The Revelation and Transformation of Grace

In this part of the sermon: Martin sets the stage by recalling Jacob's flight from Esau and his journey to Laban, then introduces the theme of Jacob's life as a pattern of God's salvation by grace…

Martin imagines Jacob, now in heaven, writing a hymn about grace, which he then reads. This illustrates the profound impact of God's grace on Jacob's life and sets the theme for the sermon.

And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Jehovah will be my God, then this stone which I have set up for a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee. If the Lord were to send Jacob back from heaven, where he now is and has been for some time, and give to Jacob, Jacob the privilege and the gifts of being a hymn writer,

3:30 - 4:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The first manifestation of grace's transformation in Jacob is his trembling acknowledgment of personal dealings with God at Bethel, contrasting it with his prior indifference to…

Martin quotes Alexander White's commentary on Jacob's experience at Bethel, emphasizing how God's presence, holiness, and grace make the place 'dreadful' to a great sinner, revealing the depth of Jacob's sin.

Has come to me in grace and kindness and mercy and pity and forgiving grace. And therefore before this God. There is a trembling acknowledgement of personal dealings with him. Alexander White.

17:56 - 18:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second manifestation is Jacob's believing embrace of God's covenant promises, responding to God's pledge to be his God and care for him. Martin connects this to the gospel…

Martin uses the devil's lie to Eve in the Garden of Eden as an analogy for how the devil perpetuates the idea that God is tight-fisted and that serving Him is not in one's best interest, contrasting it with God's true nature revealed in the gospel.

The largeness of his heart to sinners and says you have been thinking all together wrongly about me. I am not the mean tight fisted God that the devil has convinced mankind I am from the garden of Eden. That was his first lie to Eve. God knows that if you partake of that tree it is not a matter of it will bring death to you.

26:30 - 26:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach the grace of God freely and fulsomely, trusting its power to break and subdue sinners.

Martin uses the scene at Golgotha, with Christ on the cross, as the ultimate evidence of God's open heart of grace to sinners, demonstrating that all wrath is swallowed up in Him.

The evidence of it is Golgotha, and in the form of an immolated incarnate God hanging between earth and heaven, dripping with spittle and with his own blood in the shame of nakedness, his confused and bruised body, an object of the rude stare of evil men, and the heartbroken glance of his friends. In the midst of that scene, with the heavens shrouded in blackness, and the cry of dereliction, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? God is saying to the vilest of sinners, come to my Son,

48:41 - 49:24 Read in full sermon