You Are Not Your Own (communion msg.)

The point: Do not trifle with your souls or barter away your never-dying existence for trinkets.

Martin uses the imagery of launching into unseen worlds upon death to emphasize the eternal significance of our existence and the need to take our souls seriously.

The following sermon was delivered on Sunday evening, June 4th, 2000, at the Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, New Jersey. It is a sobering thought to know that each of us shall indeed be launched into worlds unseen. When you breathe your last and those who stand at your deathbed or pick pieces of your body out of wreckage say so-and-so is dead, you will have launched into realms unseen to be held forever in unspeakable bliss or indescribable torment. It's a serious sober thing to be possessed of an immortal, never-dying existence as a creature of God. May God help us not to trifle with our...

0:00 - 1:15 Read in full sermon

The point: Reject the modern 'I am my own person-ism' and recognize that you are not your own possession.

He cites the rationale for abortion ('it is my body, I am free to do what I will with my body') as an example of the modern 'I am my own person-ism' that contradicts the biblical truth of not being one's own.

This is where the emperor of the world will be. Corinthian believers, and you are not your own. In a day of crass self-expression and I am my own person-ism, in a day when the rationale to justify the slaying of one and a half million unborn children every year in our country is, it is my body, I am free to do what I will with my body, in a day in which people speak of their preferences being the only rule and law to which they are obligated, I say this is a radical affirmation. To say to a group of people that they are to regard themselves in no sense as their own possession. You are not your...

7:50 - 8:58 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The reason for this non-ownership is explained through the commercial language of redemption: believers were purchased with the blood of Christ, making them His property by right…

Martin suggests Paul might be using the language of manumission, where a slave was freed by a price paid to a master, possibly in the name of a deity, to illustrate the concept of being bought.

purchased by whom purchased with what purchased by the lamb of god at the price of his own life's blood now when the apostle used this language to the corinthians they would have understood the commercial overtones of the language used and it may well be and some of the commentators point this out that paul may be referring to an act that is called an act of manumission in which a slave was set free by a price paid to the master in the name of a deity and in the name of a pagan deity a slave would be purchased and become the property of another and it may be that against that background in a s...

12:29 - 13:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Glorify God in your body by bringing honor and praise to Him through your actions, words, and thoughts.

He describes the Corinthian church's chaotic spiritual meetings ('charismatic free-for-alls') where prophecy and tongues occurred without order, contrasting their supposed spirituality with their subsequent immoral behavior.

of therefore statement glorify god therefore in your body now a number of you have the new king james verse 1 and verse 2 and verse 3 and verse 4 and verse 5 and verse 6 and verse 7 and verse 7 and verse 8 and verse 9 and verse 10 and verse 11 and verse 12 and verse 13 and right there we come to a bottom where the lukewarmож use the word Harshad as a reference to the religion that we were forming with fatigue and also the new king becauseラallows very ultimately the religion we have seen in vogue chapter one in the bible which says that holy or MOM is not light therefore the people who landed t...

15:13 - 16:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, as your reasonable service.

Martin explains Romans 12:1 by contrasting the Old Testament practice of sacrificing animals with the New Testament call to present our entire bodily existence as a living sacrifice to God.

sphere of your bodily existence. In the context, again I acknowledge, the primary emphasis would be glorify God in your body, that is, in the expression of your sexual capacity and appetites. Flee fornication, arm yourself with all the motives in the passage. I fully acknowledge that, but this is not the only passage that speaks of glorifying God in the realm or sphere, of our bodily existence. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your hearts, no, present your souls, no. What does Romans 12, 1 say? That you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, ac...

21:11 - 22:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider whether you can glorify God by exposing your body in public swimming areas, or if it occasions lust in others.

He contrasts the cultural acceptance of revealing bathing suits ('bared thighs up to here,' 'equivalent of bra and panties') with the fact that such exposure would lead to arrest if done on the street, questioning the compromised consciences of believers.

Whoso looks to lust upon a woman hath committed adultery. Whoso looks to lust upon a woman hath committed adultery already in his heart, and bear as much of your body as in any other circumstance would be considered shameful, except to your husband behind the bedroom door. But because American culture has said you can have bared thighs up to here as long as it's a one-piece suit. And you can wear the equivalent of bra and panties, which if you walk down the street, you'd be arrested.

29:50 - 30:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine your swimwear and exposure to the gaze of others, asking if you are glorifying God in the bearing of your body.

Martin shares his personal experience of growing up near the beach and loving it, but states that after salvation, indiscriminate mixed bathing became unacceptable to his conscience, rooted in biblical conviction, not culture.

I loved the beach. But when God saved me, this is not a cultural thing with me. God got hold of my conscience. And indiscriminate mixed bathing has never been a part of my life.

31:06 - 31:22 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be the occasion of stumbling or sin for others through your actions or appearance.

He uses the hypothetical of a woman wearing a gunny sack to illustrate that while men may still lust, her conscience would be clear because she has not unnecessarily occasioned his sin.

Ah, yes. But if you go out down Main Street in a gunny sack and a man lusts after you, your conscience is clear that you have not unnecessarily occasioned his lust. You'll never be charged with being the occasion of his sin. He'll answer for his burning lust at lust through a gunny sack.

32:48 - 33:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be the occasion of stumbling or sin for others through your actions or appearance.

Martin notes the disturbing trend of men's underwear packaging in malls being pornographic, indicating a pervasive sexualization that affects both men and women.

Don't get off the hook by rationalization, my dear sisters or my dear brothers. There was a time when it was thought that looking at bodies and body watching and seeing if someone was buff and ripped was only men with women. But it's the other way around now. There's as much pornography in the mall.

33:08 - 33:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Glorify God in what you eat and drink, considering the effects on your health and service to Christ.

He uses the example of eating too much, leading to excessive fat storage that strains the heart and prejudices health, as an instance of not glorifying God in one's body.

How much you eat. How much of what you eat gives necessary energy. How much continually gets stored in excessive fat cells. Puts a strain upon the heart.

34:16 - 34:27 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Drawing from Moody Stewart's work, Martin highlights the danger of attempting to serve two masters (Christ and something else, like one's own body or desires), which ruins…

Martin quotes extensively from Moody Stewart's 'The Three Marys' regarding the danger and ruin caused by professing Christians attempting to serve two masters, Christ and something else.

I close with a touching passage out of the three Marys. If you haven't obtained that book. The three Marys. It's Moody Stewart's beautiful.

37:33 - 37:43 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Drawing from Moody Stewart's work, Martin highlights the danger of attempting to serve two masters (Christ and something else, like one's own body or desires), which ruins…

He recounts the story of Mary Magdalene encountering the risen Christ and calling Him 'Rabboni,' explaining its meaning ('my master') and the implications for a servant's humility and single-minded devotion.

And he has this beautiful section. We read several nights ago. When the Lord reveals himself to Mary. When she's weeping by the tomb.

37:59 - 38:08 Read in full sermon