Instrument of True Conversion: The Gospel of God

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the pre-membership class, outlining its four main topics: true conversion, Christian baptism, church distinctives, and responsibilities of membership. He…

Martin asks the congregation to imagine themselves as 'flies on the wall' in a pre-membership class, contemplating joining Trinity Baptist Church, to engage them with the sermon's content as if it were directly applicable to their current situation.

You're going to become flies on the wall in a pre-membership class as though you were actually there. And as though you were contemplating. Contemplating whether or not you should be applying for membership at Trinity Baptist Church. Now, having said that, by way of introduction.

6:13 - 6:33 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider if the law of God has had dealings with you, showing you your sinfulness in actions, thoughts, feelings, and words.

The law of God is described as a 'spiritual surgical instrument' designed by God, the 'spiritual surgeon,' to cut away blindness and expose the reality of sinfulness, highlighting the law's role in conviction.

There is none that seeks after God. There is none that understands. And what instrument has God what surgical instrument has God the spiritual surgeon designed in order to cut away that blindness from the law? The law shows us our sin.

27:17 - 27:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize what your sin deserves: eternal wrath and punishment, and confess that God's wrath against your sins is just and deserved.

The accumulation of sins is compared to a 'record as long as the record of some monster,' but recorded not in civil court books, but in 'the court and record books of the government of heaven,' emphasizing the divine accountability for sin.

in the experience of conviction of sin to face your sinful actions your sinful heart and even the reality of your sinful record and not only was that sin of Adam put on your sinful record when you were conceived and born but all of the other sins that you've done have been added to that record and now you have a record as long as the record of some monster but yours is not in the court record books of the civil government but in the court and record books of the government of heaven you've come to grips with that

32:01 - 32:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Experience sorrow and remorse over your sin, confess your sin to God, and resolve to turn from and forsake that sin.

The prayers of the publican ('God be merciful to me, the sinner') and the prodigal son ('Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight') are used as examples of biblical confession of sin.

there's no way that you can be saved except you go through a process of grieving and you have to be sorry and grieving sad over what you have done and over what you are that's the first thing and being sorry for your sin then confessing your sin confessing your sin to God and in the language of the public and oh God be merciful to me the sinner in the language of the prodigal father I have sinned against heaven and in my it's the confession of sin but then there's the forsaking of sin a reformation of life a resolution

44:58 - 45:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Be willing to make restitution where necessary to make things right.

The story of Zacchaeus is cited as an example of restitution, demonstrating that true repentance includes a willingness to make things right where necessary.

to turn from that sin and put away that sin and where need be as the case of Zacchaeus shows us not only is there remorse and confession and reformation there is also where need be restitution there has to be a willingness to make these things right remorse or sorrow confession reformation restitution these are the elements of repentance but you need to know this too have I truly repented you may ask because there are some who say

45:42 - 46:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Ensure your repentance proceeds from hating the sin itself, not just its consequences, and that it is focused toward God, looking for mercy in Jesus Christ.

Pharaoh's 'repentance' ('I've sinned, I'm sorry, take the judgment off me') is contrasted with true repentance, illustrating that genuine sorrow for sin hates the sin itself, not just its consequences.

they have repented and they have not but one of the things about true repentance is unlike say the repentance of someone like Pharaoh who said I've sinned I'm sorry take the judgment off me is that true repentance is not so much focusing upon the consequences of sin but true repentance is not proceeding so much from hating those consequences as it is from hating the sin if you're repenting of the sin and sorry of the sin it's because you hate the sin itself not in self pity hating what that sin did to you but hating the sin itself and then it's focusing on God Paul said it's repentance toward ...

46:26 - 47:10 Read in full sermon