No Neutral Ground

In this part of the sermon: Despite the apparent diversity, Jesus collapses all categories into two: with Him or against Him, gathering or scattering, mirroring the two kingdoms of Satan and God. Martin uses…

Martin uses the undeniable distinction between male and female to illustrate the absolute nature of being either 'with' or 'against' Christ, emphasizing there is no 'it' or neutral ground.

and the kingdom of God, the strong man and the stronger than the strong man. He that is stronger than the strong just as surely as those two things are true, it is equally true, he that is not with me is against me. He that gathers not with me scatters. Now would anyone here sitting in the building this morning think me crazy or dare to debate with me if I made the statement in a very dogmatic way, there are gathered in this building this morning as to gender

13:36 - 14:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Despite the apparent diversity, Jesus collapses all categories into two: with Him or against Him, gathering or scattering, mirroring the two kingdoms of Satan and God. Martin uses…

Extending the gender analogy, Martin suggests drawing a line down the church aisle for males and females, with no one standing on the line, to reinforce the clear, non-negotiable division Christ makes.

He that is not a girl is a boy. She that is not a boy is a girl. The line is clearly drawn. We could have one of the deacons go out and get a large piece of paper, a piece of chalk and a plumb line and draw a line right down the middle of this aisle and say alright, all the males on one side, all the females on the other, all the its stand on the line.

15:08 - 15:31 Read in full sermon

Driving home: what does it mean that you are against him it means that you are in league with the devil himself

Martin uses Satan's refusal of God's rule and Adam's rebellion in Eden to explain that the essence of being 'against Christ' is the refusal to submit to God's gracious government.

league with the devil now that is not very flattering and I know some of you are offended at that for me to tell you because you say look I have nothing against Christ let him do his thing just so long as he lets me do my thing well that is the very essence of the spirit of the devil himself he did not want the rule of God over him and that is why he and all who joined him in rebellion against God were cast out of the presence of God that is what caused the fall in Eden when our first father refused to be under the gracious government of his God

42:16 - 42:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of external influences that keep you from grosser sins but do not internally bring you to be with Christ, as this can lead to a worse spiritual state.

Martin references the parable of the unclean spirit returning to a swept house with seven worse spirits to illustrate the present danger of superficial changes without true conversion, leading to a worse spiritual state.

in a place of present danger present danger and what is that present danger it was the danger that some of these very listeners to these words faced notice verse 24 has it puzzled you why the Lord followed these words about no neutrality with this strange passage the unclean spirit when he's gone out of the man passes through the waterless places seeking rest and finding none he says I will turn back unto my house whence I came out and when he is come he finds it swept and garnished then he goes and takes to him seven other spirits more evil

44:28 - 45:11 Read in full sermon