New Birth, New Creation and New Life

In this part of the sermon: Bringing together all three analogies (birth, creation, resurrection), Martin identifies the first common denominator: the exclusiveness of divine agency. He uses illustrations of…

Martin asks children if they had anything to do with their own birth, illustrating that birth is an act performed by another, not by the one being born, to emphasize the exclusiveness of divine agency in regeneration.

Now, you kids, much of this has gone clear over your heads, and I'm sorry for that, but I knew no other way to deal with the basic biblical materials. Now, you hang in there and listen to Pastor for a minute, will you? How many of you children had anything to do with your birth? Will you tell me?

30:37 - 30:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Bringing together all three analogies (birth, creation, resurrection), Martin identifies the first common denominator: the exclusiveness of divine agency. He uses illustrations of…

Martin asks how much Adam cooperated in his creation, highlighting that creation is an act of God out of nothing, without the cooperation of the created, to underscore God's exclusive agency.

Now, the same way with creation. How much did Adam cooperate in his creation?

31:36 - 31:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Bringing together all three analogies (birth, creation, resurrection), Martin identifies the first common denominator: the exclusiveness of divine agency. He uses illustrations of…

Martin recounts Lazarus's resurrection, emphasizing that Lazarus was dead and could not cooperate with Jesus' command to 'come forth,' illustrating that resurrection is a monergistic act of life-impartation, not a cooperative effort.

Well, what about resurrection? This ought to be fresh in your mind. We've just read about Lazarus. When the Lord said, Lazarus, come forth, did Lazarus sit there picking a daisy, saying, shall I or shall I not?

32:06 - 32:20 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Here then in the language of systematic theology is the strictest monergism as opposed to any form of synergism. God working, God alone at work as opposed to God plus the creature.

Martin uses the vivid image of the stench of bodies at Jonestown to emphasize the reality of Lazarus's decay, making the point that he was truly dead and incapable of self-resurrection.

Behold, by now he decayeth. The old authorized is much better. Behold, by now he stinketh.

32:31 - 32:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second common denominator is the efficacy of divine power. Martin argues that God's activity in regeneration always produces real and discernible results, never stillborn…

Martin uses the metaphor that 'God has no stillborn children' to convey the efficacy of divine power in regeneration, meaning that when God begets, real spiritual life and transformation always follow.

God has no stillborn children.

37:58 - 38:01 Read in full sermon