Content, Part 2

The point: Seriously consider the biblical materials and historical evidence for the place of the law in evangelism and sanctification, rather than rejecting it.

This metaphor explains that God, having appointed ends, also appoints suitable means, so diligent study of quickening preaching is not manipulation but understanding God's design.

So-called滬mél envie au Sugar . Tho we take second place to none in our affirmation of conviction in the sovereignty of the Spirit, I trust we take second place to none in our equally firm affirmation that God who has appointed His own ends has appointed means to those ends, in most cases very congruence or suitable to those ends. 0.28.

2:59 - 3:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: John Owen has perceptively stated that the two greatest religious lies by which multitudes are undone to their eternal ruin are these. Number one, to think that... ...that one is prepared for heaven while he is a strange…

Martin quotes John Owen's perceptive statement about the two greatest religious lies: thinking one is prepared for heaven without new birth, and believing one has new birth without radical life transformation. This sets the stage for the discussion of the new birth.

John Owen has perceptively stated that the two greatest religious lies by which multitudes are undone to their eternal ruin are these. Number one, to think that...

7:30 - 7:45 Read in full sermon

The point: Seize opportunities to preach in Roman Catholic churches (not ecumenical services) to expose the lie of sacramentalism.

Martin defines sacramentalism as assuming religious ritual brings safety, illustrating it with the Roman Catholic practice of water and wafer, then extending it to Protestant 'sacramentalism' of raised hands and repeated prayers.

The doctrine of the new birth, properly expounded and applied, is pressed upon the consciences of men. For instance, the church has often been brought into a moribund state through the cancerous influence of sacramentalism. Now a layman's definition of sacramentalism is simply this. The assumption that a religious ritual has placed one in a position of safety.

10:48 - 11:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not assume that churches with solid biblical preaching are immune to formalism; preach the new birth to attack this enemy.

Martin defines formalism as assuming all is well when engaged in religious activity (right place, time, people, thing), without heart engagement. He uses Nicodemus as an example of a formalist who needed the new birth.

And there is another ugly foe, that of formalism. And I'll give you a layman's definition of formalism. The assumption that all is well when one is engaged in religious activity, that is, he's at the right place, at the right time, with the right people, doing the right thing.

13:35 - 13:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not assume that churches with solid biblical preaching are immune to formalism; preach the new birth to attack this enemy.

Martin defines notionalism as assuming clearly understood and confessed religious notions constitute true religion, contrasting it with the inward perception of truth by the Spirit and obedience from the heart.

The assumption that religious notions clearly understood and gladly confessed constitute the essence of true religion.

15:54 - 16:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach powerfully and pointedly on the necessity, nature, and fruits of the new birth to counteract notionalism, especially among second and third-generation Reformed Christians.

Martin defines presumptionalism as thinking one is in a state of grace due to right bloodlines or associations, illustrating it with both paedobaptist and credobaptist errors of presumptive regeneration.

And then I must mention another one. That's the whole enemy of presumptionalism. I've coined the word to give you all isms. Now, presumptionalism is simply the thinking that if I have the right bloodlines and the right associations with people who are in a state of grace, then I must automatically be in a state of grace.

19:23 - 19:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be bullied away from preaching the biblical subject of being born again, despite the abuse of the terminology.

Martin laments the abuse of the term 'born again' by public figures, which has made him almost embarrassed to use it, highlighting the need for biblical clarity on the doctrine.

because of the abuse of biblical terminology. If you're like me, I've almost been embarrassed to use the term, born again, because one can just think of a former president with his big grin talking about being born again. Half-converted athletes desecrating the Lord's day before millions! While smiling, did he help them back somebody's head on the 40-yard line because they're born again?

22:01 - 22:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be bullied away from preaching the biblical subject of being born again, despite the abuse of the terminology.

Martin recounts Whitefield preaching 'Ye must be born again' 300 times, and his response to an inquirer: 'Because, sir, ye must be born again.' This illustrates the conviction and urgency needed in preaching this truth.

