Resurrection

Isaiah 53: 10

Pastor Colin has taken us through an in-depth exploration of Isaiah 53, revealing the profound impact of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. We delved into verse 9 last time, pinpointing it as the critical juncture in the narrative, switching from the life and death of Christ to His honoured burial and eventual resurrection.

As we continue, Pastor Colin invites us to open our Bibles to Isaiah 53, particularly verse 10, where we learn about God’s unwavering will in the midst of Jesus’s sacrifice. Despite the cruelty and injustice inflicted on Jesus by those who despised Him, God’s will emerged victorious. We are reminded that the will of God was neither defeated nor compromised at the Cross; rather, it thrived. Pastor Colin enlightens us that similarly, nothing we face, including suffering or even evil deeds, can thwart God’s will for us in Jesus. The resurrection signifies not only Jesus’s triumph but also His ability to transform believers into His very offspring, granting us eternal life and His indwelling spirit. Accept this extraordinary invitation to eternal life by believing in Jesus, and take solace in the promise that God’s will shall prosper in His hand.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,080 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,080 –> 00:00:16,639 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website OpenTheBible.org. 3 00:00:16,639 –> 00:00:19,320 Let’s get to the message here is Pastor Colin. 4 00:00:19,320 –> 00:00:25,480 Please open your Bible at Isaiah 53, this remarkable chapter 5 00:00:25,480 –> 00:00:29,160 that describes what Jesus accomplished in his life, 6 00:00:29,160 –> 00:00:32,919 in his death and in his resurrection 7 00:00:32,919 –> 00:00:38,119 and last time we looked at verse 9 which is really the turning point 8 00:00:38,119 –> 00:00:41,799 of the whole chapter. The first eight verses 9 00:00:41,799 –> 00:00:46,200 are all about the life and the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. 10 00:00:46,200 –> 00:00:50,439 They tell us that the prevailing response to Jesus coming into the world 11 00:00:50,439 –> 00:00:54,599 was unbelief. Who has believed what they have 12 00:00:54,599 –> 00:00:59,400 heard from us? That’s verse 1. He was despised and we 13 00:00:59,400 –> 00:01:03,000 esteemed him not, that’s verse 3 14 00:01:03,000 –> 00:01:06,919 and Isaiah describes how Jesus was arrested, 15 00:01:06,919 –> 00:01:10,519 how he was tried and how he was sentenced 16 00:01:10,519 –> 00:01:15,160 by oppression and judgement. Verse 8, he was taken away 17 00:01:15,160 –> 00:01:21,879 Verse 7, he was led like a lamb to the slaughter so the focus of the 18 00:01:21,879 –> 00:01:24,360 first eight verses of this 19 00:01:24,360 –> 00:01:27,639 remarkable chapter of the Bible is on the rejection 20 00:01:27,639 –> 00:01:32,040 of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was despised, he was rejected, 21 00:01:32,040 –> 00:01:35,720 he was oppressed, he was pierced, he was crushed, 22 00:01:35,720 –> 00:01:42,680 he was cut off. And then last week we saw that the burial of Jesus 23 00:01:42,680 –> 00:01:46,599 in verse 9 really is the turning point 24 00:01:46,599 –> 00:01:51,239 of the whole story. Those who condemned Jesus to death 25 00:01:51,239 –> 00:01:55,559 intended that his grave should be with the wicked 26 00:01:55,559 –> 00:01:59,639 that’s verse 9. But that is not what happened and we saw 27 00:01:59,639 –> 00:02:03,400 in the new testament that as Isaiah prophesies here 28 00:02:03,400 –> 00:02:09,160 a rich man by the name of Joseph of Arimathea came forward and asked 29 00:02:09,160 –> 00:02:13,320 Pontius Pilate for the body of Jesus. And Jesus was 30 00:02:13,320 –> 00:02:16,839 given an honored burial after all that he 31 00:02:16,839 –> 00:02:21,479 suffered and honored burial in a new tomb that 32 00:02:21,479 –> 00:02:25,559 Joseph had prepared for himself but gave 33 00:02:25,559 –> 00:02:30,360 in order to honor Jesus and we saw that Jesus 34 00:02:30,360 –> 00:02:34,039 is honored on earth by believers who love him 35 00:02:34,039 –> 00:02:41,800 and Jesus is honored in heaven by the father who has vindicated him. 36 00:02:41,800 –> 00:02:45,240 Now today we come to verse 10 that points 37 00:02:45,240 –> 00:02:49,000 very wonderfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus 38 00:02:49,000 –> 00:02:52,759 Christ and it is a marvelous statement of all that 39 00:02:52,759 –> 00:02:57,080 Jesus has accomplished. Look with me at verse 10 if you would 40 00:02:57,080 –> 00:03:01,479 Yet it was the will of the Lord 41 00:03:01,479 –> 00:03:09,000 to crush him, he has put him to grief when his soul makes an 42 00:03:09,000 –> 00:03:14,759 offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring 43 00:03:14,759 –> 00:03:20,039 he shall prolong his days, the will of the Lord 44 00:03:20,039 –> 00:03:24,520 shall prosper in his hand. 45 00:03:24,520 –> 00:03:28,759 Now notice at the beginning and the end of this verse 46 00:03:28,759 –> 00:03:35,240 we have the will of God it was the will of God to crush him 47 00:03:35,240 –> 00:03:38,199 and then at the end of the verse the will 48 00:03:38,199 –> 00:03:44,279 of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. So you can see just from 49 00:03:44,360 –> 00:03:50,119 looking at this