Received by Faith and Faith Alone

The point: Preach this doctrine with the utmost clarity and passion.

A contemporary author's metaphor of the doctrine of justification being like Atlas, bearing the entire evangelical knowledge of saving grace on its shoulders, illustrates its foundational importance.

Another champion of the 16th century, John Calvin, wrote, The doctrine of justification is the principal ground on which religion must be supported, so it requires greater care and attention. For unless you understand first of all what your position is before God and what the judgment is which He passes upon you, you have no foundation on which your salvation can be laid or on which piety toward God can be reared. And then a champion from our own generation wrote, The doctrine of justification by faith is like Atlas. You see the pictures of Atlas bent over with the world resting on his back. T...

7:49 - 8:56 Read in full sermon

The point: If you grow weary of that definition, let me make a prophecy. You've ceased to be thrilled that you're a justified man or woman. You should be able to milk sweetness out of sitting in some situation where you think you'r…

Martin quotes a hymn (not in their hymnbook) that beautifully articulates the imputation of Christ's righteousness and the believer's complete justification, emphasizing the positive righteousness received.

Listen to this one that's not in our hymnbook. Join earth and heaven to bless the Lord our righteousness. The mystery of redemption this, this the Savior's strange design man's offense was counted his ours his righteousness divine in him complete we shine his death his life is mine fully I am justified free from sin and more than free guiltless since for me he died righteous since he lived for me I tell you I get the goosebumps just reading it that's biblically framed hymnody dripping with rich theology do you feel it I hope you do when the hymn writer says free from sin more than free I'm not...

19:15 - 20:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: faith is the empty hand of the destitute beggar receiving the donations of a generous and compassionate giver

Martin quotes a writer who explains why faith, despite not being the greatest grace (love is), is uniquely designated as the means of justification due to its receptive nature.

by humility well this is not a question that we are the first to wrestle with and a writer of another generation has wonderfully captured everything I want to say on this head listen to him but what's the meaning of the expression we're justified by faith how are we justified by faith why are we never said to be justified by other Christian graces humility is an excellent grace much commended in scripture in putting us where we ought to be in the dust meekness bears with pity and forgiveness outrageous wrongs heaped upon us and forgiveness outrageous wrongs heaped upon us and so makes us like ...

38:20 - 39:48 Read in full sermon

Driving home: faith is the empty hand of the destitute beggar receiving the donations of a generous and compassionate giver

Faith is described as the 'empty hand of the destitute beggar receiving the donations of a generous and compassionate giver,' illustrating that it excludes all merit and simply receives God's grace.

grace means unmerited undeserved unearned blessing then the way of receiving its provision must exclude all sense of merit in us or rewards for things done by us faith is the empty hand of the destitute beggar receiving the donations of a generous and compassionate giver in faith the hand does not go out to do something in order to earn a favor the hand does not go out holding something with which to purchase a favor faith is the empty hand to take the graciously provided favor of God in Jesus Christ and it comes out in good hymnody does it not nothing in my hands I bring simply to thy cross I...

42:45 - 44:12 Read in full sermon

Driving home: faith is the empty hand of the destitute beggar receiving the donations of a generous and compassionate giver

The hymn 'Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling' is quoted to illustrate the empty-handed, receptive nature of faith that brings no works or merit.

grace means unmerited undeserved unearned blessing then the way of receiving its provision must exclude all sense of merit in us or rewards for things done by us faith is the empty hand of the destitute beggar receiving the donations of a generous and compassionate giver in faith the hand does not go out to do something in order to earn a favor the hand does not go out holding something with which to purchase a favor faith is the empty hand to take the graciously provided favor of God in Jesus Christ and it comes out in good hymnody does it not nothing in my hands I bring simply to thy cross I...

42:45 - 44:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second reason for faith alone is its appointed effect: uniting the sinner to Christ. Martin explains the covenant of redemption and how faith becomes the bond of this vital…

An analogy of a wealthy king who identifies with a poor, sagacious woman in her squalor, proposes marriage, and offers her all his grandeur upon her consent, illustrates Christ's condescension, union with believers, and the transfer of His righteousness.

the unique function of faith to be from the human standpoint the band of our attachment to Jesus Christ that's why faith is used is found connected with the prepositions into and upon and an in it is belief in faith in faith upon it is the soul going out of itself to Christ and clinging to Christ faith becomes the bond of our union with the Lord Jesus and once we are united to him in that bond of faith as he has been united to us in his commitments to our redemption when that union is sealed and effected we are then declared in the court of heaven as those who have borne the full weight of God...

48:38 - 50:06 Read in full sermon

The point: Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and the acceptance with God? If not, why not?

The hymn 'Just as I am, without one plea' is quoted to illustrate the nature of justifying faith as a sinner coming to Christ without any prior self-improvement or merit.

we are justified faith becomes the bond of our union with Christ in summary in final application justifying faith is that spiritual activity by which a sinner regenerated by the sovereign act of God in the context and knowledge of the gospel goes out of himself to Christ trusting only in him as he is presented in the gospel it is the sinner while yet a sinner resting the whole weight of his guilt laid in soul upon Christ alone again our hymnody captures it beautifully just as I am without one plea and that thou bidst me come to thee O Lamb of God I come just as I am and waiting not to rid my s...

53:00 - 54:28 Read in full sermon

The point: This reality of justification by faith alone based on the imputation of the righteousness of Christ alone received by faith alone this is not some doctrinal abstraction upon which to meditate once in a while and find a h…

A quote describing God's justifying decision as 'the judgment of the last day... brought forward into the present and pronounced here and now' illustrates the eternal security and finality of justification.

of tribulations he said we exult in the very circumstances knowing that God's putting stuff in us that's preparing us for an eternity with him so let's get on with the show and then he comes to chapter 8 in verse 1 and after telling us of his own struggles with remaining sin and oh wretched man that I am he says there is therefore now here and now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus there is the confidence that for him as a believer the day of judgment is come and gone one man said it this way God's justifying decision is the judgment of the last day declaring where we'll spend et...

61:50 - 63:19 Read in full sermon

The point: I trust this hour finds you resting in the savior.

The hymn 'Jesus thy blood and righteousness' is quoted to show how the truth of justification provides stability and confidence for the believer, even in the face of death and judgment.

and there will be none in the future who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yet rather that is risen from the dead who is at the right hand of God who also makes intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ oh dear people of God with all of the uncertainties of life with all of the all of the oppressive aspects of life to be able to say in the present moment Christ is mine and I am his and the worst of all fears is forever settled I will never hear God say to me depart from me you cursed into everlasting fire then I'll be able to sing we're back to our hymnody Je...

63:19 - 64:47 Read in full sermon