Meaning, who obviously are either pitifully ignorant while having perhaps some slight dimensions of the root of the matter in them, use the term so glibly, or alas, I feel in most cases, people who've been utterly deceived are using sacred biblical terminology in a way that is totally foreign to the intention of Holy Scripture. It is said of the great Whitefield that during the course of his lifetime, that he preached on the text, he must be born again, no fewer than 300 times. And someone apparently who had heard him preach on the text many times asked him on one occasion, Mr. Whitefield,

22:51 - 23:35 Read in full sermon

The point: Attend prayers for revival with a fresh, powerful, careful, earnest, and imaginative proclamation of the glorious truth of justification by faith.

Martin quotes J.I. Packer's statement that justification by faith is like Atlas, bearing the entire evangelical knowledge of saving grace on its shoulders. This metaphor emphasizes the foundational and central importance of the doctrine.

certain aspects of its privileges are described. But surely in this text the apostle is telling us that the heart of that gospel is the setting forth of the way of righteousness from God a righteousness received by faith. Packer makes a statement that I don't know if I'd be willing to be as bold as he is but since his scholarship is much broader and deeper and far more credible than mine I will hide behind him. In his introduction to Buchanan's classic work on justification Packer says this A further fact to weigh is that justification by faith

28:21 - 29:05 Read in full sermon

The point: If ministering in a liberal climate, preach justification, which necessitates preaching the strictness and spirituality of the law.

Martin mentions the revival under Haldane's ministry while expounding Romans, noting his privilege to stand in that building. This serves as an example of God owning the preaching of justification.

And so if any of you are ministering in situations that have been conditioned for a long time by liberalism could it be that God would own with power and some measure of quickening a fresh and concentrated proclamation of this great truth. You remember that the revival that broke out under the ministry of Haldane broke out when he was expounding verse by verse the epistle to the Romans. It's been my privilege to stand in that very building where the spirit of God came upon that man and upon those students to whom he was ministering. Secondly many of us minister in a situation where the charism...

34:09 - 34:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach the doctrine of justification to wrench people's thinking loose from crass subjectivism and set them upon the objective realities of God.

Martin critiques the charismatic movement's 'crass subjectivism' and 'feeling oriented' emphasis, using the '700 Club' as an example, arguing that justification by faith wrenches people back to objective realities.

with its crass subjectivism has taken its toll upon the thinking of multitudes. There is little concern for the objective realities to which the gospel is the divine answer. Everything is sweet Jesus and everything is communion and fellowship and love and feeling oriented in the major charismatic movement. Thank God for some of the exceptions but by and large just turn on the 700 Club and listen for a half an hour if you have the fortitude to do so.

34:53 - 35:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach the doctrine of justification to wrench people's thinking loose from crass subjectivism and set them upon the objective realities of God.

Martin describes uncertain evangelicalism as 'nervously sticking their finger into the water and continually lifting it to see where the latest breeze is blowing,' illustrating its trend-following nature and lack of fixed doctrinal standards.

It's a pathetic thing to see brethren whom we have every reason to call brethren nervously sticking their finger into the water and continually lifting it to see where the latest breeze is blowing. What's the latest evangelical fact? Is it body life? Then we jump on that.

37:11 - 37:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach discriminating sermons on the nature and distinguishing marks of saving faith and true repentance.

Martin humorously imagines Paul and Silas, if they had attended certain theological schools, giving the Philippian jailer a fatalistic answer instead of commanding him to believe. This highlights the danger of over-intellectualizing the call to repentance and faith.

and hath given assurance unto all in that he raised him from the dead. 1 John 3.22 and this is his commandment that we believe in the name of his only begotten son and when the Philippian jailer cries out of the agony of his soul Sirs what must I do to be saved? Thank God Paul and Silas had not been in some schools of theology they would have turned to him with a sober look and said Ah my jailer friend there is a fatal word in your question repeat the question

40:47 - 41:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Continually thunder and weep into the hearts of people the necessity, nature, and urgency of repentance and faith as gospel duties.