verse that God’s will is the main theme 50 00:03:50,119 –> 00:03:53,559 and this is what Isaiah now wants us to focus 51 00:03:53,559 –> 00:03:57,720 on. Today what i want us to see from this verse 52 00:03:57,720 –> 00:04:02,679 is that God’s will prevailed in the death of Jesus, that’s the first part of 53 00:04:02,679 –> 00:04:05,240 the verse, and then we’ll spend most of our time 54 00:04:05,240 –> 00:04:09,399 on this wonderful truth that God’s will prevails 55 00:04:09,399 –> 00:04:14,119 through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 56 00:04:14,199 –> 00:04:18,200 Now first then God’s will prevailed in the death 57 00:04:18,200 –> 00:04:23,480 of Jesus. The story of the crucifixion of Jesus can be 58 00:04:23,480 –> 00:04:31,160 told in terms of human injustice, human cruelty, 59 00:04:31,160 –> 00:04:38,119 human wickedness. Peter could say in Acts 2 this Jesus, 60 00:04:38,119 –> 00:04:45,720 you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 61 00:04:45,720 –> 00:04:51,720 And the gospels tell us what wicked men did. 62 00:04:51,720 –> 00:04:57,720 Judas betrayed Jesus and he did it for money. 63 00:04:57,799 –> 00:05:04,679 Caiaphas condemned Jesus and he did it out of envy. 64 00:05:04,760 –> 00:05:13,160 Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified and he did it because he wanted peace at any price. 65 00:05:14,040 –> 00:05:21,880 So does that mean that the death of Jesus was a triumph of evil over good? 66 00:05:21,880 –> 00:05:29,079 Does that mean then since this was the act of wicked people that somehow darkness triumphed 67 00:05:29,799 –> 00:05:36,119 was it, the case that God’s will and purpose was actually thwarted at the cross? 68 00:05:37,559 –> 00:05:43,880 By these actions of wicked and evil men who intended only pain suffering and 69 00:05:43,880 –> 00:05:50,519 destruction towards the Lord Jesus Christ? The answer to these questions is, no, no, 70 00:05:51,160 –> 00:05:59,880 a thousand times no. God’s will prevailed in the darkness, in the evil, and even in the 71 00:05:59,880 –> 00:06:07,640 violence that was perpetrated at the cross. And Peter makes this very clear on the day 72 00:06:07,640 –> 00:06:14,519 of Pentecost. Let’s look at what he says in Acts chapter two and verse 23. He says, 73 00:06:14,519 –> 00:06:21,640 this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. 74 00:06:22,679 –> 00:06:29,880 You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Now you see, because the hands 75 00:06:29,880 –> 00:06:37,640 of lawless men were involved, you would expect him to say this Jesus was delivered up by Judas 76 00:06:37,640 –> 00:06:43,160 Iscariot or by Caiaphas, or by Pontius Pilate. But that’s not what he says. 77 00:06:43,160 –> 00:06:50,279 He says this Jesus was delivered up by the definite plan and the foreknowledge of God. 78 00:06:52,119 –> 00:06:54,519 You get this theme right throughout the New Testament, 79 00:06:56,440 –> 00:07:06,440 God being proactive, accomplishing our redemption at the cross. God did not spare his own son but 80 00:07:06,440 –> 00:07:12,920 freely gave him up for us all. And that’s what Isaiah is speaking about, here 81 00:07:12,920 –> 00:07:19,160 in chapter 53 and verse 10, he says it was the will of the Lord to crush him, 82 00:07:19,160 –> 00:07:28,040 he has put him to grief. Now that raises this very obvious question, 83 00:07:29,000 –> 00:07:36,100 how could it possibly be the will of God that his own dearly loved and 84 00:07:36,100 –> 00:07:43,660 righteous son should suffer, how could that be? And the first thing to say is 85 00:07:43,660 –> 00:07:48,760 that the will of God the Father and the will of God the Son were at one, 86 00:07:48,940 –> 00:07:58,380 completely aligned. The Son’s will and the Father’s will at one, aligned together. 87 00:07:58,380 –> 00:08:07,760 The second thing to say is that Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. 88 00:08:07,760 –> 00:08:16,359 He offered himself in our place and Isaiah is making it very clear here, that 89 00:08:16,440 –> 00:08:24,619 the Father and the Son were at one in the making of this sacrifice. 90 00:08:24,619 –> 00:08:32,599 It was the will of the Lord to crush him. He has put him to grief when his soul 91 00:08:32,599 –> 00:08:41,080 makes an offering for guilt. And we saw earlier in the chapter, back in verse 5, 92 00:08:41,200 –> 00:08:50,099 that when Jesus died on the cross, he was pierced for our transgressions. 93 00:08:50,099 –> 00:08:58,080 He was crushed for our inequities. The punishment that brought us peace was 94 00:08:58,080 –> 00:09:13,880 upon him and, by his wounds, we are healed. God’s will prevailed in the death of Jesus. 95 00:09:13,880 –> 00:09:27,000 Despite and even through the evil actions of wicked men, God got his will done. 96 00:09:27,080 –> 00:09:35,000 What was true in the suffering and the death of Jesus, will also be true for you. 97 00:09:35,000 –> 00:09:42,000 There is no grief. There is no suffering. There is no pain. There is no darkness. 98 00:09:42,000 –> 00:09:55,219 There is no activity, even of Satan himself, that can ultimately derail the purpose of God for you in the Lord Jesus Christ. 99 00:09:55,219 –> 00:10:06,719 The Bible speaks about the purpose of God, who works all things together according to the counsel of His will. 100 00:10:06,719 –> 00:10:09,239 That’s Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 11. 