Christ Never Fails

Q: What does the Bible say about the prophecy of Christ in Isaiah 42?

Isaiah 42 prophesies the coming of the Messiah who will bring forth judgment without failing or being discouraged. Isaiah 42:1-4 is a profound prophecy about Jesus Christ, identifying Him as God’s chosen servant. The text states that He will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles and depicts His gentle nature, signifying that He will not break a bruised reed or quench smoking flax. This emphasizes His mission of mercy and serves as a foretelling of His unwavering purpose. In the New Testament, Matthew confirms that these prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus, asserting the divine mission that He accomplished flawlessly.

Q: Why is it important that Christ never fails?

Christ's unerring nature assures believers that He successfully accomplished salvation for His people. The theological significance of Christ never failing is rooted in the assurance of salvation for all believers. As Isaiah foretold, the Messiah ‘shall not fail nor be discouraged’ until He brings forth judgment. This is not only a statement of divine intent but also a declaration of the effectiveness of Christ’s redemptive work. The fulfillment of this prophecy, as noted in Matthew, emphasizes that His purpose was achieved, and all for whom He died will be reconciled to God, ensuring that His mission will meet with ultimate success and victory.

Q: How do we know that some are elected to salvation and others are not?

The Bible teaches that not all are elected; some are ordained to eternal life while others are blinded. Scripture clearly indicates that while Christ's atonement is sufficient for all, it is only effective for the elect. In Romans 11, Paul articulates that God has reserved a remnant according to the election of grace, demonstrating that not every Jew or Gentile is chosen for salvation. Acts 13:48 further confirms this by stating that 'as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.' This underscores the doctrine of divine election and grace, showing that salvation is ultimately determined by God’s sovereign will.

Q: Why does the Messiah not strive or cry out?

The Messiah's gentle approach signifies His authority and purpose without compelling need for recognition. Isaiah prophesies that the Messiah will not strive or cry out in the streets, which indicates His mission is not one of forceful proclamation or conflict but of authoritative grace and compassion. This aspect of His character is important as it portrays Him as one who achieves victory through humility and strength rather than strife. In a world filled with noise and contention, His quiet authority ensures that the truth will prevail without the need for worldly validation or forceful tactics.

Q: What does it mean that grace reigns through righteousness?

Grace reigns through righteousness, indicating that it leads to the eternal life of believers in Jesus Christ. The reign of grace through righteousness signifies that believers experience salvation through the perfect obedience of Christ. Romans 5 emphasizes that, just as sin entered through one man, grace abounds far more through Jesus Christ, leading believers to eternal life. This passage illustrates how Christ's righteous act supercedes Adam's failure, thereby establishing a new reign where grace, rather than sin, dictates the believer's standing before God. The result is a transformation from death to life, where righteousness — through faith in Christ — informs every aspect of the believer's journey.

Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to today's broadcast. My text for today is found in the prophecies of Isaiah. It'll be at chapter 42, verses 1 through 4. That'll be my text for today, for this broadcast. Isaiah 42, 1 through 4 reads this way, whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.

He hath put my spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and a smoking flax shall he not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for his law.

That's Isaiah 42, verses one through four. Now this prophecy, these words are words about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Messiah, my subject for this morning. It's kind of found directly from the text. It says he shall not fail to be discouraged. So I will say my title is this, Christ Never Fails.

Now, some years ago, and this has been quite a few years ago, a heretic. When I say a heretic, I mean a man who just did not believe the truth of God. Now, he was a theology professor. He professed to be a Christian, but he was more honest than most, but he was a heretic nonetheless.

He said these words. This is what he said, and this is the quote. Hail is a monument to the failure of the triune God. Do you hear those words? This is what this theological professor said. This professed Christian of great stature so much so that he was actually a teacher of theology, the doctrine of God in a theological school. Listen to the words again.

Hail is a monument to the failure of the triune God. I'm sure that most people, when they hear something like that, they say, that just don't, especially if you claim to believe the Bible, you claim to be a Christian, you say, well, that just doesn't sound right.

Now, while most so-called preachers will not say that outwardly, as I said, this man was at least more honest than most are. But while most so-called preachers will not say that outwardly, they hold to it personally. This is the sum and substance of their doctrine. You see, sadly, most preachers present God today as wanting to desperately save all men and women without exception.

But he's too loving, he's too compassionate, He's too sweet, they present him as, they may not say it this way, they don't say it as straightforward as that one heretic did, but they present him kind of like an old doting grandfather up in heaven, just up there, just wringing his hands, hoping someone will let his son save them. And they present him as desperately wanting to save all without exception, but too sweet to offend your so-called free will.

