Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleThou Shalt Call His Name Jesus
Bible TextMatthew 1:18-25
Synopsis The salvation of God’s people is of the Lord. Listen.
Date21-Dec-2017
Article Type Sermon Notes
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus (32 kbps)
Audio CD Quality Listen: Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus (128 kbps)
Length 43 min.
 

Title: Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus

Text: Matthew 1: 18-25

Date: December 21, 2017

Place: SGBC, New Jersey


Matthew 1: 18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19: Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22: Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and [a virgin] shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24: Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

 

In verse 21, we are told why his name is Jesus, “for he shall save his people from their sins.”

 

Proposition: In this one statement we have the gospel that the salvation of God’s people is of the Lord.

 

Divisions: We will take each word in this sentence.

 

HE

 

Matthew 1: 18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

 

Who is the Lord Jesus?  Verse 18 declares he was begotten in the womb of a virgin of the Holy Ghost. The fact Mary was a virgin and the fact he was conceived or begotten in her womb of the Holy Spirit of God tells us he is the sinless GodMan.

 

One, he is Man.  He is the sinless Man, the last Adam.  Had he been conceived of Joseph’s corrupt seed, he would have been a sinner like us.  But he was conceived of the holy Ghost. Therefore, he is holy. He is the spotless Lamb of God which was required for him to be made fit to be made sin for us.

 

Two, he is God. Being conceived of the Holy Ghost declares he is the eternal God without beginning or ending. Verse 23 declares he is Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. The Son of God did not begin to be the Son of God at his birth. He is the eternal second person of the Trinity.  His birth is when the Son of God came down, took flesh and dwelt among us.

 

Luke 1: 35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

As Man everything he suffered and accomplished he did in the flesh like unto his brethren. He did so as the last Adam representing all who shall be born of him. Being God, everything he suffered and accomplished is eternal.

 

The fact the Lord Jesus was “MADE of a woman” declares it was a necessity that “in all things it behoved him to be MADE like unto his brethren.” (Heb 2: 17) 

 

·        It was necessary that Christ really be Heb 2:9 MADE a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.

·        In order to redeem his people that were under the law, it was necessary Christ really be Gal 4: 4…MADE under the law.

·        In order to be the faithful servant entirely dependent upon God his Father, it was necessary that Christ really Php 2:7…MADE himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

·        In order to be perfectly consecrated as the Author and Finisher of our faith, it was necessary Christ really Heb 5: 8: experience obedience by the things which he suffered and be MADE perfect, [so that he] became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

·        In order to be the substitute of his people and God be just, it was necessary Christ really be 2 Cor 5:21…MADE sin for us, who knew no sin;

·        Once made sin, in order to satisfy justice, it was necessary that Christ really be Ga 3:13…MADE a curse for us.

·        To fulfill God the Father’s covenant promise it was necessary Christ really be Heb 6:20 MADE an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Heb 7:26 MADE higher than the heavens;

·        Being raised, given all authority as Head of his church, it was necessary that angels and authorities and powers really be 1Pe 3:22 MADE subject unto him.

·        For his church to be established on the Rock, Christ had to really be 1Pe 2:7…MADE the head of the corner,

·        And by the obedience of Christ, of God, Christ is really 1 Cor 1: 30:…MADE unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

 

The necessity that Christ really be made all these things was declared in the fact that Christ was really “MADE of a woman.” If his Suretyship and Substitution were only “as if” then God could have treated him “as if” he were made of a woman, “as if” he were made these other things.  But “IN ALL THINGS it behoved him to be MADE like unto his brethren”—that his people might be “MADE the righteousness of God in him.”

 

Note, it does not say “he” plus his people. It says only “he.” The Lord Jesus, by himself, is “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Heb 1: 3)

 

Acts 4: 12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

1 Timothy 2:5: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

 

Christ is not a way, he is THE WAY! He is the sinless GodMan, Mediator, the last Adam made like unto his brethren, who saves by himself.

 

SHALL SAVE

 

These two words declare the impossibility of Christ failing to save.  The Lord sent the angel to declare this is his name. Therefore, God attached his glory to this statement. The glory of God’s immutability is attached to his name: God changes not therefore he shall save.  The glory of God’s faithfulness is attached to his name: God is faithful that promised so he shall save. The glory of God’s truthfulness is attached to his name: God cannot lie so he shall save. The glory of God’s grace and righteousness is attached to his name: the Lord must be declared just and Justifier so he shall save.

