In the Book of Hebrews

In this part of the sermon: Drawing from John Brown's commentary, Martin describes the historical context of Hebrews: a time of trial for Judean Christians, facing persecution, waning novelty of the gospel…

The analogy of someone living near Niagara Falls eventually ceasing to be impressed by its roar illustrates how the miraculous attestations of the gospel, though still true, lost their initial 'charm of novelty' and strong impression on the minds of the Hebrews due to commonness.

Its doctrines, though they had lost. Nothing of their truth and importance, no longer were possessed of the charm of novelty. And their miraculous attestations, though to a reflecting person equally satisfactory as ever, were from their very commonness less fitted than at first to arrest attention and to make a strong impression on the mind. In other words, the person who has a house five hundred yards away from Niagara Falls, after a while ceases to be impressed with the roar and the thunder and the rush of the tons of water.

5:52 - 6:32 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds Hebrews 2:1-3, setting it against Christ's superiority to angels. He identifies the concern as drifting away and neglecting salvation, with the antidote being…

The experience of drifting in a canoe or boat in a current, where movement is unnoticeable but leads to losing bearings, illustrates the spiritual danger of 'drifting away' from faith without conscious effort.

of neglecting so great salvation. Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest happily we drift away. So the great concern of the writer is that his readers might engage in a form of spiritual declension called drifting away. Now, any of you who've had any experience with canoes or boats in any kind of current know that it takes no effort to drift.

12:24 - 13:04 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds Hebrews 2:1-3, setting it against Christ's superiority to angels. He identifies the concern as drifting away and neglecting salvation, with the antidote being…

The warning 'Beware of the dog' on a gate, prompting concentrated attention to impending danger, illustrates the meaning of 'giving earnest heed' as the antidote to spiritual drifting and neglecting.

And that word giving heed is often translated in the New Testament, beware. When you beware of something, you concentrate all your attentions upon that impending danger. When you come up to a particular home and there's a fenced-in area and a gate and a big sign saying, beware of the dog, you know in all likelihood there's an animal there which, if you do not concentrate all of your powers with respect to his presence, and its possible influence upon you, you may come away with some teeth sunk in the seat of your britches. Beware of the dog.

15:22 - 16:01 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The issue at stake in this passage is persevere or perish. Under the judgment of God.

A lengthy quotation from John Brown's commentary on Hebrews uses the metaphor of a Christian mariner in a vessel on the stream of life, bound for the New Jerusalem, facing currents of temptation and depraved inclination. This vividly illustrates the danger of drifting past heaven and making shipwreck on the shores of destruction, emphasizing the need for constant attention to instruction.

That's the issue. How shall we escape? Now again, I read from John Brown only because I feel the pressure of the text which says, let all things be done unto edifying, and John Brown has captured the thrust and burden of this passage so beautifully and powerfully that I want you to reap the benefit that my own heart has reaped. There is something very instructive in this figure.

18:47 - 19:16 Read in full sermon

The point: Husbands, do not resent your wife when she points out your spiritual declension; thank God for her as a 'female Nathan'.

The analogy of a wife acting as a 'female Nathan' to her husband, pointing out his spiritual declension, illustrates the importance of welcoming rebuke from others as God's instrument for self-examination and preventing hardening of heart.

Dangerously near the brink of apostasy. You ought to go down on your knees and thank God. That he's put a female Nathan at your side to say thou art the man. Vice versa.

51:41 - 52:00 Read in full sermon