Sing of The Sinners SubstituteIs53
Series: Sing of the Lord's Servant - Isaiah - Lenten Series
April 10, 2025
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Lenten Midweek V 9-April-2025 Sermon Series: “Sing of the Lord’s Servant!” Sermon Text: Isaiah 5:10-12 Sermon Theme: “The Sinner’s Substitute!” I. He Is The Only Savior Given! (Vs.10-11) II. His Kingdom Is Grace! (Vs.12) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Lenten Midweek V 9-April-2025
Sermon Series: “Sing of the Lord’s Servant!”
Sermon Text: Isaiah 5:10-12
Sermon Theme: “The Sinner’s Substitute!” I. He Is The Only Savior Given! (Vs.10-11) II. His Kingdom Is Grace! (Vs.12) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. "The life of Christianity consists of possessive pronouns" wrote Dr. Martin Luther. It is one thing to say, "Christ is a Savior"; it is quite another thing to say, "He is my Savior and my Lord." The devil can say the first; the true Christian alone can say the second.
Do you confess that Jesus is a Savior? Or will you daily and richly by the grace of the Holy Spirit renewing you through the Gospel confess: “Jesus is MY Savior!” “Jesus is MY Lord!” You have memorized the precious Gospel of the Second Article of The Apostles’ Creed. If it only echos in your mind, but never permeates your very being and life. You have a hollow confession, like that of the devils, that “Jesus is a Savior.”
You may weep over Jesus’ passion, like the women of Jerusalem, but a passing emotion can’t save. Daily read the red letters of the Gospels praying for the Holy Spirit to open your lips to sing: “I believe that Jesus Christ, God’s true Son, has become my Lord.”“But what does it mean to become Lord?”“It is this. He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death, and from all evil. For before I did not have a Lord or King, but was captive under the devil’s power, condemned to death, stuck in sin and blindness” (LC, Pt 2, 2nd Art.) Joyfully sing of “The Sinner’s Substitute!” I. Jesus Is The Only Savior Given! (Vs.10-11) II. His Kingdom Is Grace! (Vs.12)
Judah’s exile into Babylon was its own stubborn choice. Refusing to hear God’s Word preached by the prophets, they choose 70 years of enslavement. Rising up early and sending His prophets God had called His bride to repent and return to Him. They stubbornly refused prostituting themselves in idolatry. They worshiped man-made devil breathed lifeless idols that can never save.
Out of love for His bride, Judah, the Lord God raised up Babylon to take them captive. Whom the Lord loves He disciplines. Driven into exile He would woo them back to Himself through the preaching of His prophets Ezekiel and Daniel. They would learn to read and study His Word recorded by Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah as the Holy Spirit called them back to Himself through the promise of Jesus - the Servant of the Lord.
Their song faltered. They sang in the 137th Psalm: Psalms 137:1-4 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. (2) We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it. (3) For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" (4) How shall we sing the LORD's song In a foreign land? By their own reason and strength they couldn’t sing Zion’s song in exile. God the Holy Spirit called them through Ezekiel’s preaching of hope. Their Bridegroom was with them in exile. Their dry dead bones would live. Jeremiah’s word assured them that after 70 years they would return to Judah. Isaiah’s preached of their liberator Cyrus two centuries before he was born. God’s Word and promise cannot be broken.
God sends forth His song of comfort for His exiled Bride. He would seek her out and restore her through His Servant. The Servant who would suffer for Israel and all its sins. The Servant who alone suffers for you and all your sins! Hear and sing! (Vs.10-11)
In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus anxiously through tears, sweat, and blood prayed, Luke 22:42 "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." The Father’s good and gracious will to save sinners meant that He must bruise His only-begotten Son in Jesus’ flesh. God the Father put Jesus to grief for you!
The world is full of religions. Their spirituality is demonic darkness. They all teach that humanity can save itself by its own actions, thoughts, feelings, or experiences. It flows from Satan’s lie stealing God’s Promise from our ears and turning us in on ourselves to be our own saviors. It rejects the truth of God’s Law that all men are born spiritually dead, captive to Satan, sin, and death.
Christianity alone is The Faith! I bring nothing. I do nothing. I give nothing. I feel nothing. It is never about “I!” It is all about “Jesus!” Make Jesus’ soul the only offering for your sin! Know Him and the power of His resurrection. Let the Holy Spirit fix your eyes only upon the world’s Crucified and Risen Savior!
Lay your sins on Jesus! Scapegoat Him! Crushed throw all your sin upon His flesh and blood! Hear Him cry, ‘It is finished!” See His pierced side gushing forth His redeeming water and blood. His seed are honest sinners restored and renewed daily in baptismal waters.
Struggling with sin, flee to Him. He is still to be found in His Father’s House - the Church! Doing His Father’s business - rescuing sinners! His pleasure strengthens you in your weakness. He borne your iniquities through the crucible of God’s just hellish wrath in His flesh upon the cross to death, and the grave. He rose declaring “Peace to you!” Only in Him is sinful mankind reconciled to our God and Father.
