Major Objections to this Doctrine

Driving home: I found that honesty and thoroughness were definitely on the side of reformed writers

Martin describes his personal journey of wrestling with these doctrines for 8-10 years, noting the greater honesty and thoroughness of Reformed writers in dealing with objections compared to Arminian writers.

Thank you, Thank you, all right here I'll get that changed. 1 Timothy 2. . . . who will all men to be saved and come to the knowledge auch of the truth the God living God. . . . . Oh yeah, that was in that timeline, wasn't I . . . . I've got a story in here, truth who gave and this is well pleasing and acceptable with god etc all right now these matters have been faced honestly and carefully by students of the word in fact one of the things that when i was coming out of the cocoon as it were of the the woolly headed thinking that had marked me for so many years in these areas and after oh some...

9:04 - 9:55 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I found that honesty and thoroughness were definitely on the side of reformed writers

Martin observes that the objections to definite atonement today are the same as those made in Turretin's day, highlighting the enduring nature of these theological debates.

of reformed writers and it's also interesting to note that the materials for objection must be scanty because the same ones are being made today that were made way back in turin's day you read that and you think you are reading the writings of a man who was listening to something going on at one of the latest uh... uh... convocations of anti-reformed preachers in our day i mean there's just no new thing under the sun and these problems are dealt faced head-on and i believe in an honest and thoroughly exegetical way uh... most helpfully in the following writers and i want to give you now a litt...

9:55 - 10:55 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I'm not about to throw over all these other categories that are so clearly taught and for which, as far as I'm concerned, there is absolutely no evasion apart from twisting the word of God.

Martin paraphrases John Owen's frustration with those who press the entire issue of atonement on single words like 'world' or 'every,' arguing for a contextual and biblical interpretation of such terms.

So, in facing these textual objections, I suggest that you read as many of these treatments as you can possibly get your hands on, and I think you with me will be convinced that the matter is dealt with honestly. And in, oh, I would say 90% of the instances, a simple reference to context and to biblical words being interpreted biblically causes the objections to vanish. And Owen was, at one point, you can tell he's a little bit irritated when people come and say, you know, they have a word, they have a word, and they're going to press the whole issue on a word. And he says, in essence, well, l...

13:43 - 14:57 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The first practical objection is introduced: how can one preach the gospel to all if Christ did not die for every man? Martin shares his personal struggle with this question early…

Martin recounts his personal struggle in 1954 with the doctrine of particularism after reading the Westminster Confession, wondering how he could evangelize if Christ didn't die for every man, and how he eventually set it aside until later in his spiritual journey.

Well, again, I know how real that is because the first time I ever began to think about it, about particularism, I was down in Augusta, Georgia in the summer of 1953.

16:55 - 17:07 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that gospel preaching is not telling each individual Christ died for them, but offering forgiveness to all who believe, citing apostolic examples and historical…

Martin explains Candlish's thought experiment: if Christ had postponed His death until the end of history, offering Himself as surety to all who would believe, it would still be strict particularism but with a free offer, demonstrating that the timing doesn't alter the nature of the atonement or the gospel offer.

13. Yes. And what was the first author you read from? I'm sorry, Packer, Evangelism in the Sovereignty of God. And Bob and I were talking yesterday about... And Bob's book as an approach to this that was unique. I'd never read it before. It's called The Hypothetical Postponement of the Atonement. And very, very interesting points. Would you like me to just give it to you quickly? All right. It's this.

24:31 - 25:03 Read in full sermon

Driving home: every man limits the atonement, either in its efficacy or in its extent, but limit it he must.

Martin uses Spurgeon's analogy of a bridge (the atonement) to illustrate the difference between universal redemption (a wide bridge that stops short, saving no one) and definite atonement (a bridge that actually connects, securing salvation for a specific people).

That the idea of scripture is not that a few are to be saved, but that a great multitude shall be saved. Our second answer is that in constricting or restricting the atonement to those who are only saved, this alone gives full credit to the efficacy and the glory of that atonement. As has been often said, every man limits the atonement, either in its efficacy or in its extent, but limit it he must. You have the illustration. Spurgeon, I believe, used it.

