What Pleases God
The sermon explores how God's pleasure in the sacrifice of His Son reveals His love, justice, and the path to salvation for sinners.
Alexander Whyte delves into the profound truth of God's pleasure in bruising His Messiah-Son for the salvation of sinners. Despite the agony and sacrifice involved, God's eternal plan for redemption was fulfilled through the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This act of atonement not only displayed God's abhorrence of sin but also showcased His justice and love for humanity, providing a way for sinners to be justified through faith in Jesus' blood.
Text
"Who hath believed our report?"
(Isa. 53:1).
Among the amazing things of which this amazing chapter is full, there is nothing that arrests us, and overawes us, and, indeed, staggers us more than this--that it "pleased the Lord to bruise" His Messiah-Son. But the simple truth of God in this matter is this. God was so set, from everlasting, on the salvation of sinners that the most awful steps that had to be taken in order to work out that salvation are here said to have absolutely pleased Him. It is somewhat like our Lord's own words--"I delight to do Thy will": even when His Father's will led Him to the garden of Gethsemane and the Cross of Calvary. God so loved the world that He gave up His only-begotten Son to die for the sin of the world. God could not be pleased with the death of His Son--in itself. No. But nothing has ever pleased Him more than that His Son should lay down His life in atonement for those sinners whom the Father had chosen and ordained to everlasting life. Paul has everything. And he has the Father's indebtedness to His Son and His good pleasure in His death in this great passage: "God hath set forth Christ Jesus to be a propitiation through faith in His blood: to declare His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. " It pleased the Lord to bruise Him, because in this way alone could God's full hatred of sin be declared to men and angels, and at the same time God's justice might be manifested in the salvation of sinners.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The significance of Isaiah 53:1 - Understanding God's pleasure in sacrifice - The connection between suffering and salvation
- II points: - The nature of God's love - The role of Jesus as the Messiah - The concept of atonement
- III points: - The implications of Christ's death - God's justice and mercy - The call to believe in Jesus
- IV points: - The response of believers - Living in light of God's pleasure - Sharing the message of salvation
Key Quotes
“It pleased the Lord to bruise His Messiah-Son.” — Alexander Whyte
“God so loved the world that He gave up His only-begotten Son.” — Alexander Whyte
“It pleased the Lord to bruise Him, because in this way alone could God's full hatred of sin be declared.” — Alexander Whyte
Application Points
- Reflect on the depth of God's love demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice.
- Embrace the call to share the message of salvation with others.
- Live in a way that honors the sacrifice made for our sins.