Now, you know what I say about that? Hogwash, hogwash. I just have two points for today's message. just two. It'll still take the whole time that we have here for this TV broadcast, but let's do two points and a couple things under under each points. First of all, Let me say this clearly. I just want to establish this from scripture.

Isaiah foretold, he prophesied, if you will. Isaiah foretold of the coming Christ, and that's exactly what he's talking about in verses one through three. I will read God's word again, because that's the most important thing. Not even what I say about it, but the word of God itself. Behold my servant. whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. I have put my spirit upon him.

He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. And I know we often think of that word judgment in the way of condemnation, and that certainly is one part of it, but also he took upon himself the condemnation. due, that was due, all Gentiles that he would bring to believe in him. That judgment was brought forth to the Gentiles. Listen, he shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. He shall bring forth judgment, unto truth.

Now, you might think, okay, but what is those? Those things have a little bit of a mysterious sound to them, but they are analogies, and they are metaphors defining who the Messiah would be, what he would and would not do, what he wouldn't do on this hand, but what he would absolutely definitely do on this hand.

So again, Isaiah foretold the coming of Christ. And then we find this, Matthew records it, it's in Matthew chapter 12, and I'm gonna turn to that. We'll look at Matthew 12 quite a bit today. at this broadcast. In Matthew chapter 12, we see, we know from Matthew's own testimony, that concerning the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Isaiah's prophecy was of Jesus of Nazareth, that's exactly who it was about. And we read Matthew in Matthew 12, just a few verses here, beginning verse 14. Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. Now we'll go back and look at the context of that, but you can look at that sometime, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence, and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.

And he charged them that they should not make him known. Now that's odd. Don't go out and telling everybody this. You see, that's what it says. Now look, and he charged them that they should not make him known, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by Esaias, or that is the New Testament rendering, the Greek rendering into English of the Old Testament word in English, the Messiah.

And it might be spoken, or Isaiah, I'm sorry, of Isaiah, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying, Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased. He's quoting directly from Isaiah chapter 42. in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets."

Do you see it? So clearly, this is my first point, clearly Isaiah foretold of the coming Christ. Isaiah prophesied it hundreds of years before Jesus of Nazareth was born of the Virgin Mary and born into this world. And then Matthew records that this is the actual fulfillment of that prophecy of at least those verses, verses one through three in Isaiah. Now, having said that, most people think, well, all of that stuff that Isaiah wrote was for the Jews. the Jewish people, people who are the natural or physical sons and daughters of Abraham. But here's the two points I have to give you under this first head. Remember, the first, Isaiah foretold of the coming Christ. Now when it come to the coming of Christ, here's the first point under that.

Not every Jew was elected to salvation in Christ. And that's exactly what the Apostle Paul wrote. And he wrote it to the believers who were at Rome, and he says this, I've got two chapters here to read some of those chapters to you. And this is how Paul put it in Romans chapter 11, verses one through 10. Now listen to what I said this, Isaiah foretold of the coming of Christ, but he didn't come to save every Jewish person who is a Jew by nature. Not every Jew was elected to salvation in Christ.

Romans 11, one through 10, I say then, Hath God cast away his people? He was talking about the Jews. Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. So he's talking about those who are natural born Israelites. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.

What ye not what the scripture saith of Elias, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, now he's saying what I'm about to tell you now is the same way it was even back in Elias' time. Do you see it? This is what Elias, what he made intercession to God against, not for him, against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets and dig down thine altars and I am left alone and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself 7,000 men, this is in Elias' time, I have reserved to myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Now, that's what God said to Elias.

Now, Paul continues, even so then, at this present time also, there is a remnant, that is in these Israelites, these Jewish people, these Israelites by nature, even so then, at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no more works, otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace, otherwise work is no more work. What then?

Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were what? blinded, do you see it? And the rest were blinded, according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber. That's not the elect, not the remnant, but the rest of them. According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.

And David says, so this is not something just for Elias' time, but something that was in David's time. It was true then, it was true in Paul's time. I'm here to say it's still true today. And David saith, let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them.

Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back always. Do you see that? All the way. I say then, verse 11, have they stumbled that they should fall? Was it just so they'd fall? God forbid, but rather through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles for to provoke them unto jealousy. Do you see it?

So again, it's clear that one of the first points I have is what Isaiah foretold of the coming of Christ. Matthew makes it clear that in Isaiah 42, verses one through four, this is exactly, Jesus Christ of Nazareth is exactly who Isaiah was talking about.

