IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US

MATTHEW 1:2

A. THE SON OF GOD HAS A NUMBER OF TITLES WHICH EXPRESS
  1. His relationship to God the Father:
    1. God - John 1:1-3; Isa. 9:6; 1 John 5:20; Rom. 9:5
    2. The Word - Logos - John 1:1-3, 14; Rev. 19:13; 1 John 1:1
  2. His relationship to humanity:
    1. The Word made flesh - John 1:14; Gal. 4:4
    2. The Son of man - Matt. 8:20; 12:8; 13:37
  3. His mission:
    1. Jesus the Messiah - Matt. 1:21; John 1:29; 1 Tim. 1:15
    2. High priest - Heb. 3:1; 4:14
    3. Mediator - 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Heb. 7:26
B. IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US
  1. Here we have the key to our Lord's two natures:
    1. He is truly divine - "For in him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily." - Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3; Phil. 2:6-11
    2. Just as truly human - John 1:14; Heb. 2:14-16
    3. In His divinity He lays hold of the throne of Omnipotence; and in his humanity He ties Himself to the human race.
  2. Immanuel:
    1. That name reunites the universe - 2 Pet. 1:3, 4; 2 Cor. 5:19-21
    2. It indicates that in Christ the whole family in heaven and in earth is reunited - Eph. 1:10, 11; 3:15
    3. It means that all the man-made partitions will be removed forever - Eph. 2:14-16; John 10:15, 16
C. SIGNIFICATION OF THE NAME IMMANUEL
  1. It means wonderful assurance by the Highest in heaven:
    1. "If God be for us, who can be against us" - Rom. 8:31-33
    2. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?"
    3. "Who is he that condemneth?"
    4. "Who shall separate us from the love of God?"
  2. Immanuel - God with us:
    1. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all"
    2. "It is God that justifieth"
    3. "It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again"
    4. It is He who maketh intercession for us.
  3. Immanuel - God with us - means eternal security for the saints:
    1. Against all our enemies - Rom. 8:35-39
    2. In all our battles with Satan and sin - Rom. 8:37; 1 Cor. 15:57, 58
  4. Immanuel - God with us - that is the great secret of the many mighty men of God:
    1. David - 1 Sam. 17:45
    2. Samson - Judg. 15:4, 5; 16:29, 30
    3. Elijah - 1 Ki. 18:19
    4. Elisha - 2 Chron. 17:17
  5. They were mighty because God was with them:
    1. The weakest of God's children can be mighty in the strength of the Lord.
    2. Said Paul, "when I am weak I am strong" - 2 Cor. 12:10
  6. This explains the secret in the lives of some of God's instruments. How we should linger long, meditating upon that wonderful name - Immanuel:
    1. It should create confidence in us.
    2. It should embolden us to do exploits for God.
    3. It should help us to remember the close ties between God and His children.
    4. It should remove all doubts as to the ultimate victory of the cause of God.


Design © John Bryant 2011