In the Christian Life

Driving home: theology is to our practice what the mold into which the frames of my glasses were placed is to the shape and contour of these glasses' frames.

The mold for glasses frames shapes the final product, just as theology shapes the practice of the Christian life. The practice is visible, but its contours are derived from theology.

It is Christ-centered and church-based. That's it. We have a theology and practice of the Christian life that is Christ-centered and church-based. And it's crucial that you grasp this, because theology is to our practice what the mold into which the frames of my glasses were placed is to the shape and contour of these glasses' frames.

4:39 - 5:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin extensively demonstrates from Scripture that the Christian life is pervasively Christ-centered, from conversion to daily living, focusing on Christ as the object of faith…

The Christian life is likened to running a race, with Christ as the focus, to illustrate the continuous, Christ-centered nature of living out one's faith.

Rooted and builded up in Him. Or, we could take as a beautiful vivid picture of the Christian life, Hebrews 12 verses 1 and 2. If becoming a Christian is being enrolled in the race of those that are on their way to heaven, the Christian life is likened to running that race until we get to heaven. And what is to be the great focus of our spiritual eyes as we run the Christian race, that is, live the Christian life, Hebrews 12 verses 1 and 2.

8:27 - 9:07 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You didn't have self-proclaimed saved people running around as freelance Christians. It isn't there in my Bible, nor is it in yours. It just isn't there.

The Ethiopian eunuch is presented as a rare exception to the general pattern of immediate church incorporation, due to unique circumstances, to clarify that exceptions do not negate the rule.

It isn't there in my Bible, nor is it in yours. It just isn't there. And what is there in these opening verses of the book of Acts, we see all the way through. So that the fruit of evangelism, with but few exceptions, and there are a few exceptions, because of the very circumstances, such as the Ethiopian eunuch, an individual found out in the middle of a desert.

25:00 - 25:31 Read in full sermon

The point: If you profess to be a Christian, commit yourself to Christ's church, as an uncommitted Christian is an abnormality not recognized in the New Testament.

Paul's attempt to join the church in Jerusalem after his conversion, despite his direct commission, illustrates the necessity and priority of church membership even for an apostle.

You tell me wherever someone is clearly identified as a Christian whether or not he's found indifferent and absent from the church or a part of the church Even the great apostle Paul saved by direct revelation from heaven First thing he did when he went to Jerusalem What did he try to do according to Acts chapter 9? He tried to join the church He didn't come to Jerusalem and say Oh well The Lord has saved me Light from heaven What more do I need? I've got a commission from heaven I'm going to set up the Jerusalem Pauline Evangelistic Society I'm going to go get incorporated Open up an account ...

40:07 - 40:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Abandon the individualistic notion that you can declare yourself a Christian and have all the rights and privileges of recognition without committing yourself to Christ's church.

The scenario of a church member becoming romantically involved with a non-church member is used to illustrate the practical complications and 'no-win situation' for elders when people delay church commitment.

Is found A member of Christ's church You see what complications This brings Is somebody says Well I'm saved And the young man Begins to get interested In the young woman Vice versa One's a church member One isn't Now look at the mess You've made How do you know that Well a person says I know I know I'm saved And the guy says I know I'm saved The gal says She knows she's saved And then before long On the wings Of that romantic involvement They come before the elders I'd like to join the church Why Oh I believe I'm saved Well why not before Now it's all complicated With the romantic involvement ...

44:34 - 45:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He distinguishes between subjective belief and formal, public recognition as a Christian, which God has tied to church membership. Martin concludes by describing the church as…

The analogy of a common-law couple versus a legally married couple is used to distinguish between subjective commitment and formal, public recognition, applying it to Christian identity and church membership.

The person Who was a church member Was giving Recognition Publicly And formally To someone As a Christian Who has not Yet met The terms Of the Bible To be formally Publicly Acknowledged As a Christian Now I didn't say You weren't a Christian If you weren't A church member Now don't go out And say I said that I didn't say that What I said is Set the terms Of recognizing Formally And publicly Who is a Christian God has set them It's like A common law A couple may Solemnly Covenant on their Knees To be truly Married in the sight Of God

46:03 - 46:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not despise God's nursery for heaven, the church, where He prepares His plants for transplantation.

The church is described as God's 'nursery for heaven,' where believers are planted, flourish, and are prepared for 'transplantation' to heaven, emphasizing its role in spiritual growth and ripening.

on yet you see though the outward man is decaying the inward man's being renewed and they're ripening for transplantation and where does that happen in the courts of God and in the house of God don't despise God's nursery for heaven the church is God's nursery where he prepares his plants before he transplants them what evidence is there that we really are determined to give an unquestionable confirmation that the church is unique in the saving purposes of God I answer our theology and our faith in the ому

50:19 - 51:00 Read in full sermon