For Unto us a Child is Born
A Sermon on Isaiah 9:6-7
Originally preached Dec. 27, 1964
Scripture
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there …
Sermon Description
The hymn writer Charles Wesley famously wrote a Christmas hymn about Jesus Christ, saying, “born a child and yet a king.” In this sermon “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” from Isaiah 9:6-7, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones finds this as the great summation of the prophet Isaiah’s announcement 800 years before the coming of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6–7. In this Christmas sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds of the kingly aspect of the good news. He warns that while the personal aspect of salvation must never be forgotten, it must not stop there. Isaiah preaches the cosmic aspect of the coming Messiah. Christians are indeed saved individually, but there is a day coming when the entire cosmos will be restored. Jesus is the universal king of the cosmos for He was David’s greater son. There was great anticipation of the son of David. Dr. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates how many in the first century missed the characteristics of the Messiah’s coming. Jesus Christ’s first advent was not one of military might and power politics. Instead, He was born a child and yet a king. Nevertheless, Christ introduces justice, righteousness, truth, order, and peace. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores the cosmic truth of the child born in Bethlehem. Hear proclaimed the coming of King Jesus and His rule for which there will be no end.
Sermon Breakdown
- The prophet Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah 800 years before his birth.
- Prophecy strengthens our faith by demonstrating God's sovereignty and foreknowledge.
- We must not limit our view of Christ's coming to personal salvation. We must consider its cosmic, universal implications.
- "The government shall be upon his shoulder" means Christ will be given authority and power over the universe.
- The fall brought disorder and lack of peace to the whole universe. Christ came to restore all things.
- Christ's kingdom is unlike any earthly kingdom. It is characterized by truth, righteousness, justice, and peace.
- Wherever Christ reigns, there is order, discipline, and peace. Sin produces chaos and war.
- Christ established his kingdom through his teaching, life, death, and will complete it at his return.
- Christ's kingdom will never end. It is stable and increasing in number and extent.
- We can be sure Christ's kingdom will triumph because God's glory, purpose, power, and zeal are behind it.
Old Testament
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.