:3, 4

Charles Spurgeon

God loved us first, and because of His love He sent His only Son to be the propitiation, to pay the price in full, for the sins He knew we would commit against Him. This is the beauty of salvation coming from a loving Father. This is the beauty of the Gospel made flesh in Christ. God knew and loved us despite of what we would be, and made a way that we would be clothed in the righteousness of Christ, our older brother, our Saviour and redeemer, so that we could stand before God in Holiness and the perfected righteousness of Christ.

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (Chapter 9)

Jesus Christ, then, as a Son, was not born to us but given. He is a blessing bestowed on us (see Jn 3:16). He was already God’s Son when he was born into this world, and he was sent or given so that we could clearly perceive that the distinction is a suggestive one and conveys much good truth about God to us.

Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor

The word wonderful here was used in the Old Testament for acts of God which no man can truly understand. It means astonishing or extraordinary. Jesus is the wonder of a counselor. Anytime we go to Jesus for counsel we know without a shadow of a doubt that we will receive perfect counsel.

There are many in society that have devoted their lives to counseling and helping people. Some make a great career helping many and people pay large sums to seek out their counsel, but this counsel will always be subject to flaws. The counsel of God is always perfect and it is given freely to all those that ask.

We have been going through James and James write that anyone that needs wisdom should ask of God and God will give it freely. The wonderful counselor of Jesus has led and counseled His church and His people throughout all of time.

Throughout the Old Testament we see the counsel of God given through the leaders of Israel, and then through the Kings that God established, and when those Kings failed we see the counsel of God given through the prophets as they warned Israel to return to God.

In the New Testament we see Jesus during His time here on earth giving counsel to those around Him. From the very beginning, when at a young age His parents found Him teaching the elders in the temple, to His ministry of teaching his disciples and leading others the knowledge of what it means to seek after the Kingdom of God.

Even after Jesus returns to Heaven, He gives His Holy Spirit to counsel and lead us in all truth. To comfort us and walk with us through this life.

Matthew Poole’s Commentary on the Holy Bible, Volumes 1–3 (Chapter 9)

they agree most eminently to the Lord Christ, who is truly wonderful, in his person, and natures, and words, and works, being made up of wonders, in whom there was nothing which was not wonderful; who also may well be called Counsellor, because he knew the whole counsel of God, and (so far as it was necessary) revealed it to us, and is the great Counsellor of his church and people in all their doubts and difficulties.

In the birth of Christ we see the wisdom of God, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. When Isaiah says His name shall be called wonderful, it is a noun and not an adjective. It is a name that speaks of the person and work of the Christ that was to come. He is wonderful because He is both God and man. It is through His council and teaching that the mysteries of God are revealed to humanity.

Colossians 2:3 (ESV)

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Jesus is the Mighty God

This if not just a statement saying that Jesus is the Son of God, but that He is God the Son. This is a statement of Deity made by Isaiah. Jesus has the power to save and redeem us by following the plan set forth by the Father. There is a strength and a power in enduring the crucifixion that can only be seen by understanding the power of God at work.

Because Jesus is the Mighty God, He has the power to execute the plan of His father for salvation. There is nothing that can stand against the might and power of God to prevent Him from the will of the Father. All authority was given to Jesus by the Father.

Matthew 28:18 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Many would attempt to take away the deity of Christ. To relegate Him to a good man, a prophet sent of God, or He was God but He laid His deity aside when He came to earth and was simply a man. This is a false teaching that is in many false religions and even “churches’ today. Islam teaches Christ was a prophet sent of God no different than Muhammed, but He was not God. Cults such as the mormons teach that He was the son of God but was not actually God and that we all can achieve the same level of deity as Jesus. Even certain popular mega church pastors have said from the pulpit that Christ laid aside His deity, or set aside His role as God, when He came to earth, and while on earth was nothing more than man.

If this was the case, if Jesus was not God made flesh, He would not have been able to save us. His sacrifice would have just been a good man, dying a horrible death. His resurrection would not have happened. While we may not be able to comprehend the how, it is imperative that we hold and understand the Deity of Christ as God here on earth. Going back to what was read earlier in Isaiah, we must understand that Jesus was Immanuel, God with Us.

Jesus told us

John 14:9 (ESV)

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

and John writes at the beginning of His Gospel

John 1:1 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Greek word used here for “Word” is Logos. Jesus is Logos. We can easily read this verse In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.

He did not lay aside His role as God or His power as God but operated as fully God and fully man while on this earth. This is something our finite minds cannot fully comprehend while on this earth but it is a truth that we must hold to for to do anything other would be heresy and blasphemy against our Saviour and Lord.

If Jesus is but a man, then all we do at Christmas is in vain. At this point it is important that we not give in to the sentimental nonsense that makes Christmas a kind of feel-good, ecumenical holiday. Christmas is the great dividing line of the human race. No wonder some people want all mention of Christmas expunged from our public schools and from our public life. They understand that Christmas is based on the belief that at Bethlehem the God Incarnate was born. If that is not true, then we are not only wasting our time this morning, we are actually deluded and deceived. We are of all men most to be pitied.

But if He is the Mighty God, then when we rely on Him we are relying on God Himself! He is the Mighty God because we need divine aid to help us in our battle. Satan and sin would every day defeat us…..but He is the Mighty God and He has defeated them.

In this tiny baby we see the power of God sleeping on Mary’s lap.

What Child is this? He is the Mighty God. (https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/1996-12-22-what-child-is-this/)

Jesus is the Everlasting Father

This name can be puzzling for some. In the Trinity we have God the Father, and Jesus is God the Son, then we have the Holy Spirit, so how can the Son be the Father. We must understand the beautiful image of the trinity that they are 3 separate beings but one essence. This means Jesus in His essence is the same as God the Father. He has all the same attributes of God.

