FULL BIBLE TRUTH

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ISAIAH

INTRODUCTION

1. Undoubtedly you have heard of the four gospels...
   a. The gospel according to Matthew
   b. The gospel according to Mark
   c. The gospel according to Luke
   d. The gospel according to John
   -- But have you heard of the gospel according to Isaiah?

2. Preaching the gospel of Christ, it was not uncommon for the apostles
   and others in the first century to refer to the Old Testament...
   a. It was Paul's custom - Ac 17:2-3
   b. Apollos did the same at Corinth - Ac 18:27-28

3. That was because elements of the gospel were foretold by Old
   Testament prophets...
   a. Concerning the coming of the Messiah (Heb., Anointed One; Grk.,
      Christ)
   b. Concerning the establishment of His kingdom

4. One such prophet was Isaiah...
   a. Who lived 750 years before Christ
   b. Who was sent to prophesy to Judah and Jerusalem - Isa 1:1

5. Isaiah's book contains so many prophecies regarding the Messiah and
   His kingdom...
   a. He is often called "the Messianic prophet"
   b. We could call his book "The Gospel According To Isaiah"

[To illustrate my point, let's review some of the prophecies found in
the book of Isaiah...]

I. THE GOSPEL OF THE MESSIAH

   A. GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE MAN...
      1. He will be born of a virgin
         a. Whose name will be Immanuel ("God with us") - Isa 7:14
         b. Fulfilled with the birth of Jesus by Mary - cf. Mt 1:18-23
      2. He will be a wonderful Child
         a. With an amazing name(s), destined to reign - Isa 9:6-7
         b. Announced by the angels at Jesus' birth - cf. Lk 2:11
      3. He will be of the family of David (Jesse)
         a. Descending from the "stem of Jesse" (David's father) - Isa
            11:1
         b. Jesus' lineage shown in Mt 1 (via Joseph) and Lk 3 (via
            Mary)
      4. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him
         a. With wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge
            and fear of the Lord - Isa 11:2
         b. Visibly manifested at His baptism by John - cf. Mt 3:16

   B. GOOD NEWS ABOUT HIS MINISTRY...
      1. He will be proceeded by a forerunner
         a. One sent to prepare the way - Isa 40:3-5
         b. Fulfilled with the ministry of John the Baptist - cf. Mt
            3:1-3
      2. He will be anointed to preach good tidings
         a. To the poor, proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord -
            Isa 61:1-3
         b. Fulfilled by His preaching in Nazareth - Lk 4:16-21
      3. He will bring light to those living in Galilee
         a. In the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali - Isa 9:1-2
         b. Fulfilled by His living and preaching in Capernaum - cf. Mt
            4:12-16
      4. He will not advertise Himself
         a. By quarreling or crying out in the streets - Isa 42:1-3
         b. Fulfilled in Jesus' response to threats on His life - cf. Mt
            12:14-21
      5. He will suffer in our behalf
         a. Despised and rejected by men - Isa 53:1-3; cf. Jn 1:12
         b. His suffering and death for our sins - Isa 53:4-6,8; cf. Mt
            8:17; 1 Pe 2:24
         c. Silent before His accusers - Isa 53:7; cf. Mt 27:12-14
         d. His grave with the wicked and the rich - Isa 53:9; cf. Mt
            27:38,57-60
         e. All according to God's will, for our sins - Isa 53:10-12;
            cf. Ac 2:23; 1 Ti 2:5-6

[Through such vivid prophecies, Isaiah foretold the gospel of the
Messiah. Note how Philip was able to make good use of Isaiah's "gospel"
in preaching Christ (cf. Ac 8:30-38).

But Isaiah's prophecies were not limited to the Messiah Himself. Just
as Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom (cf. Mk 1:14-15), so did
Isaiah through his prophecies...]

II. THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

   A. GOOD NEWS ABOUT ITS ORIGIN...
      1. It shall come to pass in the "latter days"
         a. The mountain of the Lord's house will be established - Isa
            2:1-2
         b. The time was fulfilled when Jesus began preaching - cf. Mk
            1:14-15
      2. It shall proceed from Jerusalem
         a. As the Word is spread - Isa 2:3
         b. So Jesus explained, the Word must proceed from Jerusalem -
            cf. Lk 24:44-47

   B. GOOD NEWS ABOUT ITS NATURE...
      1. It shall be a kingdom of peace
         a. People will not learn war; its king will be the Prince of
            Peace - Isa 2:4; 9:6-7
         b. Thus the kingdom of God is one of peace - cf. Ro 14:17
      2. It shall include the Gentiles
         a. The Gentiles shall seek Him, in Whom they shall find justice
            - Isa 11:10; 42:1,6
         b. Thus Jesus has united both Jew and Gentile - cf. Ep 2:11-18

   C. GOOD NEWS ABOUT ITS FUTURE...
      1. It shall last forever
         a. Of His kingdom there shall be no end - Isa 9:7
         b. Even as the angel Gabriel pronounced to Mary - cf. Lk 1:
            31-33
      2. It shall usher in a new heavens and new earth
         a. Promised by God in terms to which Israel could relate - Isa
            65:17-25; 66:22-23
         b. A promised fully realized with the coming of Christ - cf.
            2 Pe 3:10-14; Re 21:1-4

CONCLUSION

1. Perhaps we can see why the apostles and others used the Old
   Testament...
   a. To convince many that Jesus was the Messiah
   b. To proclaim the prophecies concerning Him and His kingdom were
      being fulfilled

2. What is your reaction to the gospel...?
   a. Foretold by the prophets centuries before Christ came?
   b. Proclaimed by the apostles and preachers in the first century,
      A.D.?

3. My prayer and hope is that it is...
   a. Similar to that of the Samaritans - cf. Ac 8:12
   b. Akin to that of the Ethiopian Eunuch - cf. Ac 8:30-38
   -- Not like some of those in Rome, who had hardened their hearts!
      - cf. Ac 28:23-31

Have your hearts grown dull, and ears hard of hearing, that the good
news of the kingdom and the Lord Jesus Christ do not prompt the proper
response? I hope not, and that we are all moved to proper action by
these words of Jesus spoken at the beginning and end of His ministry:

   "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent,
   and believe in the gospel." - Mk 1:15

   And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel
   to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved;
   but he who does not believe will be condemned". (Mk 16:15-16)

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