“Declarative Justification” (James 2:21-24)

Driving home: God says, I've reached a verdict. Here is my pronouncement, Abraham. Now I know that you fear God. Now I know that you fear God. And in that pronouncement, Abraham is vindicated.

Martin uses the analogy of Abraham entering God's courtroom at two different times in his life: first as an ungodly idolater at conversion for 'actual justification,' and later as a godly man for 'declarative justification,' to illustrate the distinct nature of these two divine actions.

Now, let us illustrate it this way. Consider that long ago, Abraham, the ungodly believer, who for that moment in his life was an ungodly believer, was pronounced righteous by God. He was justified. He was in God's courtroom long ago.

41:22 - 41:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of the presumption that all professed faith is true saving faith.

Martin shares his reservation about a local evangelistic campaign, citing past experiences with 'decisionism' that led to tragic fruits and delusions, rather than genuine conversions, to warn against easy believism.

And whoever he be of you that does not forsake all that he has, he cannot be my disciple. And that's the reason, brethren, why we're not all excited about the upcoming campaign in our area of a world-famous evangelist. Not all excited about it. Because some have seen in the past with their own eyes members of this church I know and I not exaggerating have seen in the past with their own eyes the tragic fruits and the delusions that come from the decisionism method and the decisionist message.

57:57 - 58:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second lesson is that God proves and vindicates every true saint, bringing them to their own 'Mount Moriah' to test their faith. This vindication, though not by a voice from…

The experience of Abraham on Mount Moriah is used as a metaphor for the trials and testings God brings into every true saint's life, where they are called to pay the price of their profession and receive divine vindication.

God proves us, brethren. He tests us. He brings the saints to their own personal Mount Moriah.

65:17 - 65:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second lesson is that God proves and vindicates every true saint, bringing them to their own 'Mount Moriah' to test their faith. This vindication, though not by a voice from…

Martin provides examples of how God tests believers, using their children, job, house, money, car, career, or romantic relationships as the 'Isaac' that reveals what truly means more to them than God, illustrating the nature of Mount Moriah experiences.

Used His only son. Sometimes God uses our children to put us to the test. God puts us in a situation where the issue is going to be decided. Who means more to you?

68:21 - 68:35 Read in full sermon

Driving home: it's on that mountain that the voice says now I know you fear God that's the only place you can hear it is on that mountain it's a long walk up the mountain with a knife in your hand and no lamb in sight but that's the o…

The analogy of Mount Moriah is extended to distinguish between the truly godly man, who finds his way up the mountain (even imperfectly), and the hypocrite, who 'knows not the whereabouts of that mountain' and refuses to go when called, highlighting the difference in their faith.

with a knife in your hand and no lamb in sight but that's the only place you hear that voice on the top of the mountain there's no other place to hear it you know I'm speaking figuratively you understand that's the divine vindication you see this is the difference between the truly godly man and the hypocrite the hypocrite never goes to Mount Moriah he's got the same religion in his mouth but he knows not the whereabouts of that mountain and when God calls him to go there He won't go.

71:02 - 71:48 Read in full sermon