Though He is a child and a son, Jesus is also the everlasting Father. His reign will be for eternity and not just for a short time period. The blessings of Christ are forever and without end. Jesus is the author of everlasting life for all those that would believe in Him. He is the Father of eternity for us, He is the Father of the world that is to come, when there is a new heaven and a new earth.

This is an area that understanding context in the language is important. Father of Eternity would be a better translation here than just Everlasting Father. In Hebrew the word Father would mean originator our source. So Jesus is the originator or source for our eternal salvation. He is the Father of Eternity. We see this in

John 8:58 (ESV)

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Colossians 1:17 (ESV)

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Revelation 1:17–18 (ESV)

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Jesus is Eternal and the author of Eternity. He is our only hope and promise for our own eternal life.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace

Without Christ it is impossible for us to know true peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace that will bring peace to the death and destruction of this world, and the death and turmoil of our own souls.

When we read the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5, one of the fruits seen in the life of the believer is that of peace. This is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, that would not be possible for us to possess, if not for the work of Christ. True peace and true joy finds rest and comfort in the arms of Jesus no matter what we experience in life. Whatever trials we experience, whatever sickness we feel, whatever temptations come our way, we rest in the arms of our Father and find peace because of Jesus. We are told in Pauls letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 2:14 (ESV)

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Christ brought peace between the jew and the gentile by being our peace. He brought peace for us to live and care for each other within the Church universal. That it does not matter your economic background, your job, your race, but we have peace with each other as family, as brothers and sisters, adopted as sons and daughters, of the Sovereign God.

Jesus brought a spiritual peace to our lives.

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)

5 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.

Many like to use this passage to talk about physical healing, but Isaiah here is tying the peace to the healing. Christ brought us peace so that our inner hearts, mind, and soul could find healing. Without Christ it is impossible for us to find rest, we are surrounded by war, destruction, heartache, poverty, sickness, while in this world but Jesus told us:

John 16:33 (ESV)

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

*In the past, his coming made peace with God

*In the present, those who come to him find peace in their heart when

Christ comes in.

*In the future, his second coming will usher in a kingdom of peace. (https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/1996-12-22-what-child-is-this/)

Closing

The first advent, when Christ was born, a light was given to the world. A way out of darkness was given through the work Christ was to accomplish. Isaiah says:

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

2 The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

Jesus is the light of the world and He is the light that will shine brightly in our lives both now and throughout eternity, if we believe and follow Him. We celebrate the first advent during this time of the year while we look forward to the second advent of Christ returning to gather His bride for the great marriage feast.

I was listening to a podcast with Sinclair Ferguson and he was talking about how the actuaries that determine the outcomes on the economy from all of the Christmas shopping and spending say that the spending at this time of the year is so great, that it will take until around Easter for them to gather all the data and to truly understand the affect that Christmas had on the economy that year.

When we look at this as believers we must understand that the meaning of Christmas will not become clear until Easter. The true meaning of Christmas only becomes clear in the resurrection of Christ, after He completed the will of the Father, to provide a path of redemption and forgiveness for all the Father has called His own. We live in the light of the resurrection of Christ and in the assurance His Holy Spirit gives us in our lives.

As we remember the first Advent, we look forward eagerly to that second advent, when Christ returns and gives light for all.

Revelation 21:22–24 (ESV)

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,

As John continues to share his vision in Revelation we see the promise that we eagerly look forward to and hold. Just as the people of Israel in the Old Testament had prophecies of the coming Messiah, they had the promises of God that there would be a plan of redemption. They were given hope after hope in the descriptions of who Jesus would be, but we are given the promise of God, that the things of this earth will pass away, the heartache, death, sickness, will all be gone, and we will spend eternity worshiping before the throne of God in a new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 21:1–7 (ESV)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

There is only one Man whom we can trust to follow. That Man is Jesus Christ. Why is He different from any other person? Why do I refuse to follow other people, and yet follow this Man? Of no other person can it be said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (1:14). Of no other person from Adam to now can it be said, “He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Of no one else can it be said that three days after He had gone into the grave He rose again.…

This is the King of glory, this Man; and this Man is the one who says, “Give yourself to me. Surrender to me and concentrate upon me. Be caught in the spell of the irresistible charm.”

Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1, 14; Acts 1:9–11; Colossians 2:15–17; Revelation 19:11–16

Rut, Rot or Revival: The Condition of the Church, 72, 73.

A. W. Tozer

Prayer

Benediction:

A Liturgy to Mark the Start of the Christmas Season LEADER: As we prepare our house for the coming Christmas season, we would also prepare our hearts for the returning Christ. PEOPLE: You came once for your people, O Lord, and you will come for us again. Though there was no room at the inn to receive you upon your first arrival, We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home, Lord Christ. As we decorate and celebrate, we do so to mark the memory of your redemptive movement into our broken world, O God. Our glittering ornaments and Christmas trees, Our festive carols, our sumptuous feasts— By these small tokens we affirm that something amazing has happened in time and space— that God, on a particular night, in a particular place, so many years ago, was born to us, an infant King, our Prince of Peace. Our wreaths and ribbons and colored lights, our giving of gifts, our parties with friends— these have never been ends in themselves. They are but small ways in which we repeat that sounding joy first proclaimed by angels in the skies near Bethlehem. In view of such great tidings of love announced to us, and to all people, how can we not be moved to praise and celebration in this Christmas season?   As we decorate our tree, and as we feast and laugh and sing together, a we are rehearsing our coming joy! We are making ready to receive the one who has already, with open arms, received us! We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home, Lord Christ. Now we celebrate your first coming, Immanuel, even as we long for your return. O Prince of Peace, our elder brother, return soon. We miss you so! Amen.

Colossians 3:15 (ESV)

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.