The Coming Christ: Promised

Introduction:

Isaiah 7:14 is set during the Syro-Ephraimite war in the 730’s bc (734 BC?). Therefore, this prophecy was made at least 730 years before the birth of Christ.

So, how/why did this prophecy come about in the first place? Initially, a prophecy/sign was to be given Ahaz

Ahaz was the eleventh king of Judah since the separation of Israel and Judah.

As a means of strengthening his faith Ahaz was told to ask the LORD ... for a sign, an attesting miracle that would confirm God’s word. The king could choose any miraculous work he wished.

Realizing the weakness of the king’s faith, Isaiah offered to give a sign to encourage him, but Ahaz put on a “pious front” and refused his offer.

Knowing that he was secretly allied with Assyria, how could Ahaz honestly ask the Lord for a special sign? So, instead of speaking only to the king, Isaiah addressed the whole “house of David” and gave the prophecy concerning “Emmanuel.”

This prophecy became a sign and a promise to the rest of us, a miracle unique in all of history.

It was official, God had announced His rescue plan for mankind!

The virgin birth

Miracles of the prophecy

Everything about this event was miraculous.

Gabriel’s visit to Mary

Luke 1:26-33

Luke 1:26–33 (NKJV)

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

A virgin’s divine conception

God came to man

Immanuel means God with us. Indeed, God came to dwell with us in the person of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:6-7

Philippians 2:6–7 (NKJV)

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

It has always been God’s desire to dwell with His people, even though mankind is completely undeserving of such grace and mercy.

Though, sin created a barrier that we could not breach, God always made a way to be with His people.

He was with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

He was with the Israelites in the desert (tabernacle).

He was with His people in the promised land (Temple).

He was with His people in the person of Jesus Christ.

Now, He dwells with His people in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Man is undeserving

However, God’s presence in our lives is not automatic. Sin stands in the way, and no one is exempt.

Jeremiah 17:9

Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV)

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:10

Romans 3:10 (NKJV)

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God accomplished the impossible

Nonetheless, in an act of supreme grace and mercy, God came to those who did not even want Him. Even though it is impossible for us to breach the sin barrier, God can and God did!

Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The righteous died for the unrighteous

1 Peter 3:18

1 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

We could never be reconciled to God without Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:12

Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

We were hopeless, and Jesus brought us hope!

As the song goes:

“One king held the frankincense, one king held the myrrh, one king held the purest gold, one king held…the hope of the world.”

God reaching out to man is the polar opposite of every other religious belief system in the world

every other faith requires man to reach God…an impossible task.

Its uniqueness is one of many confirmations that Biblical Christianity is the only true religion, and the only truth.

The coming Christ was promised by God. Therefore, His coming was an absolute certainty. The only question was when?

Fulfilled Prophecy

As stated earlier, this prophecy was given at least 730 before the birth of Christ.

The confirmation of its fulfillment was given by Matthew in his Gospel, when the angel visited Joseph.

Matthew 1:22-23

Matthew 1:22–23 (NKJV)

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

This prophecy and promise of redemption began all the way back to the beginning of creation, in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:14-15

Genesis 3:14–15 (NKJV)

So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Through Isaiah, God’s promise became more detailed and specific. The promised Messiah’s name was revealed, and we were given a clear and irrefutable sign in that of the virgin birth.

This was the next step in God’s validation of His promise. Approximately 730 years later, the promise was fulfilled, exactly as written so long ago.

God’s plan of redemption would be underway at last!

This fulfillment of prophecy is yet another confirmation of the legitimacy and truthfulness of the Bible.

God, as always, kept His promise. He sent His Son to us to be our savior.

There is no reason not to trust Jesus Christ as your savior. There is no other way, scripture is clear on that, and it can be trusted without hesitation.