Jesus: Our Everlasting Father and Gift of Salvation By Tim Badal (Isaiah 9:6)
Summary
On this Christmas Eve, we gather to celebrate the profound generosity of God, who gave us the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ. As we reflect on the significance of His coming, we delve into the prophetic words of Isaiah, who described Jesus with the title "Everlasting Father." This title, though seemingly paradoxical given Jesus' identity as the Son, reveals His fatherly role in our lives. It speaks to His eternal care, provision, and leadership, qualities that earthly fathers strive to embody but often fall short of due to human limitations.
The concept of Jesus as our Everlasting Father is deeply comforting. It assures us that unlike earthly fathers, who may be flawed or absent, Jesus' love and care are perpetual and perfect. He is not bound by time or human frailty; His love is steadfast and unconditional. This love was demonstrated in His willingness to leave the glory of heaven to dwell among us, ultimately sacrificing Himself for our salvation. In doing so, He not only showed us the depth of His love but also provided us with the greatest gift—eternal life.
Moreover, Jesus, as our Everlasting Father, lavishes us with gifts beyond measure. These gifts are not just material but encompass every spiritual blessing, as Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians. Our lives, filled with family, friends, and countless blessings, are a testament to His generosity. Yet, the greatest gift remains the salvation He offers, leading us to a relationship with God the Father.
Finally, Jesus came to lead us, not just as a guide but as the way itself. He embodies the path to salvation, inviting us to follow Him to find true purpose and meaning. This Christmas, we are reminded that in knowing Jesus, we find the hope and fulfillment we seek. He is the answer to our deepest longings, the one who gives us identity and purpose.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus as the Everlasting Father signifies His eternal care and love, contrasting with the limitations of earthly fathers. His love is unconditional and steadfast, offering us a relationship that transcends time and circumstance. [02:07]
- The title "Everlasting Father" highlights Jesus' role in providing for and nurturing us, ensuring that His care is perpetual and unfailing, unlike any earthly father. [03:31]
- Jesus' love is demonstrated through His sacrifice, leaving heaven to dwell among us, showing us that His love is not based on our actions but is a gift of grace. [06:55]
- As our Everlasting Father, Jesus lavishes us with spiritual and material blessings, reminding us of the generosity of God and inviting us to live lives of gratitude. [09:26]
- Jesus leads us to salvation, not just as a guide but as the way itself, offering us a relationship with God the Father through His finished work on the cross. [11:04]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:07] - The Significance of "Everlasting Father"
[03:31] - Jesus' Fatherly Care and Provision
[05:31] - The Depth of Jesus' Love
[06:55] - Jesus' Sacrificial Love
[08:13] - Unconditional Love and Acceptance
[09:26] - Lavished with Gifts
[11:04] - Jesus as the Way to Salvation
[12:35] - Finding Hope in Jesus
[13:18] - The Generous Gift of Heaven
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 9:6
- John 14:6
- Ephesians 1:3
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the title "Everlasting Father" signify about Jesus' role according to Isaiah 9:6? How does this title contrast with our understanding of earthly fathers? [03:31]
2. How does the sermon describe Jesus' love as different from the love of earthly fathers? What specific actions demonstrate this love? [06:55]
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the spiritual and material gifts that Jesus, as our Everlasting Father, lavishes upon us? [09:26]
4. How does Jesus embody the way to salvation, as mentioned in John 14:6, and what does this mean for our relationship with God the Father? [11:04]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the title "Everlasting Father" provide comfort and assurance to believers, especially those who may have experienced flawed earthly fatherhood? [02:07]
2. How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus' sacrificial love, and why is it important to understand this love as unconditional and eternal? [06:55]
3. What does it mean for believers to be "lavished with gifts" by Jesus, and how should this impact their daily lives and attitudes towards gratitude? [09:26]
4. How does understanding Jesus as the way to salvation influence a believer's sense of purpose and identity, according to the sermon? [11:04]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own experiences with earthly father figures. How does the concept of Jesus as the Everlasting Father challenge or comfort you personally? [03:31]
2. Consider the unconditional love of Jesus described in the sermon. How can you better embrace and reflect this love in your relationships with others? [06:55]
3. Identify specific spiritual or material blessings in your life that you may have overlooked. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude for these gifts? [09:26]
4. In what ways can you actively follow Jesus as the way to salvation in your daily life? Are there specific areas where you need to seek His guidance more intentionally? [11:04]
5. Think about a time when you felt distant from God. How can the assurance of Jesus' eternal care and love help you draw closer to Him during such times? [02:07]
6. How can you share the message of Jesus as the Everlasting Father with someone who may be struggling with feelings of abandonment or lack of purpose? [12:35]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about finding hope and fulfillment in Jesus. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him and discover your true identity and purpose? [12:35]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus' Eternal Care and Love
The title "Everlasting Father" attributed to Jesus in Isaiah's prophecy reveals a profound aspect of His character. Despite being known as the Son, Jesus embodies the fatherly qualities of eternal care and love. Unlike earthly fathers, who may be limited by human frailty and time, Jesus' love is steadfast and unconditional. His care transcends the limitations of human relationships, offering a perpetual and perfect love that assures us of His constant presence and support. This understanding of Jesus as our Everlasting Father provides comfort and security, knowing that His love is not dependent on our actions but is a gift of grace. [02:07]
Isaiah 40:11 (ESV): "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."
