Whose Goings Forth Have Been From of Old, From Everlasting
Jesus' goings forth for His people began before time began, and His love for them is eternal and unchanging.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the eternal nature of Christ's love and sacrifice for His people, asserting that Jesus had goings forth as their representative long before creation. He highlights the profound commitment of Christ, who willingly suffered and died for humanity, demonstrating that His affection for us predates our existence. Spurgeon encourages believers to reflect on the assurance that if Christ has loved us from everlasting, He will not abandon us now. The sermon reassures the faithful of their secure position as cherished jewels in Christ's hands, emphasizing the unchanging nature of His love. Ultimately, Spurgeon celebrates the joy of knowing that we are eternally loved and secured in Christ's inheritance.
Text
The Lord Jesus had goings forth for His people as their representative before the throne, long before they appeared upon the stage of time. It was "from everlasting" that He signed the compact with His Father, that He would pay blood for blood, suffering for suffering, agony for agony, and death for death, in the behalf of His people; it was "from everlasting" that He gave Himself up without a murmuring word. That from the crown of His head to the sole of His foot He might sweat great drops of blood, that He might be spit upon, pierced, mocked, rent asunder, and crushed beneath the pains of death.
His goings forth as our Surety were from everlasting. Pause, my soul, and wonder! Thou hast goings forth in the person of Jesus "from everlasting." Not only when thou wast born into the world did Christ love thee, but His delights were with the sons of men before there were any sons of men. Often did He think of them; from everlasting to everlasting He had set His affection upon them. What! my soul, has He been so long about thy salvation, and will not He accomplish it? Has he from everlasting been going forth to save me, and will He lose me now?
What! has He carried me in His hand, as His precious jewel, and will He now let me slip from between His fingers? Did he choose me before the mountains were brought forth, or the channels of the deep were digged, and will He reject me now? Impossible! I am sure He would not have loved me so long if He had not been a changeless Lover. If He could grow weary of me, He would have been tired of me long before now. If He had not loved me with a love as deep as hell, and as strong as death, He would have turned from me long ago. Oh, joy above all joys, to know that I am His everlasting and inalienable inheritance, given to Him by His Father or ever the earth was! Everlasting love shall be the pillow for my head this night.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Representative Goings Forth of Jesus
- A. Before the throne of God
- B. As the Surety of His people
- C. From everlasting
- II. The Covenant of Jesus
- A. Signed with His Father
- B. To pay for His people's sins
- C. From everlasting
- III. The Sufferings of Jesus
- A. From the crown of His head to the sole of His foot
- B. To sweat great drops of blood
- C. To suffer for His people's sins
- IV. The Love of Jesus
- A. From everlasting to everlasting
- B. For His people
- C. Unchanging and unwavering
Key Quotes
“That from the crown of His head to the sole of His foot He might sweat great drops of blood, that He might be spit upon, pierced, mocked, rent asunder, and crushed beneath the pains of death.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Oh, joy above all joys, to know that I am His everlasting and inalienable inheritance, given to Him by His Father or ever the earth was!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Everlasting love shall be the pillow for my head this night.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- You can trust in Jesus' love for you because it is eternal and unchanging.
- Jesus' sufferings demonstrate His love for you and His desire to redeem you.
- You are forever and completely Jesus' property, and He will never let you go.