Are You Under the Benefits of Christ's Sacrifice?

Driving home: To approach God on any other basis is the essence of sin.

The Old Testament high priest approaching the Ark of the Covenant with blood, where the law and God's presence resided, illustrates that sinful lawbreakers can only approach a holy God through blood sacrifice.

You remember in the Old Testament, and I'm convinced that this is a beautiful picture and God gave it for that purpose, that when a sinner, when an Israelite, pardon me, would come and approach God in worship, he knew that inside the veil, God dwelt in Shekinah glory. There was the visible manifestation of the presence of God between the cherubim that overlooked the mercy seat and the Ark of the Covenant. And within the Ark, the Ten Commandments were placed, the two tables of the law. And when the high priest would go in to the holiest of holy once a year, God commanded him that he was to spri...

12:47 - 13:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask yourself searching questions about whether you have been brought to a place of personal, painful awareness of guilt and pollution, calling God's law, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and God the Son as witnesses.

The publican's prayer in Luke 18:13, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner,' illustrates a personal, painful awareness of guilt and pollution, contrasting with the proud Pharisee.

You remember the instance of the publican who stood outside the temple, and it's recorded in Luke chapter 18 and verse 13 that he prayed this prayer. He would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, seeming to be an indication that he knew the God who dwelt in the heavens was too holy, but probably hung his head upon his chest, and he cried, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. You see, there was a personal painful awareness of guilt and pollution that held him back in a distance. He didn't come crashing and rushing brazenly into the presence of the deity like that proud Pharisee who lifted up...

16:13 - 17:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask yourself searching questions about whether you have been brought to a place of personal, painful awareness of guilt and pollution, calling God's law, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and God the Son as witnesses.

The prodigal son's decision to return to his father and confess, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight,' serves as an example of conviction of sin.

You see, we've been blighted with this terrible, terrible, terrible practice of mistaking a mere admission of guilt for a personal, painful awareness. Corruption and guilt wrought by God the Spirit. That's why so many can profess to love Christ and trust him and show so little fruit of devotion to him. Another clear example of course is the prodigal as recorded in Luke chapter 15 who said, I will arise and go to my Father and say, Father, I have sinned against heaven.

17:22 - 17:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask yourself searching questions about whether you have been brought to a place of personal, painful awareness of guilt and pollution, calling God's law, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and God the Son as witnesses.

Martin uses the analogy of calling witnesses (God's law, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, God the Son) to testify whether a person has truly experienced conviction of sin, making the concept concrete and personal.

It's one thing for us to vindicate ourselves and say, oh yes, I have been brought to that place of personal, painful awareness of guilt and pollution. But at the mouth of two or three witnesses the Scripture says every word should be confirmed. May I call in some witnesses to either vindicate you or condemn you this morning? May I call in some witnesses?

18:12 - 18:33 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The story of George Whitefield's brother illustrates how God brings a person to a conscious, painful awareness of being lost before they can embrace Christ's mercy.

The story of George Whitefield's backslidden brother, who was brought to a profound sense of being 'lost' and then found hope in Christ just before his death, illustrates the necessity and power of God-wrought conviction.

For Jesus said, I came not to call the righteous but sinners, those who have been brought to a personal painful awareness of their need. Let me illustrate from an incident in history. Most of you have heard of the great saint, first of all, and servant of God, secondly, George Whitefield. George Whitefield had a brother.

21:24 - 21:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask yourself, 'Does God see that you're resting the full weight of your soul's well-being upon Jesus Christ and His perfect sacrifice and on that alone?'

The physical act of resting one's full weight on a pew is used as an analogy to explain what it means to 'rest the full weight of your soul's well-being upon Jesus Christ and His perfect sacrifice and on that alone.'

What a Savior. Have you been powerfully drawn by the Spirit to rest the weight of your soul upon Christ alone? Let me explain what I mean. As I look out today, I see each one of you, starting up here with our good friend the Gabriels, right back through.

37:29 - 37:45 Read in full sermon