Union With Christ, #2

Driving home: And finally in frustration he picks up his pen and he puts a dash after if any in Christ, dash, and then he puts two words, new creation! Exclamation point.

Martin imagines Paul struggling to find words to describe the cataclysmic influence of union with Christ, finally settling on 'new creation!' with a dash and exclamation point, to convey the magnitude of the change.

The best way to bring it over into English to feel something of the weight of it would be to consider the apostle Paul writing these words or dictating them to his secretary, having considered what he had become by the grace of God through union with Christ. Having considered the mighty work of God in transforming him into a man who is motivated by the very things that he once hated. And he sits down to write about this change that occurred in him and in all who are partakers of true religion. And he says, if any is in Christ, and he sets his pen down and he racks his brain, how shall I expres...

18:52 - 20:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine whether you have true and saving religion tonight by asking, 'Are you in Christ?' and if your affections have been captured, faith drawn forth, and obedience is a delight.

The hymn is quoted to illustrate the new affections and desire for Christ that characterize a transformed heart, contrasting with the old view of Christ.

Are you in Christ? If you are, my friend, this text says, which is framed in the language of the well-known hymn, More Love to Thee, O Christ. More Love to Thee. Hear thou the prayer I make on bended knee.

39:39 - 40:22 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine whether you have true and saving religion tonight by asking, 'Are you in Christ?' and if your affections have been captured, faith drawn forth, and obedience is a delight.

A quote from 'Russell' (likely J.C. Ryle or another Reformed author) is used to succinctly describe the 'old purpose for living' as self-pleasing, contrasting it with living for Christ.

This is what I call the old purpose for living. The old is gone, the new has come. He tells us in this setting, verse 14, For the love of God and the love of God and the love of the world. And he died for all that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto themselves." Russell describes that common denominator in these few words, living unto themselves. Every unregenerate man, woman, boy or girl, everyone who is still in vital union with Adam,

40:22 - 41:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine whether you have true and saving religion tonight by asking, 'Are you in Christ?' and if your affections have been captured, faith drawn forth, and obedience is a delight.

Martin uses the analogy of the new heavens and new earth, where people will not 'sit around plunking harps,' to illustrate that the new creation involves activity, growth, and development, not passive idleness.

one there are varying stages of development, here is the logical perspective, when there will be the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwells nothing but righteousness and what is the great preoccupation of everyone who is ushered into the new heavens and the new world. I do not believe we will sit around plunking harps. God made us for activity, God made us for growth, God made us for development, and I am personally convinced that there are suggestions particularly in the biblical doctrine of the true life. I am personally convinced that the new creation is the new life. I am

43:16 - 44:45 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines three specific areas where the 'old has passed' and the 'new has come': a new, glorious view of Christ; a new purpose of living for Christ rather than self; and a…

The metaphor of 'Christ's free men soar with him in spiritual reality' is used to describe the new focus of concern, where believers are no longer bound by earthly things but live in the unseen world of spiritual reality.

It is the life of socially or does your heart leap within you at the thought that there is some way that you might better please your lord you might be more conformed to his image more transformed into his likeness well in the realm of the new creation you see the old focus of concern is gone granted continually plagued and it's the grief the greatest grief of the true christian is that he is yet plagued by living in the light of the things that can be seen and it's the grief and pain of his heart but that very pain is evidence that his affections and perspectives are in a new dimension there ...

52:06 - 53:25 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have been made a new creature, acknowledge from the heart that this is all of God, and if you are an amazement to yourself, gladly fall at the feet of Him who made that transition.

Martin describes Paul's amazement at his own transformation, how he was moved and governed by new things, concluding he was a new creation, to encourage listeners to recognize God's work in their own lives.

who sets his Son before you in the gospel and says, be united to him. And there's only one way you can be joined to him and that's by faith. And so he commands you in the gospel to believe on his Son. And I trust that by the Spirit of God, if you've been able in honesty in the light of the word to say, thank God, I have been made a new creature. My friend, if you never have before, I hope tonight from the heart you can say with no tongue in cheek attitude at all. Oh, Lord, I acknowledge that this is all of you. Old Adam was never up to this kind of a change. Are you an amazement to yourself? T...

56:36 - 57:24 Read in full sermon