Covenant Theology

The point: Consider the essential things for joining the church intelligently and conscientiously.

Martin uses the analogy of 'pretending' everyone is applying for membership to frame the pre-membership class, making the doctrinal distinctives relevant to those considering joining the church.

Now, for the sake of any who may be visiting with us for the first time this morning, we are conducting, in these days, a pre-membership class. And we are doing a little bit of pretending. We are pretending that everyone who is sitting here this morning is in the process of applying for membership to Trinity Baptist Church. And we are conducting the class with that end in view, to the end that we might all together benefit from considering those things which are essential to people who are contemplating joining the church.

0:18 - 0:59 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin addresses the perceived contradiction of 'Reformed Baptist,' asserting the 1689 Confession proves its existence. He then introduces covenant theology as the primary…

Martin uses the analogy of throwing away notes in a small group to answer questions, contrasting it with the formal sermon setting, to convey his desire for clarity and simplicity despite the complexity of the topic.

If, probably if I were really teaching a little group of people in a room somewhere applying for membership, I would throw away my notes, and I would simply let the people ask questions of things that confuse them. That's probably what I would actually really do. But I can't do that this morning, can I? So we'll teach the class, I trust, as simply as possible.

6:14 - 6:38 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He outlines the two fundamentals of covenant theology: the unity of one way of salvation (the covenant of grace) and the diversity of two distinct covenants (Old and New). He…

He uses the metaphor of 'ABC's' and 'multiply, divide' versus 'calculus' to assure the audience that he will present the fundamentals of covenant theology in a basic, accessible way.

We open up the fundamentals of covenant theology. This is ABC. This is multiply, divide. This is not calculus, but this is ABC of covenant theology.

8:18 - 8:31 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin elaborates on the unity of salvation, explaining the 'covenant of grace' as the one method of salvation since the Fall. He details its universal aspect (the free offer of…

Martin points out that the 1689 London Confession copied almost verbatim from the Westminster Confession on the covenant of grace, illustrating the theological unity between Reformed Baptists and Presbyterians on this point.

OK, well, let's look, first of all, at the unity that there is only one way and method of salvation from sin. I'm going to read from the 1689 Confession of Faith, the 1689 Confession of Faith, Chapter seven. Now, if you have a hymn book. You take out the hymn book and it is a kind providence that here in the 1689 Confession of Faith, Chapter seven, the reformed Baptist copied almost word for word from the from the Westminster Presbyterian.

15:13 - 15:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Approach church life with an optimistic, realistic perspective, not becoming cynical or apathetic, nor thinking the church will fail like Israel.

Martin uses the analogy of a 'donut with a hole' to describe national Israel after the pruning, illustrating that they are no longer the people of God in the same way, and the 'outer rim' is not the true people of God.

Furthermore, with reference to the place of the church, you understand now the church is Israel. Well, you say, what about national Israel, the Jewish people? What are they? Well, I think of them, you look at this situation, you take this out, what's left?

51:47 - 52:05 Read in full sermon