A Message About The Lord Jesus Christ

In this part of the sermon: Examples from the book of Acts (Acts 5, 8, 9) demonstrate the apostles' preaching centered on Jesus Christ, not as mere sloganism, but as a proclamation of propositional truth…

This example contrasts the superficial, almost magical chanting of Jesus' name with the deep, propositional understanding of His person and work required for saving faith.

That the great theme of the apostolic preaching was that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, immediately this poses a problem or a question. Was this a mere parroting of the name of Jesus? Was it some kind of a semi-magical, superstitious chanting of his name, such as you may get in a Jesus people rally when someone cries out, Give me a J!

20:12 - 20:40 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The perfection of Christ's work is examined through His offices (prophet, priest, king) and the facts of His life, death, resurrection, and ascension as presented in Acts 2 and 1…

Martin recounts how pastors perceived his ministry as 'Bible teaching' rather than 'evangelism,' revealing their expectation of emotional manipulation over intellectual instruction in the gospel.

Now what is all of this if we do not understand it as a proclamation concerning the nature and perfection of the work of Jesus Christ? You see, gospel preaching is not primarily bombarding the emotions and the wills of men trying to get them to do something for Jesus. It is a clear, scriptural, loving, logical, comprehensive declaration of who Christ is and what he has done in order that sinners may come into the presence of God forgiven and accepted on a just basis. I can remember time and time again when for those five years early in my ministry I was engaged in what would be called now an e...

42:35 - 43:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Defective views of Christ's person and work lead to shallow worship and ineffective evangelism; adequate views of Christ lead to wonder and awe.

Martin critiques shallow hymnody and evangelistic appeals that focus on sentimental notions of Jesus ('He holds my hand') rather than His divine person and sovereign work.

If people are not clear on who Christ is, that he is Lord, and all they hear about Jesus Savior, Jesus Savior, Jesus Savior, is it no wonder that there is a practical antinomianism throughout the ranks of the visible church? You can look at some part of the show, but you can't look upon a pierced, risen Lord seated upon the throne of the universe without doing one of two things, saying, I don't want you on that throne, or fall at his feet and say, my Lord and my God. You see, it's a defective preaching in the climate of shallowness in worship. How can people dare, and we don't question their s...

58:13 - 59:24 Read in full sermon