Threefold Cord of a Saving Experience

In this part of the sermon: Before diving into the text, Martin explains that Romans 6 addresses questions arising from the gospel of grace (Romans 3-5), specifically whether believers should continue in sin…

The analogy of a mountain of sin being overshadowed by a more exceedingly high mountain of grace illustrates that no amount of sin can hinder a sinner from finding acceptance with God through Christ alone by faith alone.

So it was this gospel reduced to its irreducible minimum as a gospel of Christ alone, faith alone, that precipitated the two questions. For when the apostle comes to the end of chapter 5, he says in verse 20, And the law came in beside that the trespass might abound. In other words, the law was intended to show us how much we need...

7:47 - 8:20 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin unpacks the first strand: 'being made free from sin and become slaves to God.' He identifies sin as the old master, whose servitude was real, evident, and exclusive…

Paul's use of the slave master analogy is highlighted as a human analogy to help understand the reality of servitude to sin and then to righteousness.

evident to the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh. He said, I know, I'm using human, I'm using human analogies. I'm using the slave master analogy in order to help you. As he is speaking with that analogy, notice what he says.

15:33 - 15:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin unpacks the first strand: 'being made free from sin and become slaves to God.' He identifies sin as the old master, whose servitude was real, evident, and exclusive…

Examples are given of how the mind, eyes, hands, sexual organs, and feet were presented as instruments of sin, demonstrating the real and pervasive nature of slavery to sin.

the faculties of your mind and body as slaves to uncleanness and iniquity unto iniquity. You gave your mind to think arrogant thoughts. Better what life was all about than God did. Used your mind to set up your own standards of right and truth and error.

16:36 - 17:04 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin unpacks the first strand: 'being made free from sin and become slaves to God.' He identifies sin as the old master, whose servitude was real, evident, and exclusive…

The analogy of a slave being free from a former master's commands illustrates that when enslaved to sin, one was 'free in regard of righteousness,' meaning righteousness had no claim.

But Paul could say across the whole spectrum of our different sinful lifestyles, he said the whole bunch of you Romans, no matter where you fit in that spectrum, every one of you had a slavery, or he says in verse 20, it was exclusive. For when, adverb of time, when you were slaves of sin in regard to righteousness. What does he mean? This is what he means.

19:30 - 20:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Present your members (mind, eyes, hands, etc.) as slaves to righteousness, making real decisions to pursue purity and obedience in daily life.

Examples are given of how a slave of righteousness now willfully chooses to set eyes upon what is pure and lovely, and ears to that which is virtuous, in contrast to former sinful desires.

This is real stuff that meets you in the real world. This is real stuff that meets you in the real world. This is real decisions of life where once you willfully, wantonly gave your eyes to look upon lustful objects. Now you willfully will choose to set your eyes upon that which is pure and lovely,

27:02 - 27:18 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that your servitude to righteousness must be real, evident, and exclusive, just as your former servitude to sin was.

The illustration of thoughts shifting from sexual conquest to conducting oneself as a temple of the Holy Spirit demonstrates the practical change in a believer's life.

Where once my thoughts were, how can I with my words, and my touches, get them under the sheets.

28:33 - 28:41 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If the change ever takes place, God's going to get all the credit. You can't break your own servitude.

The metaphor of breaking chains illustrates that only God, the 'mightier than the strong man,' can free individuals from the bondage of sin.

You can't break your own servitude.

30:28 - 30:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that if you are a true Christian, there has been a real, undeniable change of masters from sin to God, with no middle ground.

The metaphor of being 'cast into the mold' of the gospel illustrates how the apostolic teaching shapes the heart and life, breaking sin's domination.

began to be shaped by that gospel. Be thanked. When you were the slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart. Almighty God did that work promised in the new covenant, taking out the heart of stone, giving a heart of flesh, a heart that, that turns to please God.

35:29 - 36:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that if you are a true Christian, there has been a real, undeniable change of masters from sin to God, with no middle ground.

The imagery of remembering 'clanking chains bound in slavery to sin' and then having them broken illustrates the profound gratitude of those who have experienced the change of masters.

When these things were read, there was a whole assembly of people who sat there saying, oh, God, thank, God be thanked. That's when Paul says in verse 17, but God be thanked. Yes, Lord, how we praise you. We remember what it was like to go around.

39:27 - 39:43 Read in full sermon

The point: If you claim to be a slave of God, you must be 'having your fruit unto sanctification'; examine your thoughts and actions for this proof.

The analogy of someone getting inside your head with a notebook to record thoughts and actions illustrates how a true change of practice would be evident in daily life, even in private thoughts.

that if someone were able to get inside your head with a notebook, recording your thoughts, if someone were able, without you knowing it, to follow you. Listen to every word you spoke on the phone. Observe everything you watched on the internet. And at the end of the week, had to tally it all up. They'd come to one of two conclusions.

44:33 - 45:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Be a slave of God, concerned with pleasing Him in private, knowing 'Thou, God, seest me,' rather than merely seeking the acceptance of peers.

Martin shares a personal story of turning to God in the loneliness and pain of his widower's house, illustrating how sanctification is practiced in private, known only to God.

The chambers of a widower's house, present but gone, since my wife's body was carried out of my house. And the loneliness and the pain of that separation. Myself turning to

46:31 - 47:04 Read in full sermon

Driving home: People who think they will attain heaven at the end who are strangers. To the new birth.

A quotation from John Owen on two 'damning errors' (thinking one can attain heaven without new birth, or thinking one has new birth without pursuing holiness) is used to underscore the necessity of both conversion and sanctification.

that has experienced a change of masters. And a change of practice. Not at the end of a life where anyone has raised a hand, prayed a prayer, tipped their hat to Jesus, and said, I'm fixed up, I'm in. No. John Owen said,

50:39 - 50:59 Read in full sermon

The point: If you know nothing of the change of masters, plead with the Lord Jesus, who alone can break the chains that bind you.

Martin shares a personal story of telling Jesus, 'I can't fix it. It's broken. It's shattered. All the pieces are scattered on the floor,' illustrating his dependence on Christ to mend his broken heart.

To open the prison to them that are bound, as well as to bind up the brokenhearted. In times without number in recent days, I've just said, Lord Jesus, I can't fix it.

55:28 - 55:42 Read in full sermon