The Salvation of the Earth

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon as the eighth in the 'Here We Stand' series, focusing on the third major category: 'the salvation we receive and proclaim.' He reviews previous topics…

Martin references Luther's famous stand before his accusers to introduce the sermon series title 'Here We Stand,' signifying a confession of congregational belief based on God's Word.

Our study in the Word of God this morning is the eighth in a series entitled, Here We Stand. Taking my clue from that well-known historic incident in which Luther stood before his accusers and pointing to the books he had written which expressed his understanding of the teaching of the Word of God and under pressure to recant said, Here I stand. I can do no other. My conscience is held captive to the Word of God. So help me God. Amen.

0:00 - 0:39 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin demonstrates the principle by examining the earth in its original creation, showing it was perfectly harmonious and suited for man. Adam's labor in dressing and keeping the…

God's preparation of the earth for man is compared to a bridegroom preparing an apartment for his bride, illustrating the earth's perfect suitability for man in creation.

Everything was prepared for man. As the young bridegroom-to-be spends weeks painting the apartment and papering and decorating, everything leading to the day when he can walk over the threshold with his young bride. So God himself, in all of the work of creation, is preparing the earth so that upon it he will put a man perfectly suited to that earth. And what did he put upon it?

12:32 - 13:00 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin demonstrates the principle by examining the earth in its original creation, showing it was perfectly harmonious and suited for man. Adam's labor in dressing and keeping the…

Adam's labor in dressing and keeping the garden is paralleled to God's work in creation, emphasizing that both were delightful expressions of wisdom and power, free from weariness or drudgery.

subduing the earth meant nothing more or less than the delightful discovery of its laws, harnessing them for God's glory and for their good. More especially in chapter 2, the task of Adam was this, verse 15, And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Dressing and keeping for Adam would be parallel to God's work in creation. Did God use his mind in creation?

13:16 - 13:49 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Cursed is the ground for thy sake. The moment the condition of the man changes, the condition of the earth must change as well.

The vivid Hebrew phrase "sweat of thy nostrils" is explained as a metaphor for intense, burdensome toil, illustrating the severity of the curse on labor after the Fall.

So that you may sustain life. And that toil will be in terms of some new elements in the ecology. thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee and thou shalt eat the herb of the field in the sweat of thy face. The Hebrew is very vivid.

18:40 - 18:58 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He then shows how the principle is illustrated in the fall, where God cursed the ground for Adam's sake, resulting in toil, thorns, and thistles. Paul's description of creation…

Paul's description of the earth groaning and travailing is likened to a woman in childbirth, conveying the pain and longing of creation under the curse.

that is, the consummation of redemption among the people of God when they get their glorified bodies. For the creation was subjected to vanity not of its own will. The creation did not disobey God, but by reason of him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself should be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious or into the liberty of the glory of the children of God for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Paul says three things about the earth as a result of fall.

21:01 - 21:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He then shows how the principle is illustrated in the fall, where God cursed the ground for Adam's sake, resulting in toil, thorns, and thistles. Paul's description of creation…

The global flood is used as an example of the earth being cursed for man's sake, illustrating the devastating consequences of human sin on creation.

It's because of man the creature's sin that the death rattle is in the throat of the whole creation at the time of the flood. When everything that had life, that in the ark accepted, is utterly obliterated, every form of life.

23:02 - 23:22 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He then shows how the principle is illustrated in the fall, where God cursed the ground for Adam's sake, resulting in toil, thorns, and thistles. Paul's description of creation…

The destruction of the cities of the plains (Sodom and Gomorrah) by fire and brimstone is cited as another example of the ground being cursed for man's wickedness.

Think of the cities of the plains.

23:42 - 23:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He then shows how the principle is illustrated in the fall, where God cursed the ground for Adam's sake, resulting in toil, thorns, and thistles. Paul's description of creation…

The parched, cracked countryside of Palestine crying for rain is presented as an echo of God's curse on the ground, linking environmental conditions to human disobedience.

Cities that were so attractive because of their verdure and because of their fruitfulness that Lot chooses them. One morning they're nothing but charcoal Fire and brimstone come down from heaven And utterly consume the cities of the plains Cursed is the ground for thy sake Think of the curses of the covenant in Deuteronomy God says if you obey me and follow me There'll be blessing from heaven Blessing in your needing troughs Blessing in your wounds Blessing everywhere But if you disobey me God says I'll shut up the heavens There'll be drought and there'll be famine. Every time Palestine's coun...

23:46 - 24:35 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that in the consummation of redemption, the earth will be delivered from the bondage of corruption and enter the liberty of the glory of the children of God. This…

Martin quotes Lutheran commentator Lensky to address questions about the nature of the purifying fire, emphasizing that God has various types of fire for His purposes and that the specific kind is not for us to question.

Someone says, what kind of fire? I answer in the words of Lensky, the Lutheran commentator, don't ask me what kind. God has a variety of fire to suit his own purposes. He has one to burn wood.

34:34 - 34:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Let this teaching infuse vigorous hope, understanding that Christian hope is confident expectation of promised blessings.

Martin quotes an unnamed author who beautifully describes the earth's groaning as its attempt each spring to give birth to newness of life, only to be disappointed by fall and winter, illustrating the ongoing effect of the curse.

He says the whole creation groans and travails. One author stated it beautifully. He said it seems as though each spring the earth tries to give birth to newness of life only to find itself disappointed in the blasting of fall and the bleakness of winter. Every spring the earth tries to give birth and you see, and we were affected by that.

47:35 - 47:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Respect God's gifts by not littering or willfully abusing creation, recognizing your role as a steward.

The constant struggle with weeds in a garden is personified as the garden clenching its fist, saying, 'I'm going to win,' illustrating the earth's resistance and the toil resulting from the curse.

It's just like that garden clenches its fist at me. It says, I'm going to win. And I have to clench it fast and say, I'm going to win. But every day, you let a day or two go, if you have a garden of any size, and before you know it, it's covered with weeds.

52:20 - 52:33 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Finally, the doctrine engenders worship for Christ, who bore the curse of the law, thereby securing redemption not only for man but also for the earth. Martin connects this to…

Martin references the hymn 'Joy to the World' (verse 3) to show that Christians have long sung about Christ's blessings flowing "far as the curse is found," connecting the hymn to the sermon's theme of the earth's redemption.

You've sung about that for years. Open your hymnals. This is hymn number 149. Oh my.

56:26 - 56:32 Read in full sermon