The Changeless Christ
March 1, 2009 Evening Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We can depend on Jesus to keep His promises, because He doesn’t change.
Focus Passage: Hebrews 13:8
Introduction:
I. Jesus Christ is the same
a. 1. Health may fail us -- but His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
2. Adversity may crash upon us -- but He draws closer than a brother and whispers, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
3. Friends may desert us, so that we end up saying with Paul, "No man stood with me." -- But we can also say with him in the next verse, "Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me."
4. And even when death draws near He assures us, "I am the resurrection and the life."
5. I take great comfort in knowing that my Saviour is referred to in Isa. 9:6 as "the everlasting Father" and as One with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning.
II. Yesterday
a. Strictly speaking, there is no past tense with the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. (Jn. 8:58) - "Before Abraham was I AM"
2. Jn. 1:1-2
3. We must never neglect to acknowledge the eternal pre-existence of Jesus.
C. But what of the Jesus of modern history?
1. Born in another man’s stable, buried in another man’s tomb.
2. Living in a little land less than half the size of Arkansas.
3. In His public ministry, never over a hundred miles from home.
4. He wrote no books, led no armies, left His truths with a few plain and unpromising disciples.
5. Died the death of a criminal.
6. Yet that life stands alone. What He said and did proves who He is. (Matt. 16:16)-"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
D. But the Jesus Christ of yesterday did not end in a sealed tomb. Christians are not living on a memory.
E. In the midst of despair Jesus appeared to His disciples as the eternal King; victorious over death, hell, and the grave. Then not many days after that He empowered His church to continue in His name.
F. Jesus Christ of yesterday is the Eternal Son from everlasting with the Father, sharing with Him in creation.
1. Jesus Christ of yesterday is the Word made flesh, taking the form of a servant, made sin for us.
2. Jesus Christ of yesterday is the risen and glorified Christ, living His life in millions of lives through 2,000 years.
III. Today
a. Many Christians find themselves getting upset with God because Christ is not working to suit their own private agenda and timetable.
B. Christ is doing exactly what He purposed to do in this age, and His program is following the Father’s schedule.
1. The blind are seeing, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.
2. You say, "Yes Jesus did that then, but He is not doing it now." Consider the working of Christ in this age.
a. Eyes blinded by the god of this world are still being opened by the light of the world
.
b. Those crippled by sin are walking in the newness of life thanks to the great physician.
c. Modern-day Naamans dip in the fountain filled with blood and lose their spiritual leprosy.
d. Ears are being opened to the music of heaven.
e. Those who are dead in trespasses and sins are being quickened to eternal life.
f. And the world over, the Gospel is being preached to the poor.
3. The Lord Jesus Christ is still the same today as He was yesterday. He is still doing mighty works...and if He is not doing them in your life it may be because -- while you hold the Jesus of yesterday in high regard, you have not experienced the Jesus of today. [See Matt. 13:54-58]
IV. Forever
a. A. It would not be enough that He is the same yesterday and today if somewhere down the road He should cease to be. [ (I Cor. 15:19) - "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."]
B. But the best is yet to come.
1. He has promised to come for us.
2. We will see Him as He is and we shall be like Him. Then we will rule and reign with Him.
3. Sorrow will be removed...sickness will be vanquished...sin will be conquered...and...death will be destroyed.
C. And in the middle of all this is Jesus Christ.
Invitation:
