Dependence on The Holy Spirit

The point: Beware of building the doctrine of the Christian life on any single analogy of what the Christian is, as this can lead to great heresies.

Martin warns against building an entire doctrine of the Christian life on a single analogy, specifically the vine and branches from John 15. He explains that this analogy, while beautiful, can lead to heresy if it's the sole basis, as it might imply passivity ('the branch on the vine is always passing') rather than active struggle.

And let me pause to say beware of anyone who builds the doctrine of the Christian life on any single analogy of what the Christian is.

21:20 - 21:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of building the doctrine of the Christian life on any single analogy of what the Christian is, as this can lead to great heresies.

Expanding on the vine and branches analogy, Martin uses the image of an apple tree not 'grunting and sweating' to produce apples, to illustrate the false teaching that abiding in Christ means no struggle or conflict, just passive fruit production. This highlights the danger of misinterpreting biblical analogies.

The branch on the vine is always passing. That's it. Our apple tree. You get tired of me talking about my apple tree in my garden, but that's all right because we're enjoying the apples.

22:23 - 22:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of cold rationalism that approaches Scripture without dependence on the Spirit, and beware of elated mysticism that approaches the Word with no active mental endeavor.

Martin describes 'elated mysticism' as a passive approach to Scripture where one 'shifts into neutral' and waits for something to 'leap out and zap' them, which he sarcastically calls 'holy zapping.' This illustrates the danger of a subjective, non-rational approach to the Word.

That's the spirit of cold rationalism that approaches the Scripture with the Spirit, though it would never be articulated in so many words with the Spirit, I am competent to understand what God has said. On the other hand, you have the spirit of what I would call elated mysticism that approaches the Word with no active mental endeavor. You just sort of shift yourself in the neutral and you're threading the words of the Bible through your eyes until something leaps out and gaps you.

30:12 - 30:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not seek shortcuts or 'zappings' from obtuse phrases in Scripture for specific life decisions; this is sheer fanaticism.

He gives an example of someone earnestly seeking God's will for missionary service, who, being agitated, takes an obtuse phrase from Jeremiah ('go thou to the such') as a direct call to a specific field. This illustrates the danger of 'shortcuts' and 'sheer fanaticism' when seeking guidance from Scripture out of context.

Yes, well that's the very thing we're talking about, Ralph, but that's really looking for a shortcut. For instance, and I know this is not your problem, but I'll use this as a far-out illustration, all right? The person that's much in earnest, much in prayer and deeply concerned about knowing God's precise place for him and his plan of getting the gospel to the ends of the earth and he's deeply exercised. Shall I commit myself for missionary service, etc.?

32:57 - 33:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not seek shortcuts or 'zappings' from obtuse phrases in Scripture for specific life decisions; this is sheer fanaticism.

Martin illustrates how someone agitated about a job decision (leaving a job, dismissing a worker) might seek an 'easy way out' by finding a phrase in the prophets that seems to hint at a solution, rather than wrestling with relevant biblical principles. This highlights the temptation to use Scripture for confirmation bias or laziness.

Right, instead of backing off and saying, all right, now my question is, how shall I relate to this employer, or this employee, all right? Shall I leave this job, shall I dismiss this worker? And I'm deeply agitated about the question, what is my Christian responsibility? Well, you know, the easy thing to do is to find some phrase in the prophets where you could get the hint.

34:14 - 34:38 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Using Colossians 2:21 ('handle not, nor taste, nor touch') as an example, he demonstrates how taking a verse out of its paragraph context (which addresses legalistic regulations)…

He uses the example of someone praying about getting a television set, who then reads Colossians 2:21 ('handle not, nor taste, nor touch') and concludes it's an answer from God that televisions are intrinsically evil. This vividly illustrates the danger of taking verses out of their contextual 'flow of thought' and misapplying them.

And you read, hand or not, more faith, more touch. Now, suppose as a Christian you've been praying about whether or not you ought to get a television set. All right? Let's take that.

45:50 - 46:03 Read in full sermon