Jesus, Mighty God: Mighty Warrior
Jesus, Mighty God, Mighty Warrior
- Dr. Spencer R. Fusselman
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God.” - Isaiah 9:6
As we further explore the prophetic titles of Christ through our advent series, we are drawn to the depths of His divinity, revealing Him as 'Mighty God', the Creator of the universe, the Redeemer of humanity, and the ultimate Conqueror of sin and death. Yet, we also find the tension between Christ's divine nature and His human experience. Immanuel, God with us, He who created the cosmos, willingly subjected Himself to the limitations of human flesh. This paradoxical reality underscores the depth of His love for us. He understands our struggles, our weaknesses, and our deepest desires because He has walked in our shoes. If we truly search and embrace the fullness of Christ's divine identity, we may find that he is, in fact, bigger than life itself! We are then invited to surrender our hearts to Him, acknowledging His supreme authority and trusting in His perfect plan.
Join us this week as we encounter a breathtaking revelation of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word who became flesh. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the sovereign Lord of the universe.
The Creator God
The intricate and vastness of creation, woven with celestial bodies and earthly wonders, bears the unmistakable signature of a divine Artist. The opening verses of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, proclaim, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." While this declaration establishes the divine origin of all things, it is the Gospel of John that unveils the profound identity of the Creator Himself.
John 1:1-3 offers a breathtaking revelation: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." This passage identifies Jesus Christ as the eternal Word, the divine agent through whom the universe was brought into existence. Jesus is the spoken word of God as he says “Let there be light”; and there was light. (Ge 1:3)
The juxtaposition of these two biblical accounts reveals a profound truth: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is not merely a creature but the Creator Himself. He is the source of all life, the sustainer of all things. As the Word, He existed before creation, and through Him, all things were made. This understanding challenges our limited human perspective, compelling us to acknowledge Jesus Christ's divine nature.
The implications of this revelation are far-reaching. It underscores Jesus Christ's intimate involvement in the creation of the universe. He is not a distant or impersonal deity but rather a loving and active God who personally shaped every aspect of creation. This truth invites us to marvel at the intricate design of the cosmos, recognizing the divine hand that crafted every detail.
Furthermore, the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Creator reinforces His authority over all things. As the source of all life, He has the power to sustain, provide, and protect. His sovereignty extends to every corner of the universe, and His loving care reaches to the smallest of creatures.
The Redeemer God
With a single spoken word, a verbal stroke of the brush, God painted galaxies, sculpted planets, and breathed life into every creature. Yet, amidst the grandeur of creation, there emerges a more profound masterpiece—the redemption of humanity. The stark reality of human rebellion against a holy God necessitated a radical solution. The law, with its righteous demands, condemned us all, showing us our desperate need for a savior. “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Ga 3:24) However, God, in His infinite wisdom and love, provided a way of salvation through the sacrificial death of His Son.
The magnitude of God's love for humanity is a profound mystery. As the wages of sin is death, a perfect sacrifice was required to reconcile a sinful world with a Holy God. This divine solution was planned from the beginning of time in the person of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who became flesh. As John 1:14 declares, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
The incarnation of Christ, the Word becoming flesh, was a necessary step in God's redemptive plan. Jesus, the eternal Son, assumed human nature, experiencing the joys and sorrows of human life. This divine-human nature enabled Him to empathize with our weaknesses and temptations. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15.) As the perfect man, He lived a sinless life, fulfilling the righteous requirements of the Law. However, the ultimate purpose of Christ's incarnation was to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Yet we also find the heart of a loving God that desires a deeply personal relationship with his creatures.
The prophet Isaiah, (Is 53) peering through the veil of time, prophetically describes Him as the Suffering Servant who bore our sins and endured our pains. Jesus, the holy and righteous One, willingly submitted to the wrath of God on our behalf. His sacrificial death on the cross atoned for our sins, breaking the chains of sin and death that bound us. Through His resurrection, Christ conquered sin and death, demonstrating His divine power and authority. His victory assures us of eternal life and the hope of a glorious future
The apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, reminds us of the immense cost of our redemption, "You were bought with a price,” (1 Cor 7:23) We were not purchased with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ; and what a heavy price that was… We were once slaves to sin, bound by its chains and destined for eternal separation from God. But through the sacrificial love of Christ, our Mighty Redeemer, we have been liberated from the dominion of darkness. His willful and excruciating act of valor on the cross has washed away our sins and set us free.
The knowledge of God's redemptive power should ignite a fire within our hearts. It should inspire us to live a life worthy of the One who has redeemed us. We are no longer slaves to sin but children of the Most High God.
The Mighty Warrior
As we recognize our need for redemption, we must symulteneously recognize that we stand witnesses to an eternal battle between the forces of light and darkness. At the heart of this conflict stands a mighty Warrior, Jesus Christ, who has already secured victory over sin and death! Revelation 19:16 declares, “And on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” This title reveals His supreme authority over all creation. As the Lion of the tribe of Judah, He conquers sin, death, and the devil.
