Application of Christ's Activity

Driving home: All that transpires in the life history of our Lord Jesus Christ, or all that transpired, past tense, bore the distinct nature of representative, substitutionary, soteric activity.

The axioms are compared to the hidden, bottom part of an iceberg, while phrases like 'quickened with Christ' are the visible tip, illustrating that deep principles underpin the Apostle's concise statements.

Several axioms, principles, postulates. Several statements that bring together the Apostle's thought in these verses, these things that are like the bottom part of the iceberg, that are out of sight when we simply look at the tip of the iceberg, the phrase quickened with Christ, seated with Christ, raised with Christ, etc. Behind those concepts are these solid principles of God's dealings with his people. We've only considered one postulate.

11:23 - 11:54 Read in full sermon

Driving home: All that transpires in the realized salvation of a sinner. Bears the distinct nature of an application of some specific aspect of Christ's saving activity.

The axiom's irreducible length is compared to a fraction like 'five thirteenths' that cannot be reduced further, emphasizing that every word is essential and cannot be removed without losing meaning.

We've moved from Christ now to the sinner. All that transpires in the realized salvation of a sinner bears the distinct nature of an application of some specific aspect of Christ's saving work. Now let me explain what I mean by the axiom. It's like the number, kids, five thirteenths.

14:28 - 14:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He provides scriptural evidence for the second axiom by exploring how believers are released from the law's condemnation because they 'died to the law' and were 'crucified with…

God's law is personified as 'Mr. Law' with a frown and instruments of execution, to vividly portray its unyielding demands and condemning power against sinners.

Have you ever taken seriously what God's law is? If I may personify God's law into a person, that law comes to you and says, have you violated my just and holy demands? What would you answer to the law if he asked you that question? Would you dare say, oh, no, no, I've perfectly kept all of your demands.

27:45 - 28:05 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He provides scriptural evidence for the second axiom by exploring how believers are released from the law's condemnation because they 'died to the law' and were 'crucified with…

The law is depicted as tracking down the sinner 'to death' with 'holy vengeance,' emphasizing its relentless pursuit of justice and the inevitability of its condemnation.

When the law stands before me and all the frightening terror of its holy visage and its hands or his hands are loaded with the instruments of divine execution and the law stands before me and the law stands before me and the law stands before me and the law stands before me and the law says I must track you down to death. I cannot leave your trail. I cannot abandon the purpose and mandate of the Father. I must track you down and track you down until I sling you.

32:36 - 33:02 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that God can 'shrink time,' making past events like Christ's crucifixion and future events like glorification already true for believers due to their union with…

God's ability to apply Christ's past work and guarantee future glorification is described as 'shrinking time,' making events across history simultaneously true for the believer in union with Christ.

he's gone back. And we've gone there too. And it's only a little matter of time. You see, God can shrink the time from both ends.

37:32 - 37:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Have a baptism of holy intolerance against smooth-talking theologians who would tell us the issue is not history, it's the story, or the Jesus idea.

The law is again personified as 'Mr. Lawman' with his hand on the 'scruff of my neck,' demanding death, to illustrate the terrifying reality of legal condemnation and the need for a concrete, historical defense.

It's the Jesus idea. Away with the Jesus idea. When I see Mr. Lawman at my back and he's got his hand on the scruff of my neck and says, I've got you, sinner, and my mandate from God is to kill you, I want something more than a Jesus idea to hold up in his face.

41:54 - 42:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Have a baptism of holy intolerance against smooth-talking theologians who would tell us the issue is not history, it's the story, or the Jesus idea.

The 'wispy notions' of Easter as merely the 'spirit of the blooming spring' are contrasted with the grim reality of physical death and decay, highlighting the need for a historical, bodily resurrection for true hope.

How do I know my body's ever going to come out of the grave? Is it because I have some wonderful, wispy notions that the spirit of Easter is the spirit of the blooming spring when the death of winter gives way to the inevitable forces of the life of the new year? Hogwash.

42:36 - 42:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The first implication is the absolute necessity of maintaining the factual, historical reality of Christ's life, death, and resurrection, as these historical events are the basis…

The natural signs of aging like 'gray hairs and creaky bones' are used to illustrate the inevitability of death and the futility of trying to hide its effects, underscoring the Christian's need for a solid hope beyond this life.

Child of God, with the coming of gray hairs and creaky bones and all the other elements of the body, all the other evidences that the years are taking their toll. The attitude of the Christian is not to ignore death, not to try to cover up its signs. Oh, there's nothing wrong, I guess. A little paint and a little Clairol and a little other things.

43:59 - 44:20 Read in full sermon