Reflection: In what ways can you experience and acknowledge Jesus' eternal care and love in your daily life today?
Day 2: Jesus' Perpetual Provision
Jesus, as our Everlasting Father, ensures that His care and provision are unfailing. This title highlights His role in nurturing and providing for us, contrasting with the limitations of earthly fathers. His provision is not just material but encompasses every spiritual blessing, as Paul reminds us in Ephesians. Jesus' care is perpetual, offering us a relationship that transcends time and circumstance. This understanding invites us to trust in His provision and live lives of gratitude, recognizing the countless blessings He bestows upon us. [03:31]
Ephesians 1:3 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you struggle to trust in Jesus' provision. How can you actively choose to trust Him in this area today?
Day 3: The Sacrificial Love of Jesus
Jesus' love is demonstrated through His willingness to leave the glory of heaven to dwell among us. His sacrificial love is not based on our actions but is a gift of grace. By sacrificing Himself for our salvation, Jesus showed us the depth of His love, offering us the greatest gift—eternal life. This act of love assures us that His care is not conditional but is a reflection of His grace and mercy. Understanding this sacrificial love invites us to respond with gratitude and a desire to share His love with others. [06:55]
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Reflection: How can you reflect Jesus' sacrificial love in your interactions with others today?
Day 4: Lavished with Spiritual and Material Blessings
As our Everlasting Father, Jesus lavishes us with gifts beyond measure. These gifts are not just material but encompass every spiritual blessing. Our lives, filled with family, friends, and countless blessings, are a testament to His generosity. Yet, the greatest gift remains the salvation He offers, leading us to a relationship with God the Father. This understanding encourages us to live lives of gratitude, recognizing the abundance of blessings we receive and the generosity of God. [09:26]
James 1:17 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What is one specific blessing you can thank God for today, and how can you express your gratitude in a tangible way?
Day 5: Jesus as the Way to Salvation
Jesus came to lead us, not just as a guide but as the way itself. He embodies the path to salvation, inviting us to follow Him to find true purpose and meaning. In knowing Jesus, we find the hope and fulfillment we seek. He is the answer to our deepest longings, the one who gives us identity and purpose. This understanding invites us to embrace the relationship He offers and to follow Him wholeheartedly, trusting in His guidance and direction. [11:04]
John 14:6 (ESV): "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to follow Jesus more closely? What steps can you take today to align your life with His way?
Quotes
"Prince of Peace we've studied as a church those first two names and tonight I want to pick up where we left off in Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 and look at that phrase everlasting father we don't think of Jesus as our everlasting father because we know him most predominantly as the son and this phrase or title doesn't declare that in some way him and God are are interconnected in persons but what it declares to us is that Jesus was going to come and be like a father to us he was going to act very fatherly to his" [01:24:28] (43 seconds)
"It is a name that reminds us that we are people who need fathers, not just the earthly fathers that we have, but we are on a journey looking for the purpose and meaning and the significance that hearing from our father brings." [02:16:36] (21 seconds)
"The idea here is that the Father highlights the care and provision and leadership that this one who is going to be born in Bethlehem was going to bring. Like our earthly fathers, he was going to provide for us and nurture us and protect us and care for us." [04:37:55] (18 seconds)
"He would not be finite. He would not be flawed. He would not fail us as even the best of earthly fathers do. No, his oversight and care and protection and ministry to his children would be a perpetual one. It would be a continual one. It would be one that would continue to carry on for all of eternity." [05:06:39] (25 seconds)
"Jesus' love is the foundation as our everlasting Father. It's not the kind of love that comes and goes, but it is a steadfast and eternal love. It is not a love based on circumstances or conditions. It is a love that is unconditional. It is a heavenly love." [06:26:38] (20 seconds)
"Jesus longs to look upon you and see you in all of your significance. Jesus wants to declare to you, that you have his approval, you have his love. It's like a father in the stands giving two thumbs up to every one of you. He loves you and longs for an ever -growing and ever -deepening relationship with him." [07:35:60]
"And so we receive salvation from him, but let us not forget that we receive every good and perfect gift from above. Our family, our friends, our homes, our cars, our possessions, our way of living, the protection that each of us had coming and going to this place, all are gifts that God in Christ has given us because he came to be your everlasting Father." [09:18:36] (33 seconds)
"Paul tells us and tells the Ephesian church that we have been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing. He wants to shower you, his children, with gifts unimaginable. And he wants us to use those gifts as a life of gratitude for the great generosity that he has given us. He loves you, and he longs as the everlasting father to grant upon you a lavish amount of gifts. And finally, he wants to lead you somewhere." [09:51:29] (36 seconds)
"This everlasting father would be given the earthly name of Jesus because he saves his people from their sins. He would be called Yeshua, the Lord saves. And so this everlasting father came to lead and to guide you and I to God." [10:42:34] (22 seconds)
"the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me so Jesus Christ came and he put on flesh and he made his dwelling among us he lived with us he walked and talked with us but he did even more than that he showed each and every one of us that we needed a relationship with God the Father and the only way that we would get that relationship is through the finished work on the cross of Calvary so this evening this Christmas Eve night let me ask you have you found your everlasting father" [11:16:69]