Martin Luther wrote: "All the prophets did foresee in Spirit that Christ should become the greatest transgressor, murderer, adulterer, thief, rebel, blasphemer, etc., that ever was or could be in all the world. For he, being made a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world is not now an innocent person and without sins...but a sinner." He was, of course, talking about the imputing of our wrongdoing to Christ as our substitute.
Luther continues: "Our most merciful Father...sent his only Son into the world and laid upon him...the sins of all men saying: Be thou Peter that denier; Paul that persecutor, blasphemer and cruel oppressor; David that adulterer; that sinner which did eat the apple in Paradise; that thief which hanged upon the cross; and briefly be thou the person which hath committed the sins of all men; see therefore that thou pay and satisfy for them. Here now comes the law and saith: I find him a sinner...therefore let him die upon the cross. And so he setteth upon him and killeth him. By this means the whole world is purged and cleansed from all sins."
The presentation of the death of Christ as the substitute exhibits the love of the cross more richly, fully, gloriously, and glowingly than any other account of it. Luther saw this and gloried in it. He once wrote to a friend: "Learn to know Christ and him crucified. Learn to sing to him, and say, 'Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You became what you were not, so that I might become what I was not.'" Sing of this great and wonderful exchange! Was there ever such love?
II. Sing daily of the Sinner’s Substitute for His Kingdom is nothing but grace! (Vs.12) In Jesus alone do sinners receive God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense! His Kingdom will never end! He redeemed you dear sinner to be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.”
Jesus has written your name upon the palm of His hands with Roman spikes that pierced His flesh FOR YOU! He divided His spoil - forgiveness, life, and salvation with you. We are poor miserable weak and crushed sinners made strong by His forgiving grace. In His Kingdom He washes you forgiven in Holy Baptism. Don’t believe it? He speaks forgiveness into your ears in Easter Words of Absolution. Still are unsure? He places His living body and blood upon your lips in bread and wine! He breathes forth God the Holy Spirit comforting you saying, “I gave My innocent flesh FOR YOU! I poured out My life giving blood FOR YOU!” Just as I have taken Barabbas’ place in suffering and dying - I took your place! Your sins belong only My shoulders! I prayed for you, “Father forgive!” I still pray for you!”
Fixing your eyes on Jesus sing with Isaiah of The Sinner’s Substitute. Hear this stanza echoed by the Holy Spirit through Paul’s pen, Romans 8:33-34 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Let the Holy Spirit make your song not about Jesus A Savior, but Jesus MY Savior! Amen.
Sermon Series: “Sing of the Lord’s Servant!”
Sermon Text: Isaiah 5:10-12
Sermon Theme: “The Sinner’s Substitute!” I. He Is The Only Savior Given! (Vs.10-11) II. His Kingdom Is Grace! (Vs.12) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. "The life of Christianity consists of possessive pronouns" wrote Dr. Martin Luther. It is one thing to say, "Christ is a Savior"; it is quite another thing to say, "He is my Savior and my Lord." The devil can say the first; the true Christian alone can say the second.
Do you confess that Jesus is a Savior? Or will you daily and richly by the grace of the Holy Spirit renewing you through the Gospel confess: “Jesus is MY Savior!” “Jesus is MY Lord!” You have memorized the precious Gospel of the Second Article of The Apostles’ Creed. If it only echos in your mind, but never permeates your very being and life. You have a hollow confession, like that of the devils, that “Jesus is a Savior.”
You may weep over Jesus’ passion, like the women of Jerusalem, but a passing emotion can’t save. Daily read the red letters of the Gospels praying for the Holy Spirit to open your lips to sing: “I believe that Jesus Christ, God’s true Son, has become my Lord.”“But what does it mean to become Lord?”“It is this. He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death, and from all evil. For before I did not have a Lord or King, but was captive under the devil’s power, condemned to death, stuck in sin and blindness” (LC, Pt 2, 2nd Art.) Joyfully sing of “The Sinner’s Substitute!” I. Jesus Is The Only Savior Given! (Vs.10-11) II. His Kingdom Is Grace! (Vs.12)
Judah’s exile into Babylon was its own stubborn choice. Refusing to hear God’s Word preached by the prophets, they choose 70 years of enslavement. Rising up early and sending His prophets God had called His bride to repent and return to Him. They stubbornly refused prostituting themselves in idolatry. They worshiped man-made devil breathed lifeless idols that can never save.
Out of love for His bride, Judah, the Lord God raised up Babylon to take them captive. Whom the Lord loves He disciplines. Driven into exile He would woo them back to Himself through the preaching of His prophets Ezekiel and Daniel. They would learn to read and study His Word recorded by Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah as the Holy Spirit called them back to Himself through the promise of Jesus - the Servant of the Lord.
