The Sovereignty of Grace

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin introduces Jacob as a pattern of salvation by grace, acknowledging Jacob's roguish character. He provides three reasons for this focus: God identifies Himself as the…

Martin uses the common perception of Jacob as 'the heel snatcher' or 'supplanter' to highlight his roguish character, setting up the contrast with God's grace in choosing him.

This message was delivered at the 1991 Northeastern Reformed Baptist Family Conference. Now, I'm reasonably sure that all of you who have come to the conference have consulted the schedule of the various sessions when we will gather for the ministry of the word. And if so, then you know that this week in the evening sessions we will be focusing our attention upon an Old Testament character called Jacob who later on in his life was given another name by God, the name Israel, Prince with God. And for those of you who know something about Jacob, and most of you kids do, for you've at least heard ...

0:02 - 1:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Learn that no matter how sure God's covenant promises are, they await fervent prevailing prayer to be fulfilled.

The 20 years of Rebekah's barrenness is used as an example of patriarchs learning that covenant promises await fervent prayer for fulfillment, emphasizing dependence on God.

And those of you that lack the ability to have holy sentimental feelings about pure marital love, you need to read that chapter until it does something to your unfeeling heart. Because even a dour New Englander ought to be moved with some feelings of romance when reading that love story of how God brought into Isaac's life his dear Rebekah. But no sooner are they brought together into marriage than they begin to face the burden of childlessness. And according to our passage, for twenty years, Rebekah was a barren woman.

18:08 - 18:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Learn that no matter how sure God's covenant promises are, they await fervent prevailing prayer to be fulfilled.

Martin vividly describes Rebekah's experience of pregnancy, from early signs to the intense struggle in her womb, to make the historical narrative more relatable and emphasize the unusual nature of the twins' conflict.

And then maybe she had to go out behind the tent once a day when she had morning sickness and have her whoopsies. The people were no different. Read between the lines when you read the Scriptures. And then the excitement that day when she first felt that flutter of life in her womb and she runs in.

20:37 - 20:57 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details the historical account from Genesis 25:19-26, focusing on Isaac and Rebekah's barrenness, Isaac's prayer, Rebekah's difficult pregnancy, and God's prophecy that…

Jacob's birth, clutching Esau's heel, is likened to a 'takedown artist' in wrestling, illustrating his character as a 'supplanter' and foreshadowing the future relationship between the brothers.

And in this case it's not going to be the younger serving the older but there will be a complete reversal. Now these words find a strange validation in the actual birth account in verses 24 to 26. When her days to be delivered were fulfilled behold there were twins in her womb and the first came forth red all over like a hairy garment and they called his name Esau. His very appearance at his birth was one in which he appeared distinctly in what we would say if ever a newborn could be looked upon as having the marks of being a macho man it was Esau. Born ruddy and hairy but Jacob comes out clut...

23:45 - 25:14 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And one of the great truths that came out of the Reformation, which you children and young people as well as you adults must cling to and be willing to spill your blood for it, is that the Bible is its own infallible int…

Martin quotes a Reformation truth that 'the Bible is its own infallible interpreter' to justify using Malachi and Romans to understand the significance of the Genesis narrative.

is born first but Jacob is found born clutching to the red heel of his hairy brother and in that very incident we see as it were a preview of what is going to come to pass in the lives of these two men now these are the bare facts of the historical accounts as they are given to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through Moses and you say oh that's all interesting I see it's there but what does that have to do with Jacob seeing a pattern of salvation by grace especially the sovereignty of God's grace in the objects of its salvation well consider with me in the second place having looked a...

25:14 - 26:39 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds Romans 9, where Paul uses Jacob and Esau to demonstrate that God's promises to Israel have not failed, but are fulfilled in an 'Israel within Israel' chosen by…

The story of Abraham and Sarah's impatience leading to Ishmael's birth is used to illustrate that God's promise is not based on human effort or flesh, but on divine promise and will.

You remember what happened? There was a promise that Abraham would have a seed that would become as numerous as the stars of the heaven and the sand upon the seashore. And Abraham got impatient to have that promise fulfilled, and so did Sarah. So, they worked out a scheme.

36:46 - 37:01 Read in full sermon

Driving home: What amazes and astounds and battles my mind and my spirit is not that God hated Esau, but that he loved Jacob.

Martin recounts Spurgeon's classic response to someone troubled by 'Esau have I hated,' emphasizing that the wonder is God's love for Jacob, not His righteous hatred for Esau, to highlight the depth of God's grace.

And he answers it in a similar way, culminating in that statement, Nay, O man, who are you to teach God right and wrong? You are but a creature of the dust, and you are a fallen creature at that, who was conceived in sin, whose spiritual senses are twisted and marred and perverted by sin. Who are you, little man, to be telling a holy God how to do his business? Put your hand upon your mouth.

42:32 - 43:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't ever make the doctrine of election a hiding place from having dealings with God.

Martin shares his observation that young people raised with the doctrine of election are not troubled by it, but by their sin, illustrating that election does not hinder repentance but rather humbles the converted heart.

That the relationship between election and man's responsibility for his sin is one in which man's salvation is wholly due to the grace of God and man's damnation is wholly due to his own sin and his own guilt. Don't ever make the doctrine of election a hiding place from having dealings with God, young people. And that's one of the things that amazes me as I've been in one place long enough now for almost thirty years to see a whole generation come up not only under biblical preaching but unashamed preaching of the doctrine of election. I've yet to meet the young man or woman who is now an open...

52:45 - 53:40 Read in full sermon