101 00:10:09,239 –> 00:10:16,239 He works all things together, according to the purpose of His will. 102 00:10:16,239 –> 00:10:19,739 Or Romans chapter 8 and verse 28. We have the same truth. 103 00:10:19,739 –> 00:10:23,780 In all things… all things! 104 00:10:23,799 –> 00:10:30,099 God works for the good of those who love him. 105 00:10:30,099 –> 00:10:34,099 And you know what that means? It means all things. 106 00:10:34,099 –> 00:10:39,099 The evil as well as the good. 107 00:10:39,099 –> 00:10:51,080 You see, there may come a time when someone in your life turns out to be a Judas who betrays you. 108 00:10:51,080 –> 00:11:02,679 There may be a time in your life when you experience great pain because of a Caiaphas who abuses his power. 109 00:11:02,679 –> 00:11:12,299 It may be that in your life you experience great pain because of a pilot who simply neglects his own responsibility. 110 00:11:12,299 –> 00:11:19,940 But know this, that whatever darkness you may face, 111 00:11:20,500 –> 00:11:30,739 whatever evil you may encounter, whatever suffering you may endure God will always be at work in you 112 00:11:31,859 –> 00:11:40,020 and through you for your eternal good and for the good of others. 113 00:11:40,020 –> 00:11:52,099 God’s will prevailed at the cross. It prevailed in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ 114 00:11:52,099 –> 00:11:59,700 and now Isaiah wants us to see that God’s will prevails in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus 115 00:11:59,700 –> 00:12:08,020 Christ and this is the main focus of this verse and Isaiah gives us three reasons he tells us 116 00:12:08,020 –> 00:12:14,979 why we can be sure that God’s will prevails through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus 117 00:12:14,979 –> 00:12:24,020 Christ and the first is because Jesus will bring many children to birth. Notice what he says here, 118 00:12:24,580 –> 00:12:34,739 he shall see his offspring. Now this word offspring is really important 119 00:12:34,739 –> 00:12:39,780 and I want you to take in its significance as we look at the Bible together today, 120 00:12:39,780 –> 00:12:49,059 literally translated the word here is seed, he shall see his seed, another way to say it 121 00:12:49,059 –> 00:12:59,140 would be he shall see his children. Isaiah says Jesus will see his offspring. 122 00:13:00,099 –> 00:13:12,020 Now think about what that means. If you have offspring, it means that your life is reproduced 123 00:13:12,020 –> 00:13:19,460 in another person. Something of you is in them. Your offspring. 124 00:13:22,859 –> 00:13:28,380 Now Jesus was never married. Jesus never had physical children. 125 00:13:29,659 –> 00:13:35,820 And very clearly, Isaiah is referring here to the work of Christ in his resurrection. 126 00:13:36,359 –> 00:13:40,440 And what he’s telling us is that he will have offspring. 127 00:13:41,179 –> 00:13:49,659 In other words, he will bring many to new birth. He will give to many his own life. 128 00:13:49,659 –> 00:13:52,520 John tells us – 129 00:13:52,619 –> 00:13:58,859 “…to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,” 130 00:13:58,960 –> 00:14:05,179 “…he gave the Right to become children of God,” 131 00:14:05,280 –> 00:14:11,520 “…nor of the Will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” 132 00:14:12,179 –> 00:14:14,700 You see this marvellous promise? 133 00:14:15,460 –> 00:14:19,359 That when you believe in the lord Jesus Christ 134 00:14:19,719 –> 00:14:23,820 you become one of God’s children, you become one of his offspring. 135 00:14:24,239 –> 00:14:31,539 His life actually comes into you, you are born again, you are born of God. 136 00:14:33,479 –> 00:14:36,380 Paul says, “…I have been crucified,” 137 00:14:36,479 –> 00:14:43,440 “…And I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” 138 00:14:44,419 –> 00:14:48,780 Now that is the heart of the Christian life. 139 00:14:48,780 –> 00:14:57,479 The great purpose of God is that you and I will be conformed to the image of God’s Son 140 00:14:57,479 –> 00:15:01,260 that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 141 00:15:01,260 –> 00:15:03,859 That’s Romans chapter 8 in verse 29. 142 00:15:03,859 –> 00:15:09,119 Now the image used there is the image of brothers rather than children. 143 00:15:09,179 –> 00:15:11,159 But you see the point is the same, 144 00:15:11,419 –> 00:15:15,679 it’s about the reproducing of the family likeness. 145 00:15:15,679 –> 00:15:24,039 God is absolutely committed to reproducing the likeness of the Son He loves. 146 00:15:24,219 –> 00:15:33,059 And He does this by infusing the life of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself into His people, 147 00:15:33,400 –> 00:15:39,340 into all who will receive Him, into all who will believe in His name. 148 00:15:39,400 –> 00:15:44,880 He gives the right to be children of God. 149 00:15:45,859 –> 00:15:50,599 Now friends, this is really really important for this reason, 150 00:15:51,179 –> 00:15:59,080 that sometimes our calling to live the Christian life can just seem absolutely overwhelming. 151 00:15:59,599 –> 00:16:02,280 I wonder if you felt like this at times? 152 00:16:02,640 –> 00:16:07,320 We are called to be disciples of Jesus, 153 00:16:08,179 –> 00:16:11,380 but Jesus lived a perfect life. 154 00:16:11,940 –> 00:16:18,919 What hope is there for us to be able to follow his example? 