In the Words of Paul, Part 1

Driving home: But the eternal security of the believer does not depend upon his perseverance. I do not know a single Bible verse that says, that says anything about the saints persevering.

Martin quotes a pamphlet that affirms eternal security but denies the necessity of perseverance, using it as an example of prevalent false teaching that misunderstands the doctrine.

begin with this framework is doomed to fail. Salvation is all of grace, all of God, and all of Christ. And yet the same Bible which sets that truth before us, sets before us the truth that only those who persevere in the way of faith, holiness, and obedience are indeed the recipients of that salvation which is all of grace, all of God, and all of Christ. Now there are many who profess to believe the Bible that do not believe that. For instance, I hold in my hands a booklet put out by a publishing concern that prides itself in believing in the word of God as the word of God, and the author of t...

4:31 - 5:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin establishes the divine authority of Paul's epistles as the words of the Lord Jesus. He then turns to Romans 2:7-10, expounding how God's final judgment will be based on…

Martin quotes Wilson's commentary to support his interpretation of Romans 2, clarifying that Paul's purpose is not to explain the dynamic of good works but to prove divine impartiality, and that continuance in well-doing is an indispensable condition for eternal life.

Now Wilson, in his lovely, helpful little commentary, and I do commend these commentaries to you if you're not familiar with them, let me quote, let me quote what Wilson says on this very passage. In this passage, it does not fall within the scope of the Apostle's purpose to explain the dynamic, that is, the power, the impulse from which these good works spring. For that, see chapter 3, 21 and following. His present design is to prove to the Jew the complete impartiality of the divine administration.

17:58 - 18:35 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not seek eternal life through any path other than continuance in well-doing, as any other path will lead to a terrible surprise.

An analogy of trying to reach Hazelton by taking the wrong highway (Route 287 instead of Route 80 West) illustrates that one cannot reach heaven by a path other than continuance in well-doing, regardless of profession.

You try to get to Hazelton by staying on Route 287 to the end and you ain't never going to make it to Hazelton.

23:07 - 23:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not presume on past spiritual capital; continue to press on in mortification every day until you are in heaven.

Martin quotes John Owen's well-known words about walking over the bellies of lusts, emphasizing that no progress in holiness is made without actively killing sin, reinforcing the necessity of continuous mortification.

When he wrote those words that are well-known words, let not that man think that he makes any progress in holiness who walks not over the bellies of his lusts. He who does not kill sin in his way takes no steps towards his journey's end. You don't mortify your sins when you're sleeping. Ye by the Spirit do mortify, and there is an engagement of kindness and salt in yourст factor. You marries your husband and accept all your tt Times our hands and feet because we are told to enter not into the path of the wicked, walk not in the way of the evil men. He who seeks to probably death thusly lives美味...

38:24 - 39:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not presume on past spiritual capital; continue to press on in mortification every day until you are in heaven.

Martin references John Bunyan's observation of a door to hell from the very gate of heaven, illustrating that people can fall away at the end of their journey, even after many years of apparent perseverance.

But between their justification and glorification, there is a constant and unending process of mortification. And if you want to go from justification to glorification and avoid the agony of continuous mortification, you've got to cut a new road to heaven. Almighty God has laid no such road. He hasn't. That's why people go off into teaching that promises, I mean, easy way. It's wearisome. It's wearisome business, killing our lust, walking over the bellies of our lust every single day of every single week of every single month of every single year until we cross the river. And remember Bunyan s...

41:08 - 42:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Take comfort that if God began a good work in you, He will carry it on until the day of Jesus Christ.

Martin quotes lines from John Newton's hymn "Amazing Grace" to illustrate the comfort and gratitude of a true believer who recognizes that God's grace, working through conscious effort, has brought them safely thus far and will bring them home.

Look back and say with John Newton, Yes! T'was grace that taught my heart to fear. Grace my fears relieved. Yes!

49:42 - 49:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not cling to past sweet prayers or decisions of children if there is no present evidence of fruit unto holiness, as there are no biblical grounds for hope in such cases.

The example of Judas Iscariot is used to illustrate that outward profession and association with Christ do not guarantee true salvation, as no one suspected Judas's true nature until his betrayal.

On the eve that Judas betrayed Christ. Nobody suspected what he was.

56:00 - 56:05 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not coddle children in carnal notions that all is well while they pursue self, the world, and the flesh.

The analogy of breathing to live illustrates that the certainty of enduring does not negate the necessity of enduring; just as one must continue breathing to live, one must continue in holiness to be saved, even if salvation is certain.

If it's certain that you're going to live to tomorrow. It's necessary that you go on breathing till tomorrow. And the certainty of your life does not negate the necessity of your breathing. If you think it does, try it.

57:43 - 57:56 Read in full sermon