Page 208 - Bible Writers Theology Original

192 ♦ Bible Writers' Theology Chapter Eight
hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever" (Deuteronomy
32:39-40). (See also John 3:13.)
The prophet Isaiah also rightly proclaimed, "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him" (Isaiah 59:16). Salvation is His, the same way He is light and life. The Eternal One
also declares that He has made His salvation known: "I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God"(Isaiah 43:12). The Apostle Paul could say,"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times man
ifested his word" (Titus 1:2-3), and after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared" (Titus 3:4). The salvation of God addresses all men and is rooted in His mercy and love (John 3:16; John 1:9;
Isaiah 45:22; 1Timothy 1:15; Galatians 3:8).
God's eternal plan of salvation was first decreed by God immediately after the fall of Adam (Genesis 3:15), and was gradually elaborated on to Abrahamandhisdescendantsthroughthegenerationsofprophets. Later Jesus could affirm "salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22), although they reject ed it. (See John 1:11 Romans 9:24-33; 10:18-21; 11:25-32.)
They should have known the one who came to dwell among them was He that, of old, had told them to prepare His way (Isaiah 40:3-4). He was coming for them and for all that would receive Him (John 1:11-12). The prophet Isaiah proclaimed, "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it"
(Isaiah 40:5; 40:10-11).
Here is MaUhew's rendering of this glorious event: "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us"
(Matthew1:22-23).(SeeIsaiah7:13-14;9:6.) Itstrictlycoincideswithwhat the prophet Jeremiah also foretold: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"
(Jehovah Tsidkenu) (Jeremiah 23:5-6). The prophecy leads us to conclude without a shadow of a doubt that the name Jesus, given in Matthew 1:21 to Immanuel, God with us "to save his people from their sins" means "The Lord our Righteousness." Immanuel is also that "...child born unto us", whose "name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the