155 00:16:19,820 –> 00:16:24,739 And you see, if discipleship were the only category 156 00:16:24,739 –> 00:16:28,460 that a person had for thinking about the Christian life, 157 00:16:28,460 –> 00:16:32,280 well that person would soon become pretty discouraged. 158 00:16:33,119 –> 00:16:37,760 And one reason that some people give for holding back on committing 159 00:16:37,760 –> 00:16:40,599 to follow the Lord Jesus Christ is just this, 160 00:16:40,599 –> 00:16:42,380 well, it’s too difficult. 161 00:16:42,380 –> 00:16:45,359 You will have heard someone say this, perhaps you’ve said it yourself, 162 00:16:45,359 –> 00:16:46,739 you know, if I was to try this, 163 00:16:46,739 –> 00:16:49,520 it would only end up in the most dismal failure, 164 00:16:49,520 –> 00:16:51,940 and that’s why I’m not even going to try. 165 00:16:52,700 –> 00:16:57,299 But here’s what I want you to grasp from this wonderful verse today. 166 00:16:57,320 –> 00:17:01,380 There is more to living the Christian life than you making 167 00:17:01,380 –> 00:17:04,699 your best effort to follow the example of Jesus. 168 00:17:06,400 –> 00:17:07,660 There’s more to it. 169 00:17:08,939 –> 00:17:12,400 And the more is what is being spoken about here. 170 00:17:13,560 –> 00:17:18,280 Jesus brings offspring to birth. 171 00:17:20,540 –> 00:17:25,959 And the life of Jesus himself is going to be in his offspring. 172 00:17:26,819 –> 00:17:30,920 That’s the miracle of the new birth 173 00:17:30,920 –> 00:17:35,839 that is the experience of everyone who puts their faith 174 00:17:35,839 –> 00:17:37,599 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 175 00:17:37,599 –> 00:17:42,239 The Christian life at its heart is Jesus living his life 176 00:17:42,239 –> 00:17:43,640 in and through you. 177 00:17:44,760 –> 00:17:46,640 Now try and take this in. 178 00:17:46,640 –> 00:17:47,680 It will help you. 179 00:17:49,040 –> 00:17:51,760 In Christ, you are more than a disciple. 180 00:17:52,719 –> 00:17:56,140 In Christ, you are more than a servant. 181 00:17:57,400 –> 00:18:01,479 In Christ you are more than a person doing his or her best 182 00:18:01,479 –> 00:18:03,800 to follow the example of Jesus. 183 00:18:03,800 –> 00:18:08,800 In Christ you are his offspring and his life is in you. 184 00:18:10,800 –> 00:18:14,119 The Holy Spirit dwells within you. 185 00:18:14,119 –> 00:18:16,959 And what that means is that something 186 00:18:16,959 –> 00:18:19,520 of the love, and the patience, and the peace, 187 00:18:19,640 –> 00:18:22,800 and the wisdom, and the strength, and the perseverance, 188 00:18:22,800 –> 00:18:26,920 and the joy of the Lord Jesus Christ are actually in you 189 00:18:26,920 –> 00:18:30,300 by virtue of the fact that his presence is in you. 190 00:18:30,300 –> 00:18:31,560 He is in you. 191 00:18:31,560 –> 00:18:36,239 Nourish this life that is in you and it will grow. 192 00:18:38,219 –> 00:18:43,119 So you see, becoming more like Jesus 193 00:18:43,119 –> 00:18:46,560 actually goes with the grain 194 00:18:46,560 –> 00:18:49,420 of who you are as a Christian believer. 195 00:18:49,420 –> 00:18:50,479 Not against it. 196 00:18:52,000 –> 00:18:57,000 See, the sinner is being true to himself when he sins. 197 00:18:59,699 –> 00:19:02,099 But you are Christ’s offspring. 198 00:19:02,099 –> 00:19:04,119 The Holy Spirit lives within you. 199 00:19:04,119 –> 00:19:06,319 His life is in you. 200 00:19:07,260 –> 00:19:10,900 And therefore, you are being true to yourself 201 00:19:11,800 –> 00:19:13,540 as you grow in likeness to him. 202 00:19:15,219 –> 00:19:18,579 As a believer, you are never more 203 00:19:18,599 –> 00:19:21,939 in conflict with yourself than when you sin, 204 00:19:21,939 –> 00:19:23,939 because that’s not who you are. 205 00:19:23,939 –> 00:19:25,479 You are Christ’s offspring. 206 00:19:26,939 –> 00:19:31,939 And as a believer, you are never more true to yourself 207 00:19:32,219 –> 00:19:34,260 than when you are following the example 208 00:19:34,260 –> 00:19:37,420 of the Lord Jesus Christ, because that is who you are. 209 00:19:38,459 –> 00:19:41,560 You are Christ’s offspring. 210 00:19:42,619 –> 00:19:45,540 And the more like Jesus you become, 211 00:19:45,540 –> 00:19:49,699 the more peace and joy you’re going to have. 212 00:19:49,699 –> 00:19:52,540 Because you’re being true to yourself. 213 00:19:52,540 –> 00:19:56,839 You are His offspring. 214 00:19:58,699 –> 00:20:00,140 Now this is something very wonderful 215 00:20:00,140 –> 00:20:04,300 that Isaiah is telling us here, God’s will prevails. 216 00:20:04,300 –> 00:20:07,739 And it prevails through not only the death of Jesus, 217 00:20:07,739 –> 00:20:10,699 but through the resurrection of Jesus. 218 00:20:10,699 –> 00:20:13,140 And it prevails through the resurrection of Jesus 219 00:20:13,140 –> 00:20:17,520 because he will bring many children to birth. 220 00:20:19,239 –> 00:20:22,640 And then Isaiah gives us a second reason 221 00:20:22,640 –> 00:20:24,619 why the will of God prevails 222 00:20:24,619 –> 00:20:26,199 through the resurrection of Jesus. 223 00:20:26,199 –> 00:20:31,180 Because he says he will live forever. 224 00:20:32,300 –> 00:20:33,180 Look at what he says. 225 00:20:33,180 –> 00:20:37,380 He shall see his offspring. 