Necessity of Obedience and Holiness

Matthew 7:21 Missing Notes in Preaching

Pastor Albert N. Martin concludes his series "Some Missing Notes in Contemporary Gospel Preaching" by expounding key texts from Matthew, John, Hebrews, and 1 John to demonstrate the indispensable necessity of obedience and holiness as evidences of saving grace. He argues that popular doctrines of the 'carnal Christian' and assurance based solely on a past decision are unscriptural and damning delusions, as true salvation inevitably produces a life of purposeful obedience and pursuit of holiness. Martin challenges listeners to examine their lives, urging those without a principled commitment to holiness to seek God's mercy and grace.

3 illustrations in this sermon

Obedience as a Mark of Genuine Grace: Key Texts

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Preacher's Questions to Young People

The point: Examine your confidence in salvation if your life lacks serious obedience to God's will.

A preacher asked young people if they were saved and if they were seriously attempting to do God's will. Most raised hands for salvation, but few for obedience, revealing a disconnect that the preacher addressed using Matthew 7:21 to challenge their false assurance.

It's interesting how much this text has been overlooked in contemporary gospel preaching. A preacher on one occasion was addressing a group of young people. And he said, now, before I announce my text, I want to ask a couple of questions. He said, the first question is this.

11:43 - 11:59 Read in full sermon

Conclusion 1: The Damning Delusion of the Carnal Christian Doctrine

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Schofield Bible and Campus Crusade

Driving home: The popular carnal Christian doctrine is nothing less than an unscriptural and damning delusion.

Martin cites the Schofield Bible, Dr. Sperry Schaeffer's 'He That Is Spiritual,' and Campus Crusade booklets as examples of where the 'carnal Christian' doctrine is taught, demonstrating that he is not creating a 'straw dummy' argument.

And so when you see in the professing church multitudes who say without any reservation, I've trusted Jesus, I have the righteousness of Christ imputed to me as a believer, and yet there is little or no evidence of pursuit of a life of holiness and obedience, you are not to be too alarmed. They are simply carnal Christians who if they persist in that pattern may come ashamed at the return of the Lord, stand before Him totally stripped of rewards, but will nonetheless be ushered into the glorious presence of Christ. Now that is not a caricature. That is not a straw dummy. That is the teaching s...

40:46 - 41:46 Read in full sermon

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Irritated Husband, Jealous Wife

The point: As a church, there can be no spirit of coasting or comfort; multitudes are deluded and need to hear the message that without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.

Martin uses the examples of a husband irritated with his wife or a woman allowing jealousy to infect her spirit to illustrate how even the best Christians can act 'carnally' at specific points, distinguishing this from a dominant 'carnal Christian' lifestyle.

whereas one of you says, I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, are you not carnal and walk as men? In this party spirit, you are acting like men devoid of the spirit. So in that sense, the best of Christians is a carnal Christian at points in his life. Anytime a husband becomes irritated, irritated with his wife, at that point he is acting as a man devoid of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit is not irritation, it is love, gentleness, patience. So at the point that a man indwelt by the spirit becomes irritable, he is acting carnally. At the point that a woman allows jealousy to infect her spirit, sh...

44:25 - 45:19 Read in full sermon

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