Preached Dec 13, 1998 at Faith Baptist Church
By Pastor Steven E. Mays

CHRIST OUR SUBSTITUTE

Isaiah 53

1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But 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.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

INTRODUCTION

MAY I FIRST SAY ABOUT/OF IS. 53

I FIRST HEARD THIS STORY ON PAUL HARVEY..... THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER WHO WAS EXECUTED IN THE PLACE OF A FRIEND WITH CHILDREN

LET'S NOTICE SOME THINGS ABOUT IS. 53

I. THE SUPERNATURAL BIRTH

Isa 53:2

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground

HAVE YOU EVER PLANTED A ROOT IN DRY GROUND?

THERE CAN BE NO SUPERNATURAL DEATH WITHOUT A SUPERNATURAL BIRTH.....

THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DEBATE, IF YOU REJECT THAT YOU REJECT THE VICARIOUS DEATH OF CHRIST.

II. THE SORROWFUL EXPERIENCE

Isa 53: 3-4

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted

THE BELIEVER NEEDS THO CONSIDER THIS.....

Heb 12:3

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

SO MANY HAVE AND ARE EVEN AS WE SPEAK.

III. THE SUFFERING EXPLAINED

Isa 53:5

But 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.

WHY? BECAUSE ATONEMENT FOR SIN IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

GOD IS HOLY, YOU AND I ARE UNHOLY, OUR SINS ARE REPUGNANT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, AND GOD SO DISDAINS SIN THAT HIS INNOCENT SON HAD TO SUFFER THE WAY HE DID IN ORDER FOR GOD'S WRATH TO BE SATISFIED

Our sins were the thorns in Christ's head, the nails in his hands and feet, the spear in his side. He was delivered to death for our offences.

IV. THE SUBSTITUTIONAL SUFFERINGS

Isa 53:4-6

4* Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5* But 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.
6* All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

MY FRIEND YOU WILL ACCEPT CHRIST'S SUBSTITUTIONS AND MAKE HIM SAVIOR AND LORD OR YOU WILL DIE AND GO TO HELL AND SUFFER JUST AS HE, THE INNOCENT SON OF GOD SUFFERED. TO THE SAVED GAL. 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

V. THE SUBMISSION

Isa 53:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

1. TODAY THIS OUGHT TO BE OUR SUBMISSION TO OUR GOD. IS IT?

2. THIS MORNING WE REBEL AGAINST GOD IN THE FACE OF HIS SON'S EXAMPLE.

3. THIS MORNING PEOPLE WILL REJECT HIS SON WHO WILLING SUBMITTED HIMSELF FOR THEM!

VI. HIS SILENCE

Isa 53:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

TWICE WE READ, "HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH

A TRUE EAR MARK OF A SHEEP IS THE WAY THEY ACT WHEN BEING SLAUGHTERED.... A GOAT WILL CRY AND SCREAM... A SHEEP IS SILENT

CLOSED MOUTHS ARE TO DESCRIBE THE CHRISTIAN IN SUFFERING, TRIAL, TRIBULATION, NOT IN WITNESS, AND WORSHIP, AND WORK!

VII. HIS SUCCESS

Isa 53:11-12

11* He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12* Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

1. HE SHALL SEE THE TRAVAIL OF HIS SOUL AND BE SATISFIED V. 11 -- IT IS FINISHED
2. HE SHALL JUSTIFY MANY "JUSIFICATION IS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE"
3. I WILL DIVIDE HIM A PORTION WITH THE GREAT "CHRIST RIDES IN ON THE WHITE HORSE"
4. HE SHALL DIVIDE THE SPOIL "IT'S THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST"

PHIL 2:5-11

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.




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