And though many of the Jews thought simply because they were Jews, because they were Israelites, that they were automatically saved. Okay, but not every Jew was elected to salvation in Christ. Not from the beginning. Abraham had two sons. One was Isaac, he was saved. One was Ishmael, he was not saved. Just from the beginning of the Jewish race. From the beginning. But let me say this.

According to Luke, What happened in Luke chapter 13, or Acts chapter 13, I'm sorry. In Acts chapter 13, Luke lets us know this. Not every Gentile was elected to salvation in Christ either. You hear me? Acts chapter 13, listen to this one verse. Now, you go back and read the context. As a matter of fact, if you read, In verses 40 and 41, you will find out that when Paul preached, Paul made it clear that God was not going to save everyone. Judgment to condemnation would come upon some. Judgment to deliverance in salvation would come upon others. And this is the way it was summed up by Luke in Acts 13, verse 48.

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad. Now others, a lot of the Jews, they weren't glad. They didn't wanna hear it anymore. If I'm not saved because I'm a Jew, then I won't hear you. Salvation's all in Christ. And this is what it says. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as were ordained to eternal life, as many as, that means all of them, but just them, and not everybody else. You get it? Many of them, all of them, but not everybody else, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believe. So we see that's the first point.

Clearly Isaiah foretold of the coming Christ. Jesus of Nazareth, according to Matthew and the events there, is the person who fulfills that promise in Isaiah chapter 42. Not every Jew was elected to salvation in Christ, but the remnant was, and it's the election of grace. It's the election of, God chooses who he wants.

And in salvation of the Gentile, which was why some failed, and the salvation of the Gentile wasn't, so all Gentiles might be saved, could be saved, might possibly be saved, but that those that were ordained to eternal life, what are they gonna do when they hear it? They're gonna believe it. They're gonna believe it. But here's my second point.

According to Isaiah's prophecy, in Isaiah chapter 42, The Messiah would accomplish, and I will say he did accomplish, why? Because he shall not fail. The Messiah accomplished what he was sent to do. He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he hath set judgment in the earth and the isles shall wait for his law, or that is, his authority.

I have two things under this heading, as I told you, that I want to deal with. The first one will be dealing with, it'll be dealing with this. My first thought is this, some have read this and said that, sure, it says he shall not fail to be discouraged till he has set judgment in the earth. As though for them, and I'm sure, and I do know that the word till can imply this in some cases in the English, but they say this, that since it says till, then there would come a time when he would fail to be discouraged. And you know what I say to that? I say the same thing as they say about man's free will, hogwash. Hogwash. And why do I say that?

Not because this is my particular brand of religion, but because this is what the book of God says. Now I'm gonna go back to Matthew chapter 12, and we will read how it is read by Matthew, and we will see exactly what the word of God is talking about. Matthew chapter 12. So remember, the Messiah accomplished what he was sent to do. Christ never fails.

He said, And it's recorded in many places, but specifically in John 6, John records him as saying this, I came to do the will of my father. Now either he did it or he was a liar. The Lord God of heaven, the father, thundered down from heaven concerning Jesus Christ and said, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Now either he well pleased the father or God the father lied about it. Now it's one or the other, it cannot be both. First of all, this thing teal.

Here's the first point under number two. This does not signify that one day Messiah will fail nor be discouraged. Now that's the statement, that's just number one. This does not signify that one day Messiah will fail or be discouraged. Now realize I could Go at this subject from many different avenues, many different angles, but I want to do it till he has set judgment in the earth and the owl shall wait on his law. So I'm saying this does not signify that one day Messiah will fail nor be discouraged. Why do I say that?

Because we must note the New Testament rendering of the Old Testament, and that is called the Septuagint. The Septuagint is just a fancy word for saying the Greek version of the Old Testament in Christ's day. Or we could say the Greek version of the Old Testament, not the Hebrew, but the Greek version of the Old Testament in Matthew's day. And our Lord quoted mainly from the Septuagint. That was the Greek Old Testament. And note that the New Testament rendering of the Old Testament Septuagint puts it this way.

I'll go back and read it again, but I'm gonna read you one more verse, okay? I left out one verse for a reason, and that's because of this second part of this, till he has set judgment in the earth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he has set judgment in the earth. Now listen to the way the Septuagint renders it. So this is what it means. This is not what my brand of denomination or religion means. This is what it means. Again in verse 14.

Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. Why? Because he declared himself to be the son of God. Because he declared himself to be sent of God. Because he declared himself to be the Messiah. because he declared himself to be the exact one that Isaiah prophesied of, specifically in Isaiah chapter 42. Then the Pharisees went out and held counsel against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from this. Why? Because he wasn't going out there to fight them. He wasn't trying to prove his point. He would not fail to be discouraged, but he wasn't trying to convince everyone of this.

