Encompassing Command to Honor All Men

In this part of the sermon: Martin addresses the first crucial question: the connection of verse 17 to the preceding paragraph. He uses an extended train analogy to emphasize the importance of understanding…

A wealthy man gives a train with a specific arrangement of cars (engine, cargo, passenger, dining, sleeping, caboose). This illustrates that God's Word is not just a collection of 'cars' (truths) but has a divinely inspired 'arrangement' (connections and structure) that must be respected to understand its wisdom.

I mean, this guy is filthy rich. He's got big...

19:08 - 19:11 Read in full sermon

Driving home: We're to honor all men because all men have created dignity. Man is not cosmic junk.

The ruins of the Colosseum or Greek temples, though broken, still remind us of their past glory. This illustrates that even though man's image of God is marred by sin, the 'ruins' still point to the original glory and dignity of man as God's image-bearer.

But you've seen pictures, haven't you? Perhaps some of you have been there and seen the ruins of ancient Rome. The massive remains of the once glorious impressive Colosseum. You've seen pictures of the remains of the massive impressive temples in Greece.

42:57 - 43:14 Read in full sermon

Driving home: all of that does not have one ten thousands of the world is image of God. He alone is endowed with rationality and with a capacity to know his God and to commune with him. He alone is image of God.

A comparison between a degraded, homeless man and primped show dogs, horses, or beautiful floral arrangements. This illustrates that even the most degraded human being possesses infinitely more dignity and value as an image-bearer of God than the most impressive animals or plants.

Suppose we were all to get into some buses and make our way into the city and find one of those areas where the homeless still gather. And we were to find some poor, pathetic creature curled up over a subway heating vent to try to keep warm. And as we drew closer to him, we see that his face is all pockmarked and covered with lesions. He has the look of a man who may be dying of AIDS.

44:09 - 44:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But there is no human being who breathes concerning whom I cannot say. He, see, by the grace and power of God, could become a restored image-bearer. There is redemptive capacity or potentiality.

The conversions of Manasseh (most wicked king) and Saul of Tarsus (persecutor of the church) are given as examples of God's grace coming to the most unlikely, illustrating the 'redemptive capacity' of all human beings.

who breathes concerning whom I cannot say. He, see, by the grace and power of God, could become a restored image-bearer. There is redemptive capacity or potentiality. The Bible records that God's grace comes to the most unlikely. Read the story of Manasseh, the most wicked king that Israel ever had, and God transforms him. Saul of Tarsus, breathing out threatenings and slaughters. Take a poll. I'm sick of this government by poll. I don't believe them

50:20 - 51:11 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But there is no human being who breathes concerning whom I cannot say. He, see, by the grace and power of God, could become a restored image-bearer. There is redemptive capacity or potentiality.

A young man, though destitute and in rags, is still a prince and could eventually rule as a king. This illustrates that every human being, despite their fallen state, is a 'disinherited son' with the potential to be transformed by God's grace and become a co-heir with Christ.

And yet God transformed him. And God can transform a Timothy who has the benefit and the impact of godly nurture for two generations. We need not look upon any man, woman, boy or girl in any other light. And that is a fallen image-bearer. That is a potential recipient of the grace of God. One author whom I consulted beautifully illustrated it this way. He said, suppose there was a young man, a prince. My dad said, I'm saved by death and my grandfather's eye now. He was practically a high-ocrist in reply to my childhood questions. I'd like to hear you write about your thoughts about that. I'm S...

51:51 - 52:55 Read in full sermon

Driving home: ...grotesquely absurd in a human being regarding with contempt any other.

A quote from John Brown describing regarding another human being with contempt as 'revoltingly unnatural, inconceivably mean and base, grotesquely absurd.' This reinforces the gravity of the command to honor all men and the sinfulness of contempt.

As he's shown it to my hell-deserving heart, you'll be one of us. And glad you are. Because of their creative dignity, because of their redemptive capacity or potentiality, listen to what John Brown wrote so perceptive. There is indeed something revoltingly unnatural, something inconceivably mean and base, something grotesquely...

54:12 - 54:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Rationally and biblically expose lies in appropriate settings, but always in the context of internally honoring the person.

Martin recounts an experience at a cancer center where he tried to show love and openness to a man battling cancer, despite the man's resentment. This illustrates the practical application of honoring all men through looks and attitude, even in difficult circumstances, and praying for an opportunity to share Christ.

The way we look at people. I had an exercise in this just Friday when my wife was at the Hilton Hospital Cancer Center for her most recent infusion of the chemotherapy. And she normally goes on Thursdays, but Thursday got scuttled because of the weather. So we went.

60:11 - 60:30 Read in full sermon