Way of Forgiveness (radio)

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon series 'Simple Signposts to the Celestial City,' drawing on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and sets up the text by expressing the wish to have heard the…

Martin borrows 'Celestial City' from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress as a graphic synonym for heaven, framing the whole sermon series around the imagery of signposts directing travelers toward their eternal destination.

We began what will be a relatively brief series of messages entitled Simple Signpost to the Celestial City. Taking the term Celestial City from Bunyan's Immortal Pilgrim's Progress, used as a graphic synonym for heaven, this series of sermons will be an attempt to preach and to apply some of the most simple and clear texts in all of the Word of God, which indeed constitute signposts to heaven.

0:00 - 0:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon series 'Simple Signposts to the Celestial City,' drawing on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and sets up the text by expressing the wish to have heard the…

Martin shares a personal longing — developed through reading biographies — to be shot into a time capsule and transported to England's open fields to hear Whitefield preaching Christ with seraphic eloquence and earnest, burning passion.

Now, have you ever wondered what it would be like to have heard an apostle preach the gospel? As I have read biographies, I have wished that somehow I could be shot into a time capsule and taken back to some of the open fields in England and hear the great Whitefield preaching Christ with such passion, with such earnestness and burning, and almost seraphic eloquence. I have wished that I could have heard Spurgeon as I have read his biography and read accounts of everything from the captivating, mellifluous voice with which he spoke to the earnest, tender

1:29 - 2:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon series 'Simple Signposts to the Celestial City,' drawing on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and sets up the text by expressing the wish to have heard the…

Martin describes reading accounts of Spurgeon's captivating, mellifluous voice and the earnest, tender passion with which he pleaded with sinners, expressing a deep wish to have been present in the Metropolitan Tabernacle.

Now, have you ever wondered what it would be like to have heard an apostle preach the gospel? As I have read biographies, I have wished that somehow I could be shot into a time capsule and taken back to some of the open fields in England and hear the great Whitefield preaching Christ with such passion, with such earnestness and burning, and almost seraphic eloquence. I have wished that I could have heard Spurgeon as I have read his biography and read accounts of everything from the captivating, mellifluous voice with which he spoke to the earnest, tender

1:29 - 2:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon series 'Simple Signposts to the Celestial City,' drawing on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and sets up the text by expressing the wish to have heard the…

Beyond Whitefield and Spurgeon, Martin confesses the even deeper longing to have heard Peter or Paul preach — a desire partially answered by the shorthand sermon summaries God preserved in Acts.

passion with which he pleaded with sinners. But I must confess that beyond the yearning to hear Whitefield and Spurgeon and other greats of the past, I have wished that I could have been somewhere to have heard Peter preaching, to have heard Paul or one of the other apostles. Well, in the Book of Acts, God has given us a few at least shorthand summary statements of several of the sermons of these great apostles and one of them is recorded in Acts chapter 13 and it is to that chapter that I direct your attention and from which we shall, God,

2:13 - 2:54 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin walks through the three-part structure of Paul's sermon: Israel's history in preparation for Christ (vv. 16-25), how God fulfilled his promises in Christ's death and…

Martin highlights Paul's physical gesture in Acts 13:16 — raising his hand to gain attention before soliciting the commitment of his listeners' ears with 'hearken' — as the mark of a preacher determined to be heard.

let alone clear divisions, three divisions, but this one does indeed have such divisions. You will notice Paul begins in verse 16, And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hands, said, Men of Israel and ye that fear God, hearken. Here is a man determined to be heard. He raises his hand to gain their attention, and then he solicits the commitment of their ears, hearken.

3:35 - 4:06 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin walks through the three-part structure of Paul's sermon: Israel's history in preparation for Christ (vv. 16-25), how God fulfilled his promises in Christ's death and…

Martin notes that Paul calls back his audience in verse 26 with 'Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham... to us is this word of salvation sent forth,' suggesting a good preacher's awareness that listeners' attention can drift even within a single message.

Notice in verse 26, And those among you that fear God, he's again addressing his audience. He's fearful perhaps he's lost their attention since he raised his hand and said, Men of Israel and you that fear God, listen. They were perhaps getting a little weary, so like a good preacher, he calls back their attention and says, Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, those among you that fear God, to us is this word of salvation sent forth. And then he gives the history of how God fulfilled his promises to Israel

4:49 - 5:31 Read in full sermon

The point: When you think of the gospel and what excites you about it, make sure forgiveness of sins stands at the center. It is not a peripheral benefit but the central blessing from which all other gospel privileges radiate.

Martin describes the gospel as a many-faceted diamond whose planes shine in many ways because sinners' needs are many; but the deepest center from which every facet radiates is the blessing of forgiveness of sins.

And in those words, there appears on our simple signpost to the celestial city the truth that the forgiveness or remission of sins is the central blessing of the gospel. Now, the gospel is like a many-faceted diamond. It has many planes and it shines in many ways because our needs as sinners are many and there is no other way to do it. There is no need that we have as sinners which is not addressed in some marvelous facet of gospel privilege in Christ.

