“Seven Broad Biblical Principles” (nos. 1-4)

Driving home: But it is that person whose delight is in the law of Jehovah itself. Primarily and fundamentally his mind and spirit are in direct contact. With the word of God itself.

The blessed man is likened to a tree planted by streams of water, bringing forth fruit and not withering, illustrating the vigor and fruitfulness that comes from direct contact with God's Word.

And then such a healthy Christian is described under the figure of a well-watered and fruitful tree. He shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also doth not wither. And whatsoever he doeth shall. Because the root system of his inner life is in direct contact with the only pure stream of truth, the word, the law of Jehovah, the blessed man is both fruitful and always manifests the vigor of his spiritual life. And notice he is not described as the one who meditates daily.

7:11 - 8:03 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is amazing how many people think if someone's thoughts or opinions are embalmed in printer's ink, that makes them as true as God Himself.

Martin notes that many people naively assume that if thoughts are 'embalmed in printer's ink,' they are as true as God Himself, highlighting the need for discernment.

that my mind and heart are coming in direct contact with that tried, pure, infallible, spirit-inspired word of the living God. However, the moment I pick up any other reading matter, whether it is Discussions, Evangelical and Theological, Volume 2 by Robert L. Dabney, which has an article to which I will refer later, whether it is my hymn book to read through the hymns of uninspired authors of the hymns, whether it is Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, whether it is the Star Ledger, the New York Times, whether it is religious or secular literature, the healthy Christian will exercise discernment ...

16:29 - 17:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is amazing how many people think if someone's thoughts or opinions are embalmed in printer's ink, that makes them as true as God Himself.

The analogy of a 'smokeless world' with no fire is used to explain that sin is not just an act but an environment, emphasizing the pervasive nature of evil that discernment must address.

Where the blessing comes, it bringsılı Его wigiti . Seleção o offering pedestrians. Because it's not just a person that so also, as a matter of fact, is the Acts of the smokestown. A person can't see themselves in the smokeless world — there will be no fire in their. Instead it does. It is therefore, it is what we callмент & haunting error and unpacking their sins. It's not a surface. It is the sin environment, and that's where these sheep unseen God, the such as Titus chapter 1.

19:46 - 19:53 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is amazing how many people think if someone's thoughts or opinions are embalmed in printer's ink, that makes them as true as God Himself.

Extending the idea of 'stopping mouths' of false teachers, Martin applies it to the modern age, suggesting their 'pens must be stopped, whose word processors must be stopped,' to prevent their impinging upon God's people.

that he may be able both to exhort in the sound or healthy teaching and convict the gainsayers. Now, why must he have an ability to bring those things, who speak against the truth, into the open and by means of well-structured, sound biblical arguments, expose them until they stand, hopefully self-condemned in their own consciences, but surely condemned in the consciences of the people of God. Verse 10, for, for, here's the connective. This must be the ability of a public teacher for there are many unruly, unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouth...

20:37 - 21:51 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second principle states that healthy Christians must exercise discernment regarding all reading matter beyond the Bible. Martin argues that unlike Scripture, all other…

Evil is described as an 'infectious and powerful thing' when propagated through the words of those who teach error, underscoring the danger of undiscerning reading.

they're impinging upon the people of God. Why? Because by the things that they propagate, they are men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not. And here you see that evil is an infectious and powerful thing when it comes floating in the words of those who teach error.

21:51 - 22:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise discernment with respect to all reading matter beyond the Bible, recognizing that 'you will be spiritually what you read.'

Martin uses the imagery of 'poisonous gases of error' and 'rancid food of error' to describe how innocent people can be beguiled by false teaching, emphasizing the destructive nature of undiscerning contact with error.

And now they're looking for some teaching, that will take some of the barbs out of their conscience. But in this case, it says these are innocent people. They have no known moral controversy with God. They have up till now been healthy Christians, but they unwisely put themselves in proximity to the poisonous gases of error.

25:55 - 26:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise discernment with respect to all reading matter beyond the Bible, recognizing that 'you will be spiritually what you read.'

Martin highly recommends Robert L. Dabney's article 'On Dangerous Reading' from 'Discussions, Evangelical and Theological, Volume 2,' as the finest topical treatment of discernment in reading, particularly concerning secular novels and its application to television.

And I personally hope we can print this in at least an in-house printing job and distribute it among you, the Lord's people. Volume 2, there is an article beginning on page 158 to 169. It's just 11, 12 pages, called On Dangerous Reading. And Dabney was disturbed with what he saw happening in his day, primarily when Christians were reading secular novels.

26:48 - 27:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise discernment with respect to all reading matter beyond the Bible, recognizing that 'you will be spiritually what you read.'

The common saying 'You are what you eat' is applied spiritually: 'you will be spiritually what you read,' highlighting the profound impact of reading on one's spiritual health.

But almost everything he says with tremendous incisiveness concerning the bane, the sinful effects of the reading, the indiscriminate reading of cheap novels, can be applied one to one to the majority of television watching that is not directly a nature film or something historical, et cetera. Anything that is a so-called innocent diversionary sitcom, family programs, et cetera. I urge you to read Dabney's article, and you will see there is no such thing as an innocent half an hour spent before those things that reflect the evil perspectives of men who have rinsed themselves loose from the tru...

27:23 - 28:46 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third principle emphasizes that healthy Christians must judge all human authors by the infallible Word of God. Martin expounds Isaiah 8:20, 'To the law and to the testimony,'…

The existence of fake prophets in the Old Testament who mimicked true prophets is used to illustrate the historical need for discernment regarding those claiming to speak for God.

And just as in the old testament. There were fake prophets. Who came with mantle. And who came with all the semblance and language.

31:16 - 31:23 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But though teachable they were not naively gullible. Examining the scriptures daily. Whether these things were so.

Martin humorously contrasts love abounding 'like Sherwin Williams paint and drip all over the earth' with love abounding 'within these channels of what? Knowledge and discernment,' emphasizing that love must be guided by truth.

How? Go out like Sherwin Williams paint and drip all over the earth. Wherever gravity pulls it. No.

34:55 - 35:03 Read in full sermon

The point: If you providentially have access to Christ's gifts embodied in the printed page and do not use them, you are guilty of arrogant, prideful presumption.

The hypothetical case of a man in prison without access to his Bible is used to acknowledge God's ability to sustain faith even in extreme circumstances, while still emphasizing the responsibility to use available means of grace.

Now you'll notice. That I use the terms. When providentially. If a man is shut up.

44:48 - 44:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Make it a matter of conscience to use Christ's gifts contained in the printed page when they are providentially available.

Martin critiques modern pseudo-prophets in the charismatic movement who use 'poor butchered Elizabethan English' to deliver vague pronouncements, contrasting them with true New Testament prophets like Agabus, to highlight the need for discernment.

Now that sounds impossible to us. Especially in a day. When all these pseudo prophets. In the charismatic movement.

46:37 - 46:45 Read in full sermon