226 00:20:37,380 –> 00:20:42,380 He shall prolong his days. 227 00:20:43,400 –> 00:20:47,839 So, the promise is not only that Christ will have offspring, 228 00:20:47,839 –> 00:20:49,300 the promise particularly is 229 00:20:49,300 –> 00:20:53,760 that Christ will see his offspring. 230 00:20:55,699 –> 00:20:59,400 Now, people who have children 231 00:20:59,400 –> 00:21:02,239 may live to see their grandchildren. 232 00:21:03,640 –> 00:21:07,760 Some will live to see their great-grandchildren, 233 00:21:07,760 –> 00:21:09,479 but usually that’s about it. 234 00:21:10,420 –> 00:21:12,819 But do you see here that, with Jesus, 235 00:21:12,819 –> 00:21:15,020 it is so very different? 236 00:21:15,020 –> 00:21:16,079 Isaiah says, 237 00:21:16,079 –> 00:21:20,219 he shall prolong his days. 238 00:21:20,219 –> 00:21:22,739 He’s pointing to the fact that, in the resurrection, 239 00:21:22,739 –> 00:21:26,420 the Lord Jesus Christ lives forever, 240 00:21:26,420 –> 00:21:32,520 and he will see his offspring in every generation. 241 00:21:32,520 –> 00:21:34,020 This is clearly a reference 242 00:21:34,020 –> 00:21:36,280 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 243 00:21:36,339 –> 00:21:39,140 He rose from the grave in the power 244 00:21:39,140 –> 00:21:42,040 of a new and eternal life, 245 00:21:42,040 –> 00:21:45,640 and he sees his offspring in every generation, 246 00:21:45,640 –> 00:21:48,540 he knows each of his children by name, 247 00:21:48,540 –> 00:21:53,739 and he is intimately involved in each of our lives. 248 00:21:56,979 –> 00:22:01,219 Now, again, here is something very wonderful for us. 249 00:22:01,260 –> 00:22:06,819 The life of Jesus is in his offspring. 250 00:22:06,819 –> 00:22:09,060 So what is true of Jesus, 251 00:22:09,060 –> 00:22:11,760 that he has risen to an eternal life, 252 00:22:11,760 –> 00:22:13,420 that he lives forever, 253 00:22:13,420 –> 00:22:18,300 will also be true of his offspring as well. 254 00:22:18,300 –> 00:22:21,959 Jesus was the first to rise from the dead, 255 00:22:21,959 –> 00:22:23,400 but the Scripture is very clear 256 00:22:23,400 –> 00:22:27,819 that we who are in Christ also will rise. 257 00:22:27,819 –> 00:22:31,359 Jesus enjoys an eternal life. 258 00:22:31,359 –> 00:22:36,300 And because Jesus himself by his Holy Spirit is in us, 259 00:22:36,300 –> 00:22:39,900 we too will live forever. 260 00:22:39,900 –> 00:22:42,099 This is the plain promise of Jesus. 261 00:22:42,099 –> 00:22:45,920 He said, because I live, 262 00:22:45,920 –> 00:22:49,900 you will live also. 263 00:22:49,900 –> 00:22:51,420 Brothers and sisters in Christ, 264 00:22:51,420 –> 00:22:52,920 can you try to take this in today? 265 00:22:52,920 –> 00:22:54,099 It is so wonderful. 266 00:22:54,199 –> 00:22:58,859 You will live forever. 267 00:22:58,859 –> 00:23:04,579 You’ll live forever because you’re in Christ, 268 00:23:04,579 –> 00:23:06,160 and his days are prolonged. 269 00:23:06,160 –> 00:23:08,319 He lives forever. 270 00:23:08,319 –> 00:23:16,239 And what is true of Jesus is also true of his offspring. 271 00:23:16,239 –> 00:23:19,739 Now, this marvelous promise for the future, 272 00:23:19,739 –> 00:23:24,060 we shall rise to an everlasting life. 273 00:23:24,060 –> 00:23:27,099 This promise for the future is given to help us now. 274 00:23:27,099 –> 00:23:29,880 All the promises of the Bible help us 275 00:23:29,880 –> 00:23:33,119 today in the realities that we face. 276 00:23:33,119 –> 00:23:37,579 So how does this truth that you will live forever, 277 00:23:37,579 –> 00:23:41,420 how does this truth actually help you now? 278 00:23:41,420 –> 00:23:42,920 Well, let me give you two examples 279 00:23:42,920 –> 00:23:46,339 of the ways in which the Bible applies 280 00:23:46,339 –> 00:23:49,619 this truth to the harsh realities 281 00:23:49,619 –> 00:23:53,180 that we face in our life in this world. 282 00:23:53,219 –> 00:23:55,780 First, the Bible applies this truth 283 00:23:55,780 –> 00:24:00,760 to times when we fear the rising tide of evil. 284 00:24:02,579 –> 00:24:06,380 We all know what it is to feel distressed 285 00:24:06,380 –> 00:24:09,979 over the rising tide of evil in our world, 286 00:24:10,959 –> 00:24:13,459 and when we feel that distress, 287 00:24:13,459 –> 00:24:18,459 the Bible directs us to look at the world’s 288 00:24:18,739 –> 00:24:23,739 most defiant towards God from an eternal perspective. 289 00:24:23,760 –> 00:24:26,619 Take for example, Psalm 92. 290 00:24:27,959 –> 00:24:32,400 Though the wicked sprout like grass 291 00:24:33,420 –> 00:24:35,180 coming up all over the place, 292 00:24:36,540 –> 00:24:40,579 and all evil doers flourish, 293 00:24:40,579 –> 00:24:44,199 so this is just evil being rampant everywhere, 294 00:24:44,260 –> 00:24:48,500 though that happen, here is what scripture says to us, 295 00:24:48,500 –> 00:24:53,500 they are doomed to destruction forever 296 00:24:55,339 –> 00:25:00,319 but you, Oh Lord, are on high forever. 297 00:25:02,260 –> 00:25:04,599 Now, do you see that if we look at the world, 298 00:25:04,599 –> 00:25:09,260 simply from the perspective of our own little lifespans, 299 00:25:09,260 –> 00:25:12,939 we very quickly get ourselves distressed and discouraged? 