7:46 - 8:28 Read in full sermon

The point: When you think of the gospel and what excites you about it, make sure forgiveness of sins stands at the center. It is not a peripheral benefit but the central blessing from which all other gospel privileges radiate.

Extending the diamond metaphor, Martin says forgiveness shines out of the deepest center and radiates to every plane of every facet — it is not one gospel privilege among many but the source from which all others flow.

However, shining out of the deepest center of that diamond and radiating to every plane of every facet is its most marvelous provision and that is the blessing of forgiveness of sins. And hence, when the apostles, in his sermon there in that synagogue, comes to bring that sermon to a conclusion, having demonstrated in his first heading how God prepared the world through the history of his ancient people Israel for the coming of his Son, and how under his second head his Son had come in fulfillment of those prophecies

8:29 - 9:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Reject every version of Jesus that is not the Christ of biblical revelation. A nebulous, malleable Jesus invented to suit personal preferences cannot forgive real sins before the real God.

Martin contrasts the biblical Christ with 'some nebulous, ephemeral, mystical Jesus concept, some new age guru that you can make him whoever you would make him,' insisting the signpost points to the Christ of concrete historical and biblical revelation.

He has not been holding on. Stop some nebulous, ephemeral, mystical Jesus concept, some new age guru that you can make him whoever you would make him so long as you find meaning by having trust in him. Never. In this simple signpost to the celestial city, there is clearly printed the statement forgiveness of sins is the central blessing of the gospel.

11:50 - 12:21 Read in full sermon

Driving home: true forgiveness deals with the true God and with real sins that can only be dealt with with the real Christ of real biblical revelation.

Martin argues that true forgiveness deals with the true God and real sins, and real sins can only be dealt with by the real Christ of real biblical revelation — making Christ's historical identity inseparable from the forgiveness offered.

But then underneath it, printed with equal clarity, is this statement that this forgiveness is found only in connection with the Christ of Old Testament prophecy and of New Testament history for the simple reason that true forgiveness deals with the true God and with real sins that can only be dealt with with the real Christ of real biblical revelation. There is the signpost. It tells us forgiveness of sins is the great and central blessing set forth in the gospel. It tells us secondly that this forgiveness is found only in connection

12:21 - 13:06 Read in full sermon

The point: Preachers must never let the necessary qualifications of faith — its penitent and submissive character — become a parenthesis that obscures the glory of sola fide. Paul wrote 'by grace through faith' without qualificatio…

Martin clarifies that saving faith is always penitent — detesting, loathing, and forsaking sin — and submissive, embracing Christ not only as sin-bearer but as sovereign and master, while insisting these qualifications never compromise sola fide.

By faith alone. Yes, it will always be a penitent faith in which the sins for which I seek forgiveness will be detested and loathed and forsaken. It will be a submissive faith that disposes me to embrace the Lord Jesus not only as my sin bearer but my sovereign and my master. Yes, that is true.

13:53 - 14:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the nature of saving faith: it is totally receptive. It brings nothing and takes everything from Christ. Any impulse to contribute something to your justification is a misunderstanding of what faith is.

Martin illustrates the unique receptive nature of faith by comparing it to drinking the water of life — faith takes what is offered by another and receives what is provided by another, bringing nothing of its own.

You see, it is the unique nature of faith that it is totally receptive. It takes what is offered by another. It receives what is provided by another. Therefore, it is likened to drinking of the water of life.

15:29 - 15:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the nature of saving faith: it is totally receptive. It brings nothing and takes everything from Christ. Any impulse to contribute something to your justification is a misunderstanding of what faith is.

Faith is likened to eating the bread of life — going out entirely of itself into another, finding all needs met in Christ, with nothing in itself upon which to rest.

It is likened to eating of the bread of life. It is likened to looking upon the serpent of brass. It is the unique capacity of faith to have nothing in itself upon which to rest and to go totally out of itself into another to find all of its needs met in that other. And that other is the Lord Jesus.

15:48 - 16:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the nature of saving faith: it is totally receptive. It brings nothing and takes everything from Christ. Any impulse to contribute something to your justification is a misunderstanding of what faith is.

Martin uses the serpent of brass in the wilderness as a picture of saving faith: the unique capacity to have nothing in oneself and to look wholly to another — the Lord Jesus — to find all needs met.

It is likened to eating of the bread of life. It is likened to looking upon the serpent of brass. It is the unique capacity of faith to have nothing in itself upon which to rest and to go totally out of itself into another to find all of its needs met in that other. And that other is the Lord Jesus.

15:48 - 16:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the nature of saving faith: it is totally receptive. It brings nothing and takes everything from Christ. Any impulse to contribute something to your justification is a misunderstanding of what faith is.

Martin describes the natural man's resistance to sola fide: he wants 'something plus Christ' because faith alone offends his pride by leaving him with nothing to contribute — faith alone is an empty hand, and man wants a full hand.

Faith alone. And that's the great stumbling block of the gospel, isn't it? That's the great stumbling block of the gospel. Man wants to have something plus Christ.

16:48 - 17:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the nature of saving faith: it is totally receptive. It brings nothing and takes everything from Christ. Any impulse to contribute something to your justification is a misunderstanding of what faith is.