 

Isaiah 42: 4: He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

 

John 10:28: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

John 6:39: And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

 

The word “saved” declares Christ fully accomplishes everything necessary to completely save.  When a person is saved, they are completely saved and there remains nothing else to be done. Christ is Alpha and Omega, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  From the cross, Christ cried out, “It is finished” meaning he fully accomplished redemption from the law for those he represented—fully accomplished—by the Lord Jesus.

 

Isaiah 40: 1: Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2: Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.

 

Hebrews 9: 12…by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

 

When Christ has sent the Holy Spirit and regenerated his people to faith in him scripture says we have been saved—

 

Colossians 1:13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

 

There is coming a day when the Lord Jesus shall return to fully redeem our bodies out of the grave into glory with him and present us faultless!  So his name is Jesus [Savior] because he, the GodMan Mediator, shall fully, completely save.

 

HIS PEOPLE

 

His name is Jesus because he came to save his particular people. Seeing that he came to save his people tells us they were his people before he came and before he came he was designated their Savior.

 

We are not made his people by our fleshly will or when we believe.

 

Galatians 4:6: And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

 

We are not made his people by the will of others. Mom and dad cannot make us a child of God by baptism or sprinkling or any such thing.

 

John 1:13: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

We are not made his people because we are of blood: the natural sons and daughters of someone, not even all the natural sons of Abraham are his people.

 

Romans 9: 6: For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8: That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

 

Children of promise are those who were made his people by God’s free and sovereign grace in election in eternity, not based on anything in us.

 

Romans 9: 11: (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

 

Ephesians 1: 3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

 

2 Thessalonians 2: 13: But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

We see this typified in the fact that Mary was “espoused” or engaged to Joseph. The whole elect church of God was Christ’s bride, lawfully espoused to him in the covenant of grace. So even in the way Christ came into the world—through a lawfully espoused bride—we are reminded that it was his elect, espoused bride, that he came to save.

 

Furthermore, seeing that he came to save “his people” tells us not everyone is his people. If all were his people then he would save all but it is obvious not everyone is saved. He said,

 

John 10: 15: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16: And other sheep I have, which are not of this [Jewish] fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

 

Then to the Pharisee’s Christ clearly declared they were not his sheep.

 

John 10: 26: But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

 

Romans 9:13: As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14: What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15: For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16: So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

 

The point of this declaration is to declare Christ a success!  This is his glory!   His blood was not shed in vain. He did not shed his blood to merely give everyone a chance. His blood accomplished the redemption of his elect for whom he died.  His name is Jesus for he shall save his people.

 

FROM THEIR SINS

 

This tells us who his people are. His people are sinners entirely incapable of saving themselves from their sins.

 

When we look at the beginning of the chapter we see the generation of our Lord Jesus Christ. We find a list of his people each having this one thing in common. They were all notable sinners.  Abraham was an idolater who was not seeking God. Jacob was a deceiver. David was the last son Jesse thought God would have chosen who was an adulterer and murderer. Rahab was a harlot. Ruth was a Moabitess not even of the nation of Israel. Matthew was a thieving tax collector. And all the others were just like these, sinners, just like you and I who he saved by his grace.

 

1 Timothy 1: 15: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

 

Are you a sinner? It takes the Holy Spirit to regenerate us and convince us that we are a sinner, helpless to save ourselves.  Joseph Hart wrote:

 

What comfort can a Savior bring

to those who never felt their woe?

A sinner is a sacred thing;

the Holy Ghost hath made him so.

New life from Him we must receive,

before for sin we rightly grieve.

 

If you are sinner, I have good news! The Lord Jesus saves his people from their sins.  He saves us not by any goodness in us, not by our law-keeping, not by our benevolent works, not by anything about us or done by us.

 

Romans 5:19: For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

 

2 Corinthians 5: 19: God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;…21: For he hath made him sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Isaiah 53: 5: He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

This tells us he saves us from all our sins.

 

Psalms 130:8: And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

 

Daniel 9:24: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness,...

 

Ezekiel 36: 25: Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you…29: I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

 

1 John 3:5: And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

 

Do you desire to be saved entirely by Christ Jesus alone? Then believe on Christ and you shall be saved.

 

Ephesians 2: 8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Mark 16:16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

So as you hear the blasphemous things people sing and say this time of year, know they speak of another jesus. Concerning the true Lord Jesus: His name is Jesus: for

 

·        HE—the GodMan Mediator by himself

·        SHALL SAVE—fully and completely without losing one

·        HIS PEOPLE—chosen of God by grace for whom alone he laid down his life

·        FROM THEIR SINS—Acts 13: 38…through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

 

May God give you grace now to believe on him that you might receive free forgiveness of sins and assurance that he has made you the righteousness of God in him!

 

Amen!