Brother for Whom Christ Died – (not the same as above)

The point: Do not knowingly be the occasion of leading brethren to sin by a careless, selfish indulgence of your own Christian liberty.

Martin uses the example of meat sacrificed to idols and then sold in a bargain meat shop to explain the context of Christian liberty in 1 Corinthians 8, highlighting the differing perspectives of strong and weak consciences.

And Paul asserts that every believer has a blood-bought liberty in Jesus Christ. All things are His in Christ, and if they are not forbidden by the law of God, I am permitted to indulge in them. He says that the piece of meat that has been offered to an idol in an idol temple and then is subsequently sold is a piece of meat before it was offered to the idol, and since the idol is nothing, it is a piece of meat still, and therefore if I see it in its stark reality, I can eat it with a good conscience giving thanks unto God for His good gifts of this bargain meat. However, Paul says, that knowle...

14:13 - 15:41 Read in full sermon

Driving home: When dear people we consciously regard one another as those for whom Christ died we will not knowingly be the occasion of leading our brethren to sin by the careless use or indulgence of our Christian liberty.

Martin draws an analogy from 1 Corinthians 6, where Paul argues against fornication by reminding believers their bodies are 'bought with a price.' He applies this to self-regard, then extends it to how believers should view others.

He gives as his crowning incentive what know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which you have of God and you are not your own. You were bought with a price. You see, he there in that context says I must look myself in the mirror and say Albert and Martin you are purchased property from the top of your head to the sole of your foot and every man member of your body in between. You have no liberty to use those members as you choose.

20:12 - 20:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Elders must take heed to the flock of God which He purchased with His own blood, watching over them and seeking to take them to heaven safely.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about elders' commitment to long-term, chronically sick sheep, explaining that they persevere because these individuals are 'Christ's purchased property,' despite the weariness and disappointment.

To enter in, to deep and complex burdens. You see, some of you, again, wonder at times, why as elders we don't bail out sooner with long-term, chronically sick sheep. I've had people over the years say, why in the world do you put up with that stuff? Well, I'll tell you why. The Bible says to elders, take heed to the flock of God which he purchased with his own blood.

30:24 - 30:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin uses the metaphor of a 'red cross tattooed on the forehead' to vividly illustrate the constant awareness believers should have of each other as Christ's purchased property…

Martin uses the metaphor of a 'red cross tattooed on the forehead' of every Christian to illustrate the constant, visible reminder believers should have that each other is the 'purchased property of the Lord Jesus,' influencing all interactions.

There is a sense in which I wish, when a person became a true Christian, that part of the requirements of admission into the visible church of Christ as part of the community of the purchased people of God would be to have a red cross tattooed on the forehead so that every time we looked at one another, we'd say, he's the purchased property of the Lord Jesus. She's the purchased property of the Lord Jesus. He is the purchased property of the Lord Jesus. How I relate to him reflects on how I regard my Lord.

33:05 - 33:48 Read in full sermon