Faith alone is the empty hand that takes a full and adequate Savior; faith alone is the parched mouth that drinks of him who is the water of life — two parallel metaphors for the non-contributory, wholly receptive nature of saving faith.

Something plus faith alone will give him the grounds to have something plus Christ. Because faith alone is the empty hand that takes a full and an adequate Savior. Faith alone is the parched mouth that breaks of him who is the water of life. But now I must hasten to look at the fourth line there on our simple signpost.

17:00 - 17:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Preachers who offer forgiveness must do so with the gravity of solemn declaration — as one standing in the presence of the living God testifying to all without distinction, regardless of hearers' backgrounds or sins.

Martin expounds the verb 'be it known' (proclaimed) as carrying the weight of solemn testimony, not casual speech — Paul is testifying as one who stands in the presence of the living God, not merely doing his apostolic job of talking about Jesus.

This forgiveness in Christ by faith is freely and sincerely proclaimed to all without distinction. This forgiveness in Christ by faith is freely and sincerely proclaimed to all without distinction. When Paul said be it known unto you therefore brethren that through this man is caught on gallows. Solemnly declared is the sense of that verb.

18:02 - 18:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Preachers who offer forgiveness must do so with the gravity of solemn declaration — as one standing in the presence of the living God testifying to all without distinction, regardless of hearers' backgrounds or sins.

Martin recreates Paul's address: regardless of whether listeners were ethnic Jews, Gentile proselytes, or people of any background, sins, blindness, or perversity — Paul solemnly declared forgiveness in Christ to all without distinction in that synagogue.

I'm not just shooting off the mouth because it's my job as an apostle to talk about Jesus. I am solemnly testifying as one who stands in the presence of the living God that there is no one here in this synagogue within the sound of my voice whether you are of the stock of Israel after the flesh whether you are part of those Gentiles who had come to embrace the God of old covenant revelation whatever your background whatever your sins whatever your blindness whatever your perversity I solemnly declare to all of you

18:39 - 19:22 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that the sin most likely to damn you is not gross immorality but the refusal to believe. The crowning damning sin is unbelief — treat it with corresponding gravity.

Martin adds a vivid final element to the signpost image: an asterisk at the bottom marked 'warning' — against the greatest sin that will keep a soul out of heaven — giving the entire illustration additional urgency and pastoral weight.

But then as I look down at the bottom piece of that simple signpost simple signpost simple signpost there's an asterisk and you know what it says? It says warning. Warning. And the warning is against the greatest sin of all.

20:31 - 20:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that the sin most likely to damn you is not gross immorality but the refusal to believe. The crowning damning sin is unbelief — treat it with corresponding gravity.

Martin notes there will be many forgiven liars in heaven, then adds candidly, 'Thank God I'll be one of them,' making the catalogue of forgiven sinners personal and disarming before landing the exclusion of the unbelieving sinner.

It's not the sin of lying. There'll be many many forgiven liars in heaven. Thank God I'll be one of them.

20:57 - 21:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that the sin most likely to damn you is not gross immorality but the refusal to believe. The crowning damning sin is unbelief — treat it with corresponding gravity.

Martin lists murderers, adulterers, homosexuals, pedophiles, and child abusers as among those who will be in heaven by forgiveness — heightening the shock of the one category excluded: the unbelieving sinner.

There'll be many forgiven murderers in heaven. There'll be many forgiven adulterers adulterers and homosexuals and pedophiles and child abusers and every vile kind of sinner in heaven. But there's one kind of sinner that won't be in heaven. You know what that is?

21:05 - 21:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not walk away from preaching with mere admiration for the content or illustrations. The only question that matters is whether you will go out with the Savior or without him. Unbelief about what God says you are, or ab…

Martin directly addresses listeners who might leave saying 'that was nice' or 'I loved the signpost imagery' — he says flatly, 'I don't care what you think about the sermon,' redirecting all concern to whether they will go out with the Savior or without him.

I would conclude our study of this second simple signpost to the celestial city by saying to every one of you kids and men and women and friends gathered here tonight look at the asterisk on that sign. We've looked at the four simple statements that constitute this signpost to the celestial city but here's the warning beware beware beware of going out and saying oh that was nice and I love you. I like that imagery of the signpost and that was clever how he my friend I don't care what you think about the sermon.

22:14 - 22:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Come to Christ just as you are, with nothing to plead but his blood shed for you and his own invitation. Do not wait for better feelings or improved character — the model prayer is 'Just as I am... Oh Lamb of God I come.…

Martin closes by quoting Charlotte Elliott's hymn as the model prayer of a soul embracing the offered Savior: 'just as I am without one plea but that thy blood was shed for me and that thou bidst me come to thee oh Lamb of God I come.'

before you covered with my sins I see that there's no way to have them removed unless Christ takes them away I see that Christ alone can take them Christ is willing to take them and I want them taken what do I wait for just as I am without one plea but that thy blood was shed for me and that thou bidst me come to thee oh Lamb of God I come

24:14 - 24:45 Read in full sermon