Name Above: Everlasting Father
December 15, 2023
Title: Our Father
Text: ”For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Target: To see the goodness of the Father, through the sacrifice of the Son.
I. The Unique-Role of the “Everlasting Father”: Hebrew-Avi*ad
A. The Confusion: How can the Son be the Father?
B. The Clarity: The word “Father” is not in reference to Jesus being God, the Father, but being the (founding Father) of a new beginning, a pioneering reality, a new covenant that is “Everlasting or Eternal.”
C. The Connection: “looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
II. The Understood-Mission of the “Everlasting Father”: ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“ (John 3:16)
A. Founding Father Adam: ”Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—“ (Romans 5:12)
1A. All have Sinned: “None is righteous, no, Not one” (Romans 3:10)
2A. All are Separated: “but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
B. Founding Father Jesus: “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” (Romans 5:18)
1B. Gets Us: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,” (Galatians 4:4) *Virgin Birth: Sin of Adam not passed on to Jesus.
2B. Redeems Us: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— (Galatians 3:13)
3B. Adopts Us: “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5)
III. The Undeniable - Example of the “Everlasting Father”: “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26
A. Father that is Perfect: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17)
B. Father that Provides: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3)
C. Father that Pursues: “leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?” (Matthew 18:12)
D. Father that Protects: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36)
Takeaway: Don’t project the shortcomings of your earthly father onto your Heavenly Father, for your earthly father wasn’t perfect, but your Heavenly Father is.