Christian Liberty #13

Driving home: It is a liberty which in its consequences goes far beyond the political liberty of any nation in any period of human history, even the liberty procured for bound sinners by Jesus Christ.

Martin references the recent national focus on Ronald Reagan's funeral, using the dignity and decorum as a refreshing contrast to society, but primarily to distinguish political liberty from the far greater spiritual liberty in Christ.

Amen. The eyes and the ears of our nation have been focused upon the final respects given to a noble champion of political freedom and liberty. Many of the elements of the various proceedings exhibited a refreshing display of dignity and decorum, commodities tragically absent in our otherwise coarse and crude society. I hope you were refreshed just by the noble decorum and dignity.

6:28 - 7:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Constantly keep before us the principle of abhorring evil and cleaving to good, and making no provision for the flesh, especially under the guise of Christian liberty.

Paul's letter to the Romans is likened to a 16-page letter, emphasizing that later chapters (14-15) must be understood in light of the preceding ones (1-13), not in isolation.

seeking to lead us into a study of the major principles of Romans chapter 14, I sought to highlight several crucial issues, matters that are essential to a right understanding and a right application of this passage to our own lives. Number one, we must remember the previous teaching in Romans with respect to the Christian life. If we liken the book of Romans to a letter from Paul to the Roman church of 16 pages, Paul does not forget on page 14 what he has written in pages 1 to 13. And any understanding and application of Romans 14 through 15, 7 that acts as though the first 13 chapters don't ...

9:29 - 10:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not stop exercising liberty because someone dislikes it or judges you, especially if they are Pharisees who want the world to do what they do.

Martin reflects on Paul's statement 'I will eat no flesh forevermore' if it causes a brother to stumble, admitting his own lack of such sacrificial love and challenging listeners to consider their willingness to restrict liberty.

You sin against Christ. you mean when you go to eat what you know is nothing but a piece of meat and you can eat it and give thanks to God for it but you know there's someone in whose conscience eating that meat is engaging in idol worship and you carelessly go ahead anyway and eat your meat he says you sin not only against that brother but against Christ himself now look at what Paul says this is what blows my mind You talk about love. Wherefore, if meat causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh forevermore. Paul says, if it were necessary for me to restrict my liberty to the point wh...

47:20 - 48:15 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not feel that the only way to prove belief in Christian liberty is to parade its extent indiscriminately.

Martin recounts his experience as a former fundamentalist encountering Reformed seminary students who, knowing his background, drank beer and smoked pipes while discussing theology, which he labels 'carnal nonsense' for its insensitivity and poor application of Christian liberty.

Coming out of my fundamentalist Salvation Army background, I mean a list of no-nos that are never mentioned in the Bible. That was my background. When I began to understand what's called the Reformed faith and with it the historic, classic, biblical doctrine of Christian liberty, God had a lot of work to do with me. A lot of work to do with me in a lot of areas.

53:17 - 53:42 Read in full sermon