He is the God who led Joshua to conquer the Promised Land, empowering him with these words: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). Just as God promised to be with Joshua, he is also with us. At the announcement of the coming birth of Christ, an angel of the lord connected Him to the foretold Immanuel of Isiahas prophecy 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Mt 1:23) The prophecy contained not only the foretelling of Christ’s rescue mission on earth but connects christ with The angel of the Lord that slaughtered 185,000 Assyrian soldiers to liberate Israel in one night. (Is 8, Is 37)
Just as He equipped and encouraged Joshua, God also trained David, a young shepherd boy, to defend his sheep, and later to become the mighty defender of his kingdom. Psalm 144:1 paints a vivid picture of David's reliance on God “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle” David acknowledges God's sovereign hand in training him for battle, recognizing that his victories were not his own but the Lord’s. As we face our own battles ahead, we would do well to recognize that our drill sergeant, master trainer, and sensei is none other than Jesus.
As Ephesians 6:10-11 reminds us, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." We see the ultimate revelation of God's warrior nature in the person of Jesus Christ. He will not only train us for the battle “by the renewing of our minds”, (Rom 12:2) but he give us the physical and spiritual tools for battle. Each piece of the armor of God is spoken of with intentionality. The physical and spiritual concepts of the word of God as the Sword of the Spirit, not only as our offense but our defense as well. The Shield of Faith, speaks to the spiritual nature of our faith, but also the physical nature of standing side by side shields locked together forging a the impenetrable phalanx formation with our brothers and sisters in christ. As we turn through the pages of scripture from Genesis to Revelation it is evident that Jesus is far from a passive and weak voice of wisdom. He is the ultimate Warrior, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who conquered sin and death through His sacrificial death and resurrection.
Jesus, our victorious Commander, has not only defeated the enemy but has also commissioned us to join Him in the battle. In Matthew 28:18-20, He issues a powerful command: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Immanuel, God With US!
As we step onto the battlefield of spiritual warfare, let us be emboldened by the knowledge that our ultimate victory is assured. With Christ as our Commander, we can face any challenge, overcome any obstacle, and emerge victorious. Let us, therefore, don the armor of God, wield the sword of the Spirit, and advance with courage and confidence, knowing that our victory is certain. Christ our Mighty Commander, Mighty Redeemer, and Mighty God is With us, even to the end of the age.
As we further explore the prophetic titles of Christ through our advent series, we are drawn to the depths of His divinity, revealing Him as 'Mighty God', the Creator of the universe, the Redeemer of humanity, and the ultimate Conqueror of sin and death. Yet, we also find the tension between Christ's divine nature and His human experience. Immanuel, God with us, He who created the cosmos, willingly subjected Himself to the limitations of human flesh. This paradoxical reality underscores the depth of His love for us. He understands our struggles, our weaknesses, and our deepest desires because He has walked in our shoes. If we truly search and embrace the fullness of Christ's divine identity, we may find that he is, in fact, bigger than life itself! We are then invited to surrender our hearts to Him, acknowledging His supreme authority and trusting in His perfect plan.
Join us this week as we encounter a breathtaking revelation of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word who became flesh. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the sovereign Lord of the universe.
The Creator God
The intricate and vastness of creation, woven with celestial bodies and earthly wonders, bears the unmistakable signature of a divine Artist. The opening verses of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, proclaim, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." While this declaration establishes the divine origin of all things, it is the Gospel of John that unveils the profound identity of the Creator Himself.
John 1:1-3 offers a breathtaking revelation: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." This passage identifies Jesus Christ as the eternal Word, the divine agent through whom the universe was brought into existence. Jesus is the spoken word of God as he says “Let there be light”; and there was light. (Ge 1:3)
The juxtaposition of these two biblical accounts reveals a profound truth: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is not merely a creature but the Creator Himself. He is the source of all life, the sustainer of all things. As the Word, He existed before creation, and through Him, all things were made. This understanding challenges our limited human perspective, compelling us to acknowledge Jesus Christ's divine nature.
The implications of this revelation are far-reaching. It underscores Jesus Christ's intimate involvement in the creation of the universe. He is not a distant or impersonal deity but rather a loving and active God who personally shaped every aspect of creation. This truth invites us to marvel at the intricate design of the cosmos, recognizing the divine hand that crafted every detail.
Furthermore, the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Creator reinforces His authority over all things. As the source of all life, He has the power to sustain, provide, and protect. His sovereignty extends to every corner of the universe, and His loving care reaches to the smallest of creatures.
The Redeemer God
With a single spoken word, a verbal stroke of the brush, God painted galaxies, sculpted planets, and breathed life into every creature. Yet, amidst the grandeur of creation, there emerges a more profound masterpiece—the redemption of humanity. The stark reality of human rebellion against a holy God necessitated a radical solution. The law, with its righteous demands, condemned us all, showing us our desperate need for a savior. “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Ga 3:24) However, God, in His infinite wisdom and love, provided a way of salvation through the sacrificial death of His Son.
