A Review (Part 2)

Driving home: An accurate definition of catechism functions as a fence. A fence can be used to keep safe what ought to be kept safe within the parameters of the fence, and it can keep out what ought to be kept out.

An accurate catechism definition is compared to a fence, which serves to keep safe the major components of a biblical doctrine within its parameters and to keep out erroneous and injurious thinking.

in composing both the larger and the shorter catechisms. And if you ask, why use a catechism definition that is given to us as the one in the Westminster Larger Catechism, I answer that an accurate definition of catechism functions as a fence. A fence can be used to keep safe what ought to be kept safe within the parameters of the fence, and it can keep out what ought to be kept out. And that's the function of a biblically accurate, theologically comprehensive catechetical instruction.

7:19 - 8:01 Read in full sermon

Driving home: An accurate definition of catechism functions as a fence. A fence can be used to keep safe what ought to be kept safe within the parameters of the fence, and it can keep out what ought to be kept out.

The Westminster Larger Catechism's definition of justification is likened to a 'beautiful seven-room house,' with each room representing a component of the doctrine that needs careful examination to appreciate its beauty and truth.

It acts like a fence to hold together in the parameters of that fence that statement, the major components of a biblical doctrine, and it aids us in keeping out erroneous thinking and that which would be injurious to our souls. What then is the definition of justification given to us in the Larger Catechism? It is this. Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, in which He, that is God, pardons all of our sins, accepts and accounts our persons as righteous in His sight, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of...

8:01 - 9:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The fourth 'room' details God's two-fold activity in justification: complete pardon of all sins and acceptance/accounting of persons as righteous. Martin stresses that these are…

A man pardoned for a crime is still regarded as a 'pardoned criminal' or 'ex-con,' not a 'perfect law-abiding citizen.' This illustrates that God's justification goes beyond mere pardon; it confers a status of perfect righteousness, placing believers beyond the mark of a pardoned offender.

author, that justification includes acceptance with God as well as the forgiveness of sins, and this should be distinctly apprehended if we would form any adequate estimate of the nature and value of this great God. A man may be guilty of a crime, charged by the law, proven guilty in the court, sentenced to pay a penalty, and then he's pardoned. He's pardoned. He's regarded as a pardoned criminal. He is not looked upon as a perfect law-abiding citizen. You see the difference?

43:47 - 44:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But only, only, solely, exclusively, that one word cuts the living cord of a hundred heresies. But only, for what? The perfect obedience, and secondly, full satisfaction of Christ.

The analogy of the courtroom (legal problem) and the operating room (personal moral problem) is used to distinguish between God's justifying act for us (legal declaration) and His regenerating work in us (internal change), emphasizing that the latter is not the basis for the former.

about the fact that they're not going to be pardoned. They're talking about the fact that they're not going to be pardoned. They're talking about the fact that whenever God justifies a sinner, he also does something in the sinner. Remember this morning, I used the analogy of the courtroom and the operating room. We as sinners not only have a legal problem, we have a personal inward moral problem. We are defiled. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked out of the heart of man proceed. And then the Lord lists all the sins. Well, they recognize that God never justifies a si...

48:01 - 48:33 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The fifth 'room' addresses the ground or basis of justification, emphasizing what it is not (anything wrought in or done by us) and what it is (solely Christ's perfect obedience…

The 'fabric of the garment of the righteousness that every believer wears' is a metaphor for Christ's perfect obedience, emphasizing that His life and death are the sole components of the righteousness imputed to believers.

Why did he do all of that? He did it. He did it. Not only that he might be the sinless lamb of God, without blemish and without spot, but that there would be a life lived in our condition that could be credited. And if I can picture myself somehow hidden, into Christ, as he stands in those waters, and the father says, this is my son, my beloved, in whom I'm well pleased. If I can picture myself hidden in him, the father's pleased with me in him, in him. That's why Paul can write, but by God are you in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us righteousness. There is no condemnation to those who are wr...

58:13 - 59:06 Read in full sermon