Obedience to Christ

In this part of the sermon: Martin presents three positive texts: 1 Peter 1:1-2, Hebrews 5:7-9, and John 10:26-29. He argues that these passages unequivocally establish that true believers are characterized…

Martin describes having an 'embarrassment of riches' with biblical texts on obedience, requiring the 'discipline of exclusion' to select only a few, illustrating the overwhelming scriptural support for his point.

desk, I felt an embarrassment of riches. Text upon text upon text came flooding into my mind, and I had to exercise what I used to call in the pastoral theology lectures, the discipline of exclusion. And I want you to consider with me, in a relatively brief fashion, three texts that speak of this issue and establish it unquestionably, unequivocally, authoritatively, that are positive in their statement, and then three texts that are negative in their statement. Where, then, do we see in our Bible, in the Bible, in the Bible, in the Bible, in

13:38 - 14:15 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin presents three positive texts: 1 Peter 1:1-2, Hebrews 5:7-9, and John 10:26-29. He argues that these passages unequivocally establish that true believers are characterized…

Martin uses the metaphor of Christ 'branding' His sheep, not with a physical mark, but with an 'open ear' (hearing His voice) and a 'winged foot' (following Him), to vividly explain the identifying marks of true believers.

And I'm going to give you the infallible evidence that you are my sheep. Now those of you who have ever seen sheep, a flock of sheep, you know you don't brand sheep. You dye them on the back of the neck. But I want you to picture the Lord shaving off all the wool.

27:21 - 27:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin describes the nature of this necessary obedience under four subheadings: it is evangelical (motivated by love, gratitude, and desire to please Christ) and not legal; it is…

Martin shares a personal anecdote about learning to delight in pleasing his wife, Dorothy, even through hard work, to illustrate how love changes drudgery into delight in evangelical obedience.

Jesus could say, I do always the things that please my Father. When you love someone, what a delight it is to please them. Oh, how I've learned that lesson in new ways in recent months. I learned it in a totally different crucible.

46:39 - 46:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin describes the nature of this necessary obedience under four subheadings: it is evangelical (motivated by love, gratitude, and desire to please Christ) and not legal; it is…

Martin uses the metaphor of dancing in heaven, free from the dragging foot of sin, to illustrate the joy and perfect competence of obedience in glorification.

It's going to be wonderful to have. All the renewed dispositions of rendering perfect purposeful obedience with competence. That'll take the most stayed and reserved among you. And I got a sneaking suspicion you'll join me in the dance.

54:19 - 54:42 Read in full sermon