Name, Number and Gender

In this part of the sermon: Martin defines 'church officers' as those holding positions of authority and trust within the local assembly, and 'biblically established standard' as radical biblicism…

The office of the President of the United States is used to explain the concept of an 'officer' as one who holds a position of authority and trust, distinct from the physical 'office' space.

Well an officer is one who holds an office, or a position of office, of authority and of trust. Now officers are other things in other relationships. In the military they are something, in the law enforcement establishment they are something, but in the sense in which I am using it this morning, which is one of its legitimate usages, an officer is one who holds an office, or position of authority and trust. We speak of the office of the President of the United States.

8:55 - 9:28 Read in full sermon

Driving home: A radical biblicism that says when we read in 2 Timothy 3.17 that God breathes scripture is able to make the man of God thoroughly furnished unto every good work than the good work of identifying, recognizing, submitting…

Luther's resolute stand at the Diet of Worms, declaring his conscience captive to the Word of God, illustrates the 'settled, non-negotiable commitment' to biblical truth that the church should have.

that this has been and is and I pray by the grace of God ever will be a matter of settled, negotiable commitment. As what Luther had when he stood before the Diet of Worms and they piled up his books and his pamphlets, they wanted to know whether he were the author of them and affirming that he was, do you now recant what they contain? Luther answered in paraphrased English

15:40 - 16:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Cling to the simple teaching of the word of God regarding church offices as for your life, to avoid the havoc of unbiblical systems.

The historical development from simple elders to bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and ultimately the Pope, is used to illustrate the 'havoc' wreaked when biblical standards for church offices are ignored or defied.

what havoc has been wreaked in the church. It was not long into post-apostolic church history when people began to see that certain men had a sphere of influence in terms of preaching gifts and administrative influence and certain churches were becoming more prominent and a whole system of diocese in which areas were broken up and in that realm the presbyters, the elders, the bishops, the pastors elected one to preside over them and he began to be called the bishop of that whole area.

31:19 - 32:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not set at odds meticulous concern for church order and deep devotion to Christ, as God has joined them together.

Paul's joy in the Colossians' 'order' is likened to a well-disciplined army where each person knows their proper place, illustrating that meticulous concern for church order is not contradictory to devotion to Christ.

If the leaders cannot stand in their deepest recesses of heart that they stand under the authority of Christ in their office how can they call others to stand under that authority? It's a beautiful thing when churches are ordered by the word of God. Paul speaks of that in Colossians chapter 2 and verse 5 and I just quote this verse before we leave this matter. Colossians 2 and verse 5 Paul could write to this church and say though I'm absent in the flesh yet I'm with you in the spirit joying and beholding your order

34:12 - 34:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that functional difference by divine design does not mean inferiority in dignity or importance, especially when discussing male and female roles.

The unique ability of women to nurture human life in the womb and at the breast is used to illustrate that functional difference by divine design does not mean inferiority in dignity or importance.

Functional difference by divine design does not mean inferiority in dignity or importance. Functional difference by divine design does not mean inferiority in dignity or importance. Only women can nurture human life in a womb and sustain it at a breast. That's a very radical functional difference from me as a man.

62:18 - 62:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that functional difference by divine design does not mean inferiority in dignity or importance, especially when discussing male and female roles.

The distinct functions of oxygen and hydrogen in forming water (H2O) and sustaining life are used to further illustrate that functional differences do not imply one element is more important or dignified than the other.

She has a function exclusive to her as a woman. Does that demean me? You children, does that make me less dignity, have less dignity than my wife? Only oxygen can supply life to the brain. It's carried there by the bloodstream.

63:14 - 63:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Accept from the heart God's divine design, as this results in liberty and blessedness.

The analogy of a fish made to swim and a seagull made to fly illustrates that accepting one's divinely designed sphere of function results in liberty and blessedness, while coveting another's role leads to bondage and destruction.

of divine design results in liberty and blessedness when fish made by divine design to swim in God's vast oceans except this sphere by divine design that fish is liberated fish and he's a blessed fish he can flap his gills and wiggle his tail and go all over God's ocean wherever he wants but if he happens to look up through the refraction of the water and see the vast sky and see a seagull splitting the air with its wings and begins to covet it and say I can't fly I'm in bondage to the sea made for nothing but the sea you

64:56 - 65:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Be prepared for increasing testing and potential persecution (loss of tax-exempt status) for adhering to biblical standards for church officers.

Luther's quote, 'Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is tested,' is used to underscore the importance of steadfastness in adhering to biblical truth, especially regarding church offices, in the face of increasing opposition.

shall have respect unto all thy commandments and i shall walk at liberty liberty comes in the realm of the acceptance of divine distinction from the heart oh my dear brothers and sisters never forget luther's off-quoted words where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldiers tested and we are tested here and we're going to be increasingly tested the battle's going to become more fierce i predict the time may come when churches like ours will either capitulate and put females in the office of deacon or elder or have our official recognition by the state

67:02 - 67:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Be prepared for increasing testing and potential persecution (loss of tax-exempt status) for adhering to biblical standards for church officers.

Martin laments seeing a generation of women 'killed' (spiritually and emotionally) in the pursuit of so-called liberty offered by feminism, leading to barrenness and regret, contrasting it with the blessedness of holy, sanctified femininity.

for that task and he has too much concern for her well-being to put her in the ocean when she's made to fly and all these people girls and women that tell you they're out to liberate you know they're out to plunge a seagull in the depths of the ocean and kill you and i've lived long enough to weep to see a generation of women killed in the pursuit of the so-called liberty of the seagull having the privileges of the seagulls

68:26 - 69:02 Read in full sermon