R sbc
Sunday July 11th 2004
Series: “Jesus Christ is The Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Sermon # 8
Subject: “Until & Unto”
Text: Genesis 49: 8-10
Intro: I would like to preface my message this morning by saying a few words about this chapter. Jacob now old, ready to depart this life, gathers all 12 of his sons together and speak his final words before death takes him.
But these are not just a family chit chat, these are not words that are of no profit to these sons, but these are words of God through Jacob to his sons. Here a father is given the rare privilege of having his whole family of sons around him before he goes the way of all the earth.
In the book of Genesis there are three other prohecy’s that realte to Christ that we have at least refrred to in this series... The first being that wonderful promise of Christ in Genesis 3:15 Then Christ would dwell in the tents of Shem Genesis 9:26-27 And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
Then he would come from Abraham’s seed... and that in him all nations of the earth be blessed that is in Christ.. Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
I... “ THE UNTIL”
This is speaking of the government would be with Judah, that is his tribe. That it would last in his tribe until the Lord Jesus Christ comes. This verse has been given a number of interpretation of which I will not go into, but the one, that I think to the proper interpretation of the word “Shiloh” the hebrew meaning has to do with peace and tranquility.
(1.) The symbol Judah’s power or rule of government: “ The Secptre”
(2.) The extent of this rule: “until Shiloh come”
Matthew Poole says in comments on this verse “ That the Jewish senators did long struggle with Herod about the government, and did not yield it up to him till his last year, when they took an oath of fealty to him, which was after Christ was born. Nor indeed was the sceptre quite gone from them then, for that council still had the power, though not of life and death, yet of civil and ecclesiastical matters.John 18:31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: So that if the sceptre was gone, the lawgiver remained there still. Nor was their government and commonwealth quite destroyed until the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.”
The transfer of this government from a phyisical state to a spiritual state is the whole of this saying. It is said in Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
The kingdom was now in the hands of the Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ. His government would be not made of one King but many kings: Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
This likewise was a prophecy concerning the elect of God and how they would serve the Lord in his kingdom and in his church. Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. This had to be far beyond the ordinary citizen of Israel, for none but chosen men of God were priest, it had to be the people of God after messiah came.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
II... “ UNTO HIM”
This is not referring to Judah but to Shiloh or Christ our Lord. The Father promised him a great number which no man could number out of every tribe and nations on this earth. The promise as seen in David’s prohecy:
Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.
This is a great promised realized when Chirst came lived and died for his people and ascended back to heaven now seated and calling and gathering these elect from the four corners of the earth. This is the great effectual calling of the Lord to his people.
1st. To whom are they gathered: “ To the Lord Jesus Christ”
Christ is the one to whom you need to be gathered to. For in him is hid all the treasurers of wisdom, in him is the vast resources of life in the kingdom of God. It is in Christ the great eternal one that alone can dispense the government of God in our hearts.
Hear well this morning the words of Jesus Christ: John 5:39-43 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
A. It is clear that they were offended at him: Matthew 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
The great prophet John said: In him was life and the life was the light of men John 1-4
That in him was that imperishable life: John 3-15
That in him there was no fault he was sinless says Piolate: John 18:38
That the prophets witness and declared if ye believe in him sins are remitted: Acts 10:43
That in him says Paul we live and have our very being: Acts 17:28
That all the promises were in him says Paul: 2 Cor 1:20
That he was made sin so we could be made righteousness in him: 2 Cor 5-20
That we are chosen in him before the foundation of the world: Eph 1-4
These are but a few things that we have in Christ our Lord. No wonder Jacob said unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Once Christ came literally all the focus was changed from Judah to him...
Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
2nd. Why do ye need to be gatehred to him today?
There are so many reason why sinners need to be gathered unto him I will try to list a few this a.m. so that if any of his are hear maybe this is your day in which the LORD will gather you into his fold.
1st. So that you will not be grind to powder...
Matthew 21:43-44 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
The grinding of the powder here is figurative language and it really means the judgement of Christ upon you. It is the same as what he said in the Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.
It is like what Isaiah the prophet said:
Isaiah 8:14-16 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
Simeon said: Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
2nd. Ye need to be gathered to him for there is none other to be gathered to: Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
3rd. Ye need to be gathered to him because he is the only true foundation: 1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Christ is the laid foundation: Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Christ is the foundation of stone: Peter confirms it to be so: 1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
He is an invisible foundational stone: 1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Keep in mind this morning that his presence is invisible and yet he is here, Keep in mind this morning that his proceedings are invisible...
Christ is a permanent foundation: Isaiah 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH [is] everlasting strength:
4th. You need to be gathered to him because the Father is only accessible by him: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Christ was sent by the Father, We were given to Christ by the Father, we are then in tern drawn by the Father to the son. We are kept by the Father, by the Son and by the Holy Spirit. What a great saviour.
5th. So that your sins will be remitted forever: Mark 2:5-12 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this [man] thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
The great and eternal benefit of having your sins forgiven this morning, is astounding to the human mind. We are justified, we are sanctified, we one day will be glorified because our sins are fogiven by the Father and the Son.
III... “ HOW ARE WE GATHERED TO THE LORD?
You say that is easy? Is it? It must not be for there are so many ways floating out there that speak of how to be gathered to Christ. Our text says unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Be assured this morning it is not by your own power and will for you have none, it is not by baptism for baptism is only an identification with him, it is not by works of righteousness that you may or may not be able to perofrm, it is not by changing your life, quiting your bad habits, deciding to live a good life.
We know sinners are gathered for we are living proff of this morning, so how are sinners gathered to Christ?
1st. Sinners are gatehred to Christ by Christ himself:
Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Jesus in his preaching said these words: John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
2nd. Sinners are gathered to Christ by the Holy Spirit of GOD: John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
3rd. Sinners are gathered by the preaching of the word:1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Preaching of the word of the gospel converts sinners that have been quickened by the Holy Spirit of the LORD. Not it saves them that believe and we believe that beliving is the result of divine rengeration.
4th. Sinners are gathered because they have been made to see Christ the great light:
Matthew 4:16-17 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
5th. Sinners are gathered because God has commanded the light to shine: 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
I must cloes but has the light been shinned in your heart this morning?