300 00:25:12,959 –> 00:25:14,420 We say to ourselves, well, now, 301 00:25:14,420 –> 00:25:16,859 it looks like evil is taking over. 302 00:25:16,859 –> 00:25:19,439 We fear that everything will be lost 303 00:25:19,439 –> 00:25:22,300 and we find ourselves increasingly 304 00:25:22,300 –> 00:25:25,900 in the grip of anxiety or of anger. 305 00:25:28,020 –> 00:25:30,020 But you see what the scripture says to us 306 00:25:30,020 –> 00:25:31,939 at times when we see the rise of evil, 307 00:25:31,939 –> 00:25:33,939 evil and wickedness flourishing, 308 00:25:36,040 –> 00:25:38,140 scripture points this out 309 00:25:39,099 –> 00:25:44,099 that those who defy God are only around 310 00:25:44,219 –> 00:25:49,040 for a very short time and then they are gone forever. 311 00:25:50,439 –> 00:25:51,280 Think about it. 312 00:25:53,099 –> 00:25:58,099 The enemies who defied God in the 7th Century 313 00:25:58,359 –> 00:25:59,300 are all gone. 314 00:26:00,920 –> 00:26:03,599 The enemies who defied God in the 9th Century, 315 00:26:03,599 –> 00:26:04,500 where are they? 316 00:26:04,500 –> 00:26:05,339 All gone. 317 00:26:06,339 –> 00:26:09,859 And the 11th Century and every other century. 318 00:26:09,859 –> 00:26:12,699 See, this is what the Scripture confronts us with. 319 00:26:12,699 –> 00:26:15,939 Psalm 37 makes this point very clearly. 320 00:26:16,979 –> 00:26:21,979 Do not fret over evil doers. 321 00:26:22,479 –> 00:26:25,000 And you look at that in Psalm 37, verse one, 322 00:26:25,000 –> 00:26:27,339 you say, don’t fret over evil doers. 323 00:26:27,339 –> 00:26:30,300 Why, why should I not fret over them? 324 00:26:31,380 –> 00:26:33,280 And the answer’s given in verse two. 325 00:26:33,439 –> 00:26:38,160 For they will soon fade away like grass. 326 00:26:41,479 –> 00:26:43,920 From God’s eternal point of view, 327 00:26:43,920 –> 00:26:47,479 the wicked are here today and gone tomorrow. 328 00:26:49,219 –> 00:26:50,900 But God is everlasting. 329 00:26:52,560 –> 00:26:55,680 Jesus rose to an eternal life. 330 00:26:56,560 –> 00:26:59,280 He shall prolong his days, 331 00:26:59,280 –> 00:27:02,560 and you are his offspring. 332 00:27:03,479 –> 00:27:05,319 You have life everlasting. 333 00:27:06,160 –> 00:27:08,180 The wicked will soon be gone, 334 00:27:08,180 –> 00:27:13,180 but you will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.” 335 00:27:16,199 –> 00:27:18,280 So, the Bible applies this to 336 00:27:18,280 –> 00:27:21,640 when we see the rising tide of evil, 337 00:27:21,640 –> 00:27:23,239 but that’s just one application. 338 00:27:25,280 –> 00:27:27,880 The Bible also applies this wonderful truth 339 00:27:27,880 –> 00:27:29,199 that you will live forever 340 00:27:29,199 –> 00:27:33,140 to times when we feel the shortness of life. 341 00:27:34,280 –> 00:27:38,520 You see this, for example, in Psalm 102. 342 00:27:38,520 –> 00:27:39,880 David knew all about this 343 00:27:39,880 –> 00:27:40,800 and there’ll be times when 344 00:27:40,800 –> 00:27:43,319 we feel this very deeply ourselves. 345 00:27:44,400 –> 00:27:46,420 David says in Psalm 102, 346 00:27:46,420 –> 00:27:50,939 my days are like an evening shadow, 347 00:27:52,339 –> 00:27:56,060 I wither away like grass. 348 00:27:58,319 –> 00:28:02,359 Now, older people know what it is to say 349 00:28:02,479 –> 00:28:05,880 where have all the years gone? 350 00:28:05,880 –> 00:28:09,500 How could they have passed by so very quickly? 351 00:28:11,579 –> 00:28:13,900 But it’s not just those who are older 352 00:28:13,900 –> 00:28:16,599 who feel the shortness of life. 353 00:28:17,959 –> 00:28:22,939 You lose a loved one, your father, your mother, 354 00:28:24,040 –> 00:28:28,660 a sister, a brother, a very close friend. 355 00:28:29,520 –> 00:28:33,599 And suddenly, because you were very close to this person 356 00:28:33,599 –> 00:28:37,780 and they’re gone, you have a profound 357 00:28:37,780 –> 00:28:41,119 and new awareness of your own mortality. 358 00:28:41,119 –> 00:28:42,760 You’ve not thought about it much before, 359 00:28:42,760 –> 00:28:44,420 but now it’s in your mind. 360 00:28:44,420 –> 00:28:47,420 One day I’ll be gone, too. 361 00:28:49,819 –> 00:28:54,140 You receive a diagnosis of a serious illness. 362 00:28:55,140 –> 00:28:58,619 And suddenly you realize that the life 363 00:28:58,619 –> 00:29:02,359 that seemed to stretch out long in front of you, 364 00:29:03,579 –> 00:29:05,920 it may be shorter than you thought. 365 00:29:06,979 –> 00:29:11,359 My days are like an evening shadow. 366 00:29:13,060 –> 00:29:16,020 Now these are the realities of life. 367 00:29:17,180 –> 00:29:20,099 Where do you go when that is your reality? 368 00:29:21,099 –> 00:29:24,839 Well look where David goes in Psalm 102. 369 00:29:24,839 –> 00:29:28,219 My days are like an evening shadow. 370 00:29:29,300 –> 00:29:32,099 I wither away like grass, 371 00:29:32,099 –> 00:29:37,099 but you O Lord are enthroned forever. 372 00:29:39,819 –> 00:29:42,739 And then late in the same psalm, 373 00:29:42,739 –> 00:29:45,219 as David meditates on this wonderful truth, 374 00:29:45,219 –> 00:29:50,219 he says this, he has broken my strength in midcourse. 375 00:29:51,219 –> 00:29:54,239 He has shortened my days. 376 00:29:55,339 –> 00:29:59,479 And then he says to God, but you are the same 377 00:29:59,479 –> 00:30:03,020 and your years have no end. 378 00:30:03,920 –> 00:30:08,540 The children of your servants shall dwell secure, 379 00:30:08,540 –> 00:30:10,000 their offspring. 