We've already looked at that. They're not all Israel, which are of Israel, which is clearly what Paul said in Romans chapter nine of the same Romans that we read in Romans 11 a moment ago. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from tents, and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all. He did not stop what he was doing. He did not stop his mission of mercy and compassion towards sinners because of this rebellion of other men. But he did remove himself from them, listen, and he charged them, that's the those he was showing mercy to and compassion to, and he charged them that they should not make him know that it might be fulfilled.

Do you see it? In other words, he wasn't trying to make this some outward battle between him and the enemies of God, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias, or Isaiah the prophet, saying, behold, my servant, whom I have chosen, that is, the elect, my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased, I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, see, they're gonna battle with these people, He's not gonna sit around and debate and try to win.

He could have won the battle in an instant. He shut people up sometimes in an instant, but this way he just backed off and let them go, but continued what God the Father had sent him to do. There was a time, or the time, when they came for him in the garden right before his crucifixion and came to arrest him.

And when they came up, long story short, they said, are you Jesus of Nazareth? And he said, I am. That's the name of God. He said, I am. And that group, that massive group of people, including that sellout Judas, fell backwards. And you know what he told those people once they were able to, they stood back up, I'm sure some of them shook their heads, thought, what in the world just happened to us? And they stood there, he said, you come after me. He said, you gotta let these go, talking about the 11 that were with him. You let them go, you can have me. And you know what? They didn't argue with him. They didn't argue with him.

Look, behold, I'm reading it again. Remember, I told you I left out a verse. I did it on purpose. Behold, my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, whom my soul is well pleased, I will put my spirit upon him and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break. Here it is. This is the verse. A bruised reed shall he not break. A smoking flax shall he not quench. And here is the rendering.

Here we see the word till. Do you see that? Are you reading along? If you're not, you listen along. Till he send forth judgment unto victory. Do you see it? That's what it says. till he send forth judgment unto victory. Somebody says, well, that's Matthew's take. Well, I'll stand with Matthew, you stand by yourself. Because this is what the word of God says. And in him and in his name, him, his name declares who he is. And in him and in his name shall the Gentiles trust. Oh, do you see that? So note the rendering of the Old Testament into the Greek. till he, look at it, till he send forth judgment unto victory. Now there is proofs of this, Romans chapter five.

I want you to think about this. I wanna read a few of these. I have several. I'm not gonna sit here and try to count them for you today on the TV. But in Romans chapter five, we read these words. I'll read as many as I can and make a few comments as time allows. Romans five, it says this.

Verse six, for when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. Tells us exactly who he died for, the ungodly. Are you one of those? For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet, what, sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Look at it, for if when we were enemies, not believers, but we were even, we were unbelievers, For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation or the atonement.

You see that? Everybody he died for, he shall not fail to be discouraged. Everybody he died for, He reconciled them to God when he died for them. And everyone he reconciled to God by his death, they shall be saved by his life. Do you see it? There it is, it's clear.

Verse 19, for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, listen, even so might grace, what's that word, reign. Even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by one man, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, with time's getting away from me, listen to another one. Listen to the writer of Hebrews and how the writer of Hebrews puts it. Hebrews 1, just the first few verses.

God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds, who being 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. When were sins purged? Look, when he died on that tree, why does it say, then after he by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. That either my sins or your sins were purged way back there by him, or they will never be purged.

I'm telling you that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came into this world to save sinners, and he did it. Because the Messiah, what, he shall not fail? nor be discouraged till he bring forth judgment unto what? Victory. Victory. God's word's clear. Christ never failed. Christ never fails. It's that clear cut. I understand these are a lot of perplexing things. This is not what you're hearing out there in so-called churches today.

But do you believe the record God gave of his son or not? Do you believe the record God gave his son? I have 2 Corinthians 5, 18 through 21, Galatians 3, 13, Colossians 1, 22 through 23, Hebrews chapter 10, verses 7 through 14. Do you believe the record God gave his son? If not, you call God a liar. Oh, can I, I'm asking you, do you believe the record God gave his son? Do you believe that when Messiah came, he did not fail and neither was he discouraged? I pray God make you believe it so.

Christ Never Fails

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the prophecy of Christ in Isaiah 42?

Why is it important that Christ never fails?

How do we know that some are elected to salvation and others are not?

Why does the Messiah not strive or cry out?

What does it mean that grace reigns through righteousness?

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Christ Never Fails

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the prophecy of Christ in Isaiah 42?

Why is it important that Christ never fails?

How do we know that some are elected to salvation and others are not?

Why does the Messiah not strive or cry out?

What does it mean that grace reigns through righteousness?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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