Received by Faith Alone

Driving home: There has probably been no department of divine truth against which the assaults of Satan have been more fiercely directed ever since the Christian church than the doctrine of justification.

Martin quotes William Cunningham, a church historian, who states that the doctrine of justification has been the most fiercely assaulted divine truth by Satan and accurately indicates the state of vital religion in the church. This underscores the sermon's opening point about the importance and contested nature of the doctrine.

We should expect that the archenemy of God in man will do all within his fiendish power to blur or to confuse God's answer to that most vital of all questions. William Cunningham, the great church historian, said on this very point, there has perhaps been no department of divine...

0:52 - 1:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He explains that faith is the only means of justification due to its peculiar nature: it is wholly receptive, unlike other graces (love, humility, hope) which are active or…

Martin uses the analogy of body parts (mouth, hand, ear, eye) to explain the concept of receptivity. He contrasts the mouth and hand, which can both give and receive, with the ear and eye, which are purely receptive. This illustrates that faith, like the ear or eye, is wholly receptive, taking in what God gives without contributing anything.

First of all because of its peculiar nature faith is wholly receptive. Now you kids listen I want you to get hold of what Pastor's talking about. You all have a mouth. You all have a mouth.

29:56 - 30:17 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Excellent as all these graces are yet it is nowhere said in Scripture that a man is justified by the fear of God by love, by penitence, by hope by meekness or by humility but he is said again and again to be justified by…

Martin quotes a Puritan writer who contrasts faith with other excellent Christian graces like humility, meekness, hope, love, and penitence. The quote explains that while these graces are commendable, only faith is said to justify because it is 'totally receptive' and 'takes what God gives,' serving as an 'empty hand'.

Receptive. Faith is always and only justifying faith an empty hand stretched out in the presence of a giving God and of a willing Savior. That's why God has chosen to make the instrument of our justification faith and faith alone because the peculiar nature of faith is that it is completely receptive. The servant of God seeking to make these truths plain to another generation wrote a popular treatise of great Christian doctrine and when he is dealing with the whole matter of faith in relationship to justification notice how he treated this point. How are we justified by faith? Why are we never...

32:44 - 33:49 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Strictly speaking it is not even faith in Christ that saves but Christ that saves through faith.

Martin quotes Professor Murray, who clarifies that the efficacy of faith does not rest in itself but in Christ. Faith unites us to Christ, and it is Christ who saves through faith, with faith looking away from itself to Christ. This reinforces that faith is merely the instrument, not the meritorious cause, of justification.

It is the empty hand that receives that which God in mercy and grace holds forth to the sinner. Professor Murray in speaking to this thing says in the same vein the reformers recognize that the essence of saving faith is to bring the sinner lost and dead in sin into direct personal contact with the Savior Himself which is nothing less than that of self-commitment to Him in all the glory of His person and the perfection of His work as He is freely and fully offered in the Gospel. It must be remembered that the efficacy of faith does not rest in itself. Faith is not something that merits the fav...

35:02 - 36:04 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Faith is the marriage bond of the sinner in all his poverty to the wealth that is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Martin uses the analogy of a wealthy king marrying a pauper woman. The moment she enters the marriage bond, she comes into possession of all his wealth. This illustrates how faith is the 'marriage bond' that unites the poor sinner to the rich Lord Jesus Christ, bringing the sinner into possession of Christ's righteousness.

And what is the effect of faith? It is the bond that unites us to Jesus Christ. As old Charnock said it is the band of our union to Christ. Again let me illustrate.

37:52 - 38:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Refuse to cast one slight glance at anything within and be determined to look only to the uplifted serpent (Christ).

Martin uses the Old Testament story of the Israelites bitten by fiery serpents looking to the uplifted bronze serpent for healing. He emphasizes that the smitten Israelite was not to look at his fever and the serpent, but solely at the serpent. This illustrates that sinners must look away from their own condition and solely to Christ for salvation.

that He spared you for another day because you do know through the Word of God and the activity of a conscience under the pressure of the Word that you have offended God that you deserve His wrath and His judgment but the reason you've not believed is because you do not believe that Jesus Christ is an able and a willing Savior you do not believe that in Jesus Christ there is everything needed for your complete pardon and acceptance with Almighty God you still think there must be something that you discover in yourself that will make you worthy enough to flee to Him my friend it is faith alone ...

42:28 - 43:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Stop arguing with God about His method of saving sinners and look to the Lamb of God.

Martin shares a note from a church member facing surgery, recounting their deep fear of death and judgment, the devil's accusations, and their ultimate clinging to God's promises and Christ's righteousness by faith alone. This personal testimony powerfully illustrates the reality and necessity of justifying faith in a moment of crisis.

well I know that as well as you do and God knew it when he commanded you to come and when he told you not to look into your heart to see if you can see the stirrings of regeneration but to look to the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world my friend some of you got an argument with God and you don't like God's method of saving sinners you want to reconstruct it you have an argument with God and until you cease from that argument you'll never be saved the hour is coming when we shall stand before God what is our confidence as we face that hour my friend if you've not come to the settle...

45:26 - 46:54 Read in full sermon