380 00:30:10,000 –> 00:30:12,140 Notice the offspring here again, 381 00:30:12,579 –> 00:30:16,400 shall be established before you. 382 00:30:18,079 –> 00:30:20,339 Now, of course, David could not see 383 00:30:20,339 –> 00:30:24,719 all that we see, the side of the empty tomb, 384 00:30:24,719 –> 00:30:29,540 but he knew and he believed that there would be offspring 385 00:30:29,540 –> 00:30:34,339 and that it would be well for the offspring. 386 00:30:34,339 –> 00:30:36,640 And in the light of the empty tomb, 387 00:30:36,640 –> 00:30:39,260 in the light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 388 00:30:39,339 –> 00:30:42,160 we know why Christ is risen. 389 00:30:44,020 –> 00:30:49,020 And when the days of God’s children are shortened on earth, 390 00:30:50,839 –> 00:30:53,119 they shall dwell secure. 391 00:30:53,119 –> 00:30:55,459 That’s what’s said here in this wonderful verse. 392 00:30:55,459 –> 00:30:57,260 They shall dwell secure. 393 00:30:57,260 –> 00:31:02,260 They shall be established in the presence of God. 394 00:31:03,180 –> 00:31:08,180 They’ll be living, reigning, rejoicing with Him. 395 00:31:09,760 –> 00:31:11,180 Forever. 396 00:31:13,339 –> 00:31:16,500 Do you know the Puritan Thomas Manton 397 00:31:16,500 –> 00:31:19,040 said this very beautifully? 398 00:31:20,099 –> 00:31:23,780 He said Christ’s life 399 00:31:23,780 –> 00:31:28,780 was not shortened by his death, but prolonged. 400 00:31:30,939 –> 00:31:35,939 So shall yours be if you have an interest in Christ. 401 00:31:37,180 –> 00:31:38,260 Try and take that in. 402 00:31:40,180 –> 00:31:45,180 Death will not make your life shorter, but longer. 403 00:31:47,040 –> 00:31:48,500 You say, how can that be? 404 00:31:48,500 –> 00:31:50,660 Well it will prolong your days, 405 00:31:50,660 –> 00:31:52,739 because in Christ 406 00:31:52,739 –> 00:31:57,739 it will be for you an entrance into life everlasting. 407 00:32:00,380 –> 00:32:02,020 God’s will prevails. 408 00:32:03,119 –> 00:32:05,819 It prevails through the resurrection of Jesus, why? 409 00:32:05,819 –> 00:32:08,619 Because the risen Lord Jesus Christ 410 00:32:08,739 –> 00:32:12,160 will bring many children to birth. 411 00:32:12,160 –> 00:32:15,920 And the risen Lord Jesus Christ lives forever. 412 00:32:17,739 –> 00:32:22,459 And then Isaiah points us to this third wonderful truth 413 00:32:22,459 –> 00:32:24,979 that God’s will prevails through the resurrection 414 00:32:24,979 –> 00:32:26,479 of the Lord Jesus Christ, 415 00:32:26,479 –> 00:32:28,660 because He himself, Christ, 416 00:32:28,660 –> 00:32:32,140 the risen Lord will accomplish it. 417 00:32:32,140 –> 00:32:34,660 The will of the Lord, Isaiah says, 418 00:32:34,819 –> 00:32:36,920 shall prosper in His hand. 419 00:32:41,459 –> 00:32:43,000 Try and take this in today. 420 00:32:43,000 –> 00:32:46,780 It will strengthen you in whatever you are facing. 421 00:32:46,780 –> 00:32:49,119 The risen Lord Jesus Christ ascended 422 00:32:49,119 –> 00:32:50,959 at the right hand of the Father. 423 00:32:50,959 –> 00:32:53,579 He is not kind of remotely and passively 424 00:32:53,579 –> 00:32:57,500 just watching what is going on in the world. 425 00:32:57,500 –> 00:33:00,979 He is actively engaged every moment 426 00:33:00,979 –> 00:33:03,219 in getting God’s will done. 427 00:33:05,099 –> 00:33:08,239 What’s He doing, he’s bringing people to new birth. 428 00:33:09,079 –> 00:33:13,020 He’s giving us the strength that we need 429 00:33:13,020 –> 00:33:15,739 for the trials that we face. 430 00:33:15,739 –> 00:33:17,619 He’s hearing and he’s answering 431 00:33:17,619 –> 00:33:20,020 the prayers of his own people, 432 00:33:20,020 –> 00:33:22,260 and when it is God’s will, 433 00:33:22,260 –> 00:33:24,540 he will bring each and every one of us 434 00:33:24,540 –> 00:33:27,319 into his own nearer presence and glory. 435 00:33:29,380 –> 00:33:31,680 And notice that Isaiah says, 436 00:33:31,699 –> 00:33:36,680 the will of the Lord shall prosper, prosper. 437 00:33:36,859 –> 00:33:40,680 See, we look at the world in its defiance toward God 438 00:33:40,680 –> 00:33:43,839 and it looks as if God’s will is barely getting done. 439 00:33:44,760 –> 00:33:48,099 But you see, faith sees beyond the chaos 440 00:33:48,099 –> 00:33:51,400 of the world around us and believes this promise, 441 00:33:51,400 –> 00:33:55,699 the will of the Lord shall prosper in the hand of Jesus. 442 00:33:55,699 –> 00:33:58,680 And notice that it’s in his hand, not in ours. 443 00:33:58,959 –> 00:34:03,959 The end, all that God has planned will come to pass 444 00:34:04,859 –> 00:34:09,020 in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 445 00:34:09,020 –> 00:34:12,439 That’s what Isaiah is telling us so wonderfully here. 446 00:34:13,560 –> 00:34:16,280 And we read earlier from the book of Hebrews 447 00:34:16,280 –> 00:34:20,040 in chapter four about the marvelous day 448 00:34:20,040 –> 00:34:24,399 when the Lord Jesus Christ shall complete his work 449 00:34:24,399 –> 00:34:28,560 of bringing many children to glory. 