30:11 - 30:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: nay but O man who art thou to reply against God shall the thing made say to him that made it that's the whole creator creature relationship you talk like that man you've forgotten who you are

Martin uses the example of Noah's Ark and the flood, where only eight souls were saved, to challenge the idea that God must make provision for all, emphasizing God's sovereignty in salvation.

that I don't press those things I hope it's not yeah John I was just going to say in the background I had a professor who actually had a doctor I don't remember how he could do all that he was studying for a month with his view on the economy the idea that it's for the elect you know it seems that they want they manipulate their views from their emotions or feelings because the reason that he gave after the entire lecture was that so that God would be able to give these reprobates an answer yeah I thought well why does he have to give them an answer yeah all right that was see I'd already spil...

40:23 - 41:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Be gracious in holding and handling the truth of definite atonement, avoiding unkind and unchristian rhetoric.

Martin recounts attending a 'sovereign grace conference' where a preacher mocked the Arminian position, stating that if he had judged the truth by how it was handled, he would have become an Arminian, illustrating the importance of graciousness.

to be gracious in the holding and the handling of this truth don't engage in unkind and unchristian rhetoric what do I mean by that well I remember when I was struggling with these things I attended a conference a so-called sovereign grace conference and if I was ever to believe things in terms of how people handled them I'd be an Arminian to the rest of my days because there was a preacher who knew I was there and knew I was struggling with this very truth and you know what he did he stood up and took the occasion to mock the position which one of you men loves every woman on the block you lo...

46:16 - 47:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach the gospel with vigor, offense, and majesty, without gimmicks or making it palatable to unregenerate men, confident that God will bring home His elect.

Martin shares the personal experience of preaching to an unconverted man for 15 years, explaining that his confidence in definite atonement sustains his weeping and pleading, knowing that if the man is elect, God will save him on His terms.

and a graciousness that forever puts to rest the objection this kills evangelism because and I can only say this brethren out of some degree I trust of experience these are the truths that are the very sheet anchor to sustain evangelistic concern and compassion I face every Sunday a man who has sat under my ministry almost every Lord's Day for going on to the 15th year and he's still unconverted and he's still unconverted and there are times in preaching when his need becomes so real to me that I've wept as I've preached and looked right at him as I've pleaded and what keeps me weeping and ple...

50:40 - 52:08 Read in full sermon

The point: If someone expresses worry about not being one of the elect, affirm the seriousness of that concern and direct them to repentance and faith as the way to know their election in Christ.

Martin recalls his mother telling him that when God got hold of him, it would be a foregone conclusion, which served as a powerful deterrent, illustrating how potent medicine (like telling someone God will get them if they are elect) can sometimes be used wisely.

just tell the person that that okay you know you don't believe now but God you if you're one of the elect you will believe God may have to burn your house and squash you and beat you he will get you and you're so scared to much I wouldn't say we shouldn't Paul again I think that'd be rare in exotic medicine I mean that'd be like a good shot of of Valium or something else you know I mean that's potent medicine but I believe there are times when sinners need potent medicine and you know and that maybe a wise physician of souls might on certain occasions use that I can remember my mother saying t...

52:08 - 53:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Invite the unconvinced to pray together before discussing sacred matters, acknowledging God's greatness and seeking His guidance.

Martin recounts two anecdotes: one where someone asked Whitfield if he expected to see Wesley in heaven, to which Whitfield replied Wesley would be so near the throne he'd be blinded by the light; and another about Charles Simeon's interaction with Wesley, where Simeon explained his Calvinism as man being wholly dead and salvation wholly of grace.

with even contemplating whether there were any such thing as a covenant of redemption well who knows what happens you see when his head and his heart begin to get stretched with that truth a lot of other things may start to fall into that enlarged head and heart very naturally so let me just urge you in that area unless we do disservice and it means brethren for the most part we've got to do the swallowing you see more often than not we're in foreign territory where people are saying things and propagating things that grind on us but if we have some better understanding it should produce more ...

61:01 - 62:29 Read in full sermon