Martin cites Nettleton and Edwards as examples of men who became more discriminating in their preaching as revivals intensified, separating wheat from chaff rather than just pumping enthusiasm. This illustrates the need for careful, nuanced preaching on repentance and faith.

the nature of true repentance and often often in seasons of revival and one marvels particularly at the wisdom of a man like Nettleton and Edwards or men like Nettleton and Edwards in this regard the more the ground swell opened up and the revival increased in intensity recognizing that there is an element of a human phenomenon in this matter that is that an element of a human phenomenon in this whole area of revival there is a natural contagion of feeling and emotion these men recognizing that the more the revival advanced the more discriminating they became in their preaching to try to separ...

44:24 - 45:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Continually thunder and weep into the hearts of people the necessity, nature, and urgency of repentance and faith as gospel duties.

Martin quotes the description of Robert Murray McCheyne: 'he preached as if he were dying to have you converted.' This illustrates the urgency and passion needed in preaching repentance and faith.

and the urgency of repentance and faith as gospel duties and brethren let me say just a word about the urgency you remember that woman that said of Mick Shane he preached as if he were dying to have you converted he preached as if he were dying to have you converted when's the last time an unconverted person sat in your congregation or mine and said to himself well I don't understand what that fool preacher's talking about but one thing is clear

45:51 - 46:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Ensure gospel preaching shows no less sincerity and availability of the inviting Savior than the Savior himself did.

Martin recounts a personal story of preaching evangelistically to young men he suspected of hyper-Calvinism, deliberately stating 'Christ is yours' to 'flush them out' and challenge their theological rigidity regarding the free offer of the gospel.

that the sinner in all the nakedness and destitution of his need and the Savior in all the glory and plenitude and magnitude of his saving power come together in a direct when they take the offered as he so freely presents himself in the gospel I remember preaching in a certain situation where I suspected a few young men had gone a little bit to seed with their Calvinism and I traced some seeds of hyperism in them and in their eyes I was acceptable

50:54 - 51:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Be holy pleaders and gentle entreaters, proclaiming the availability and sincerity of an inviting Savior without fear of Arminian suspicion.

Martin shares a personal testimony of taking five years to feel comfortable with his Reformed theology, especially election and definite atonement, and another ten years to integrate it into his preaching, emphasizing the cost and struggle of internalizing truth.

could it be I do not accuse I only ask the question and leave the question with your conscience and God could it be that one of the causes why we have not seen more conversions is that we have not yet felt fully comfortable with our new framework of theology let me share with you something in the way of a personal testimony I don't often do this but in the intimacy of this fellowship I think it's warranted it took me a full five years to feel comfortable down to every last cell of my internal being with my new understanding of the word of God to get election effectual calling definite atonemen...

54:33 - 55:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach Hebrews 12:14 and other texts asserting that without holiness, no man shall see the Lord, to cut through deadness in the church.

Martin critiques evangelicalism's tendency to conform to worldly thought patterns, specifically mentioning the adoption of anti-Christian, feministic theology and new hermeneutics that twist biblical texts. This illustrates the danger of losing holiness.

And oh, if any generation needed this, ours does. The whole idea, the way to win the world is to be like it. And so you see evangelicalism trying to conform to the overall patterns of worldly thought when the world imbibes its anti-Christian, feministic theology. What does the church do?

58:59 - 59:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Be willing to pay the price of doing your homework to preach freely and joyfully on doctrines that are clear in your own mind.

Martin uses Whitefield's diligent study during Atlantic crossings as an example of how even men used powerfully in revival prepared extensively, countering the idea that the Holy Spirit bypasses human labor.

oh it must be wonderful to preach in seasons of revival and you read of men who with no preparation stood on their feet and preached like incarnate angels for two or three hours and if you check the history of those men there were many many hours Whitfield's trips across the Atlantic those were his storing up times when he poured over his books and over his Greek Testament and prepared many of his sermons that under the power of God were instrumental when he hit the shores and hardly had time to breathe or sneeze between preaching four and five times a day. Brethren the Holy Ghost never came t...

64:02 - 64:46 Read in full sermon