The magnitude of God's love for humanity is a profound mystery. As the wages of sin is death, a perfect sacrifice was required to reconcile a sinful world with a Holy God. This divine solution was planned from the beginning of time in the person of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who became flesh. As John 1:14 declares, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
The incarnation of Christ, the Word becoming flesh, was a necessary step in God's redemptive plan. Jesus, the eternal Son, assumed human nature, experiencing the joys and sorrows of human life. This divine-human nature enabled Him to empathize with our weaknesses and temptations. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15.) As the perfect man, He lived a sinless life, fulfilling the righteous requirements of the Law. However, the ultimate purpose of Christ's incarnation was to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Yet we also find the heart of a loving God that desires a deeply personal relationship with his creatures.
The prophet Isaiah, (Is 53) peering through the veil of time, prophetically describes Him as the Suffering Servant who bore our sins and endured our pains. Jesus, the holy and righteous One, willingly submitted to the wrath of God on our behalf. His sacrificial death on the cross atoned for our sins, breaking the chains of sin and death that bound us. Through His resurrection, Christ conquered sin and death, demonstrating His divine power and authority. His victory assures us of eternal life and the hope of a glorious future
The apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, reminds us of the immense cost of our redemption, "You were bought with a price,” (1 Cor 7:23) We were not purchased with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ; and what a heavy price that was… We were once slaves to sin, bound by its chains and destined for eternal separation from God. But through the sacrificial love of Christ, our Mighty Redeemer, we have been liberated from the dominion of darkness. His willful and excruciating act of valor on the cross has washed away our sins and set us free.
The knowledge of God's redemptive power should ignite a fire within our hearts. It should inspire us to live a life worthy of the One who has redeemed us. We are no longer slaves to sin but children of the Most High God.
The Mighty Warrior
As we recognize our need for redemption, we must symulteneously recognize that we stand witnesses to an eternal battle between the forces of light and darkness. At the heart of this conflict stands a mighty Warrior, Jesus Christ, who has already secured victory over sin and death! Revelation 19:16 declares, “And on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” This title reveals His supreme authority over all creation. As the Lion of the tribe of Judah, He conquers sin, death, and the devil.
He is the God who led Joshua to conquer the Promised Land, empowering him with these words: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). Just as God promised to be with Joshua, he is also with us. At the announcement of the coming birth of Christ, an angel of the lord connected Him to the foretold Immanuel of Isiahas prophecy 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Mt 1:23) The prophecy contained not only the foretelling of Christ’s rescue mission on earth but connects christ with The angel of the Lord that slaughtered 185,000 Assyrian soldiers to liberate Israel in one night. (Is 8, Is 37)
Just as He equipped and encouraged Joshua, God also trained David, a young shepherd boy, to defend his sheep, and later to become the mighty defender of his kingdom. Psalm 144:1 paints a vivid picture of David's reliance on God “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle” David acknowledges God's sovereign hand in training him for battle, recognizing that his victories were not his own but the Lord’s. As we face our own battles ahead, we would do well to recognize that our drill sergeant, master trainer, and sensei is none other than Jesus.
As Ephesians 6:10-11 reminds us, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." We see the ultimate revelation of God's warrior nature in the person of Jesus Christ. He will not only train us for the battle “by the renewing of our minds”, (Rom 12:2) but he give us the physical and spiritual tools for battle. Each piece of the armor of God is spoken of with intentionality. The physical and spiritual concepts of the word of God as the Sword of the Spirit, not only as our offense but our defense as well. The Shield of Faith, speaks to the spiritual nature of our faith, but also the physical nature of standing side by side shields locked together forging a the impenetrable phalanx formation with our brothers and sisters in christ. As we turn through the pages of scripture from Genesis to Revelation it is evident that Jesus is far from a passive and weak voice of wisdom. He is the ultimate Warrior, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who conquered sin and death through His sacrificial death and resurrection.
Jesus, our victorious Commander, has not only defeated the enemy but has also commissioned us to join Him in the battle. In Matthew 28:18-20, He issues a powerful command: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Immanuel, God With US!
As we step onto the battlefield of spiritual warfare, let us be emboldened by the knowledge that our ultimate victory is assured. With Christ as our Commander, we can face any challenge, overcome any obstacle, and emerge victorious. Let us, therefore, don the armor of God, wield the sword of the Spirit, and advance with courage and confidence, knowing that our victory is certain. Christ our Mighty Commander, Mighty Redeemer, and Mighty God is With us, even to the end of the age.
Watch the Full Sermon!
Discussion Questions:
- Read John 1:1-3 - How does this passage describe the nature of Jesus in relation to creation? How does this inform our understanding of His Divine Nature?
- What are some key scriptures that support the deity of Christ? If Jesus were simply a man, would it be sinful to worship him? Support your answer through scripture.
- What are some key scriptures that demonstrate Christ as a ‘Mighty Warrior’? How has he fought for your freedom?
- What is the significance of Christ's victory over sin and death in his resurrection? Why is it essential to our faith?
- How does the concept of "God with us" challenge our understanding of God's sovereignty and our own dependence on Him?
- How can we cultivate a deeper reverence and awe for Jesus as God in our worship and daily lives?
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