Three Doctrines, Genuine Chr. Experience

In this part of the sermon: Martin identifies the first category of gleanings as the affirmation of basic doctrines, starting with special revelation. He uses the analogy of 'mountain-like deposits' and…

Martin uses the analogy of 'mountains' of revelation (like John 1:1-3 for Christ's deity) and 'stalactites and stalagmites' (drip, drip, drip revelations) to explain how God reveals basic doctrines throughout Scripture, building up massive truths over time.

As God reveals to us in the Scriptures those truths that are essential to Christianity itself, to the Christian faith, they constitute the faith of Christ. There are certain places in Scripture where God plunks down a mountain of revelation of that particular truth. For example, the truth that Jesus Christ is God. We have a mountain.

10:33 - 11:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Be filled with a sense of gratitude for the Bible as God's special revelation.

He uses the phrase 'opiate universe' to describe the pagan American mindset that denies God's ability to break into and speak to His creation, contrasting it with the biblical truth of a speaking God.

things that are a stumbling block to many in our day they were no stumbling block to Peter he weaves them into the texture of this eulogy that is magnifying God's great salvation and in so doing he affirms in unmistakable terms the doctrine of special revelation Peter had no problem with the truth articulated in Hebrews 1 1 God who at time was a man of God and he was a man of God and he was a man of God and he was a man of God he was a man who was a man of God. all but to me equal and and equal all but to me equal Jesus and Paul Jesus and God parcel of your emerging consciousness of the world ...

17:58 - 19:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of the devil's whisper that questions the validity of God's special revelation.

Martin recounts the devil's first words to Eve, 'Hath God said?', as an illustration of Satan's primary tactic: questioning the validity of God's special revelation to man, thereby wrenching humanity from God.

You'll never know where you're going for certain. And we ought to be filled with gratitude that in picking up a pastoral letter written to suffering saints in the first century, the stuff of the Christian faith is so unashamedly affirmed by Peter in these verses, the doctrine of special revelation. And not only ought we to be filled with gratitude, but always beware of the doctrine of special revelation. And not only ought we to be filled with gratitude, but also shall we be filled with capital chauffeur. I letters to Matthew chapter 3, chapter 1 of the Galatians, let us quickly bring into acc...

22:30 - 23:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider the problems you would have if you got rid of your Bible.

He uses the common human experience of thinking two realities are irreconcilable until a few facts bring them into beautiful synthesis, to illustrate how believers should approach perceived 'problems' in the Bible.

And if you can knock your head and confess things in heaven, you'd say, Lord, forgive me for being so stupid. That's so obvious. Haven't you had that happen in your human experience? You thought here were two sets of irreconcilable realities.

25:43 - 25:57 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If Jesus Christ is not God, he is not good. And furthermore, all who preached him and wrote of him are not good either, because they have perpetuated a wretched idolatry...

He references the '400 silent years' between Malachi and Christ's birth to highlight the mystery of the Spirit of Christ being in prophets centuries before the Incarnation, thereby affirming Christ's pre-existence.

These prophets who are prophesying and the substance of their prophecy that is highlighted by Peter is that which focused upon the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow them. Now, when did the last prophet prophesy before the coming of Christ? Well, you've heard of the 400 silent years. After Malachi prophesied, and his prophecy was written, 400 years before the angel visits this young virgin in Palestine named Mary, and tells her that she's going to conceive in her womb, though she's never had sexual relations with a man.

28:24 - 29:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Set your hope perfectly on the grace to be brought at Christ's revelation, keeping the coming glory in your eyeballs to bear present suffering.

He compares understanding the theme of suffering and glory in 1 Peter to mastering a musical composition, where knowing the fundamental theme from the outset (like an overture) enriches the appreciation of the whole work.

We ask the question again, why underscore the fact of the introduction of this basic theme? Well, first of all, responsible exposition demands it. If you are to master a given musical composition that has a fundamental musical theme, you need to be aware of it at the outset, sometimes in the very overture of an opera. You'll pick up on a certain theme, and if someone who knows the score well points it out to you, it enriches your ability to appreciate that entire musical production.

57:45 - 58:18 Read in full sermon

The point: Joyfully embrace the reality that sharing in Christ's sufferings leads to sharing in His glories, rather than having an aversion to the cross.

Martin contrasts his own lack of physical suffering for the gospel with the severe persecution of men thrown into prison, starved, beaten, and crawling with vermin for preaching Scripture, to highlight his own 'aversion to the cross' and the ease of American Christian life.

I sat in my study preparing the message and thought of what I know some are undergoing right now. Men who because they sought to preach and expound the scriptures have been thrown into prison shut off from wife and family nearly starved to death and beaten and crawling with vermin. And I say Lord I don't have one mark in my body born for the sake of God. I don't have one stitch in my face placed there because someone threw stones or rocks.

63:51 - 64:25 Read in full sermon