Their song faltered. They sang in the 137th Psalm: Psalms 137:1-4 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. (2) We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it. (3) For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" (4) How shall we sing the LORD's song In a foreign land? By their own reason and strength they couldn’t sing Zion’s song in exile. God the Holy Spirit called them through Ezekiel’s preaching of hope. Their Bridegroom was with them in exile. Their dry dead bones would live. Jeremiah’s word assured them that after 70 years they would return to Judah. Isaiah’s preached of their liberator Cyrus two centuries before he was born. God’s Word and promise cannot be broken.
God sends forth His song of comfort for His exiled Bride. He would seek her out and restore her through His Servant. The Servant who would suffer for Israel and all its sins. The Servant who alone suffers for you and all your sins! Hear and sing! (Vs.10-11)
In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus anxiously through tears, sweat, and blood prayed, Luke 22:42 "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." The Father’s good and gracious will to save sinners meant that He must bruise His only-begotten Son in Jesus’ flesh. God the Father put Jesus to grief for you!
The world is full of religions. Their spirituality is demonic darkness. They all teach that humanity can save itself by its own actions, thoughts, feelings, or experiences. It flows from Satan’s lie stealing God’s Promise from our ears and turning us in on ourselves to be our own saviors. It rejects the truth of God’s Law that all men are born spiritually dead, captive to Satan, sin, and death.
Christianity alone is The Faith! I bring nothing. I do nothing. I give nothing. I feel nothing. It is never about “I!” It is all about “Jesus!” Make Jesus’ soul the only offering for your sin! Know Him and the power of His resurrection. Let the Holy Spirit fix your eyes only upon the world’s Crucified and Risen Savior!
Lay your sins on Jesus! Scapegoat Him! Crushed throw all your sin upon His flesh and blood! Hear Him cry, ‘It is finished!” See His pierced side gushing forth His redeeming water and blood. His seed are honest sinners restored and renewed daily in baptismal waters.
Struggling with sin, flee to Him. He is still to be found in His Father’s House - the Church! Doing His Father’s business - rescuing sinners! His pleasure strengthens you in your weakness. He borne your iniquities through the crucible of God’s just hellish wrath in His flesh upon the cross to death, and the grave. He rose declaring “Peace to you!” Only in Him is sinful mankind reconciled to our God and Father.
Martin Luther wrote: "All the prophets did foresee in Spirit that Christ should become the greatest transgressor, murderer, adulterer, thief, rebel, blasphemer, etc., that ever was or could be in all the world. For he, being made a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world is not now an innocent person and without sins...but a sinner." He was, of course, talking about the imputing of our wrongdoing to Christ as our substitute.
Luther continues: "Our most merciful Father...sent his only Son into the world and laid upon him...the sins of all men saying: Be thou Peter that denier; Paul that persecutor, blasphemer and cruel oppressor; David that adulterer; that sinner which did eat the apple in Paradise; that thief which hanged upon the cross; and briefly be thou the person which hath committed the sins of all men; see therefore that thou pay and satisfy for them. Here now comes the law and saith: I find him a sinner...therefore let him die upon the cross. And so he setteth upon him and killeth him. By this means the whole world is purged and cleansed from all sins."
The presentation of the death of Christ as the substitute exhibits the love of the cross more richly, fully, gloriously, and glowingly than any other account of it. Luther saw this and gloried in it. He once wrote to a friend: "Learn to know Christ and him crucified. Learn to sing to him, and say, 'Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You became what you were not, so that I might become what I was not.'" Sing of this great and wonderful exchange! Was there ever such love?
II. Sing daily of the Sinner’s Substitute for His Kingdom is nothing but grace! (Vs.12) In Jesus alone do sinners receive God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense! His Kingdom will never end! He redeemed you dear sinner to be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.”
Jesus has written your name upon the palm of His hands with Roman spikes that pierced His flesh FOR YOU! He divided His spoil - forgiveness, life, and salvation with you. We are poor miserable weak and crushed sinners made strong by His forgiving grace. In His Kingdom He washes you forgiven in Holy Baptism. Don’t believe it? He speaks forgiveness into your ears in Easter Words of Absolution. Still are unsure? He places His living body and blood upon your lips in bread and wine! He breathes forth God the Holy Spirit comforting you saying, “I gave My innocent flesh FOR YOU! I poured out My life giving blood FOR YOU!” Just as I have taken Barabbas’ place in suffering and dying - I took your place! Your sins belong only My shoulders! I prayed for you, “Father forgive!” I still pray for you!”
Fixing your eyes on Jesus sing with Isaiah of The Sinner’s Substitute. Hear this stanza echoed by the Holy Spirit through Paul’s pen, Romans 8:33-34 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Let the Holy Spirit make your song not about Jesus A Savior, but Jesus MY Savior! Amen.
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