450 00:34:28,560 –> 00:34:32,520 And Hebrews paints this marvelous picture, 451 00:34:32,520 –> 00:34:36,760 the son of God himself, the risen Lord Jesus Christ 452 00:34:36,760 –> 00:34:38,840 in the presence of the Father 453 00:34:38,840 –> 00:34:42,919 and all of his redeemed children are gathered around him. 454 00:34:42,919 –> 00:34:46,500 And there, he says, Father, here I am 455 00:34:46,500 –> 00:34:49,459 and here are all the children that you have given to me. 456 00:34:51,280 –> 00:34:55,800 They’re all here, I’ve brought everyone of them home 457 00:34:56,699 –> 00:34:59,340 and not one of them has been lost. 458 00:35:01,280 –> 00:35:06,300 Jesus will get the will of God done. 459 00:35:08,399 –> 00:35:10,719 And I want to end today with this, 460 00:35:12,040 –> 00:35:14,020 that he tells us very, very clearly 461 00:35:14,020 –> 00:35:15,979 what the will of God is. 462 00:35:17,219 –> 00:35:18,879 Let me read to you the words of Jesus 463 00:35:18,879 –> 00:35:21,620 from John in chapter six. 464 00:35:21,620 –> 00:35:24,139 He said, I have come down from heaven 465 00:35:24,260 –> 00:35:26,739 not to do my own will 466 00:35:28,020 –> 00:35:30,040 but the will of him who sent me. 467 00:35:31,620 –> 00:35:35,439 And this is the will of him who sent me. 468 00:35:36,500 –> 00:35:41,500 That I should lose nothing of all that he has given me 469 00:35:43,379 –> 00:35:46,379 but raise it up on the last day. 470 00:35:46,379 –> 00:35:49,439 Isn’t that a marvelous assurance for you 471 00:35:49,439 –> 00:35:50,520 as a Christian believer? 472 00:35:50,520 –> 00:35:53,620 The Lord Jesus died to save you. 473 00:35:53,699 –> 00:35:55,419 He lives to keep you 474 00:35:56,360 –> 00:35:59,360 and he will never, never, never let you go. 475 00:36:00,760 –> 00:36:02,580 And then Jesus says something else. 476 00:36:03,820 –> 00:36:06,639 For this is the will of my father, 477 00:36:06,639 –> 00:36:08,199 notice how clear this is, 478 00:36:09,219 –> 00:36:10,560 that everyone 479 00:36:11,679 –> 00:36:16,679 who looks on the Son and believes in him 480 00:36:17,300 –> 00:36:19,800 should have eternal life 481 00:36:20,959 –> 00:36:23,260 and I will raise him up. 482 00:36:24,340 –> 00:36:26,280 On the last day. 483 00:36:26,280 –> 00:36:28,379 You couldn’t have a clearer statement 484 00:36:28,379 –> 00:36:30,040 of the will of God than that, 485 00:36:30,040 –> 00:36:34,260 that if you will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 486 00:36:35,820 –> 00:36:37,739 you will have eternal life. 487 00:36:37,739 –> 00:36:38,860 That’s the will of the Father 488 00:36:38,860 –> 00:36:40,419 and Jesus gets it done. 489 00:36:40,419 –> 00:36:42,580 This is why he died and why he rose. 490 00:36:42,580 –> 00:36:45,360 This is why he gave himself as a sacrifice. 491 00:36:45,360 –> 00:36:49,739 This is why he lives now at the right hand of the father. 492 00:36:49,739 –> 00:36:51,560 To get God’s will done. 493 00:36:52,540 –> 00:36:54,060 What this means for you 494 00:36:54,060 –> 00:36:56,939 is that if you will believe in him, 495 00:36:56,939 –> 00:36:59,260 he says you will have eternal life 496 00:36:59,260 –> 00:37:01,760 and you will be among that great company of people 497 00:37:01,760 –> 00:37:03,760 who one day will be gathered around him 498 00:37:03,760 –> 00:37:05,360 in the presence of the father, 499 00:37:05,360 –> 00:37:09,020 brought safely home by Jesus Christ himself. 500 00:37:12,020 –> 00:37:14,760 The will of God is your salvation 501 00:37:17,860 –> 00:37:20,120 and Jesus will get it done. 502 00:37:22,459 –> 00:37:26,100 The will of God is your sanctification 503 00:37:26,100 –> 00:37:28,360 and Jesus will get it done. 504 00:37:30,280 –> 00:37:33,280 The will of God is your preservation 505 00:37:34,639 –> 00:37:36,899 and Jesus will get it done. 506 00:37:38,139 –> 00:37:41,300 The will of God is your glorification 507 00:37:42,600 –> 00:37:44,840 and Jesus will get it done. 508 00:37:46,459 –> 00:37:50,620 The will of the lord shall prosper in his full glory. 509 00:37:51,679 –> 00:37:53,419 ickets his own hand. 510 00:37:54,260 –> 00:37:57,679 And if your life is in the hand of Jesus, 511 00:38:00,159 –> 00:38:02,239 you have nothing to fear. 512 00:38:03,459 –> 00:38:05,139 Let’s pray together. 513 00:38:06,800 –> 00:38:09,639 Father, we thank you for your son. 514 00:38:13,040 –> 00:38:15,040 Our Savior Jesus Christ. 515 00:38:17,540 –> 00:38:21,360 We thank you that he died for our sins, 516 00:38:21,800 –> 00:38:25,540 that he gave himself and you gave him for us. 517 00:38:27,739 –> 00:38:30,899 We thank you that he rose from the dead 518 00:38:32,280 –> 00:38:34,540 and that through him, 519 00:38:34,540 –> 00:38:38,719 all of your will and your purpose will be accomplished. 520 00:38:40,719 –> 00:38:44,179 Help us that we may look to him. 521 00:38:44,179 –> 00:38:46,679 Help us that we may trust him. 522 00:38:47,280 –> 00:38:51,459 Help us that we may find strength in and through him. 523 00:38:53,020 –> 00:38:57,659 And to his name be all the praise and all the glory 524 00:38:57,659 –> 00:39:00,820 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 525 00:39:00,820 –> 00:39:01,639 Amen. 526 00:39:03,600 –> 00:39:05,100 You’ve been listening to a sermon 527 00:39:05,100 –> 00:39:07,560 with Pastor Collin Smith of Open the Bible. 528 00:39:07,560 –> 00:39:08,659 To contact us, 529 00:39:08,659 –> 00:39:12,479 call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 530 00:39:12,479 –> 00:39:13,979 or visit our website, 531 00:39:13,979 –> 00:39:15,699 openthebible.org.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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