SermonAudio.com - Sermons by Albert N. Martin

SermonAudio.com - Sermons by Albert N. Martin

Not what my hands have done (Horatius Bonar)

Not what my hands have done
Can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears
Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God,
Not mine, O Lord to thee,
Can rid me of this dark unrest
And set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God,
To me can pardon speak;
Thy pow'r alone, O Son of God,
Can this sore bondage break.
No other work, save thine,
No other blood will do;
No strength, save that which is divine,
Can bear me safely through.

I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
And with unfalt'ring lip and heart
I call this Saviour mine.
This cross dispels each doubt;
I bury in his tomb
Each thought of unbelief and fear,
Each ling'ring shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace;
I trust his truth and might;
He calls me his, I call him mine,
My God, my joy, my light.
'Tis he who saveth me,
And freely pardon gives;
I love because he loveth me,
I live because he lives.

John Newton

O! to be little in our own eyes! this is the ground-work of every grace; this leads to a continual dependence upon the Lord Jesus; this is the spirit which he has promised to bless; this conciliates us good-will and acceptance amongst men; for he that abaseth himself is sure to be honored. And that this temper is so hard to attain and preserve, is a striking proof of our depravity. For are we not sinners? Were we not rebels and enemies before we knew the Gospel? and have we not been unfaithful, backsliding, and unprofitable ever since? Are we not redeemed by the blood of Jesus? and can we stand a single moment except he upholds us? Have we any thing which we have not received: or have we received any thing which we have not abused? Why then is dust and ashes proud?

John Newton, The Works of John Newton - Volume II (Joseph Kreifels).

Pro-Life? Yes; Pro-Family? ?????

One of my favorite pastors is Voddie Baucham. He recently posted the linked article below on his blog. Please read and give careful consideration of what he has written. Then we must ask ourselves as Christians, "Are we really biblical in all of our thinking?"

Please feel free to comment.

Did McCain Make a Pro-Family VP Pick?

Is President Bush A Christian?

In 2000 we were told that W. was a man of faith. I think we now have to ask, "Which faith?"

""Man," said a thoughtless, ungodly English traveler, to a North American Indian convert, "Man, what is the reason that you make so much of Christ, and talk so much about Him? What has this Christ done for you, that you should make so much ado about Him?"
The converted Indian did not answer him in words. He gathered together some dry leaves and moss and made a ring with them on the ground. He picked up a live worm and put it in the middle of the ring. He struck a light and set the moss and leaves on fire. The flame soon rose, and the heat scorched the worm. It writhed in agony, and after trying in vain to escape on every side, curled itself up in the middle, as if about to die in despair. At that moment the Indian reached forth his hand, took up the worm gently and placed it on his bosom. "Stranger," he said to the Englishman, "do you see that worm? I was that perishing creature. I was dying in my sins, hopeless, helpless and on the brink of eternal fire. It was Jesus Christ who put forth the arm of His power. It was Jesus Christ who delivered me with the hand of His grace, and plucked me from everlasting burnings. It was Jesus Christ who placed me, a poor sinful worm, near the heart of His love. Stranger, that is the reason why I talk of Jesus Christ, and make much of Him. I am not ashamed of it, because I love Him."
If we know anything of love to Christ, may we have the mind of this North American Indian! May we never think that we can love Christ too well, live to Him too thoroughly, confess Him too boldly, lay ourselves out for Him too heartily! Of all the things that will surprise us in the resurrection morning, this I believe will surprise us most: that we did not love Christ more before we died."

From J.C. Ryle's book Holiness chapter "Do you Love Me"

Draw all men to myself

I just got a new Greek Lexicon. I have looked up the word draw.. Look at what it means. Clearly this does not happen to everyone.

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” Jn 12:32.

ἕλκω impf. εἷλκον, ἧλκον (ApcMos; GJs, s. deStrycker 241f); fut. ἑλκύσω; gener. ‘pull, drag, draw’.

① to move an object from one area to another in a pulling motion, draw, with implication that the object being moved is incapable of propelling itself or in the case of person is unwilling to do so voluntarily, in either case with implication of exertion on the part of the mover τὶ someth. a sword

ἕλκω impf. εἷλκον; the future (ἑλκύσω) and first aorist (εἵλκυσα) are formed as if from ἑλκύω; tug, draw, drag; literally; (1) of a sword draw, unsheath (JN 18.10); (2) of a person, forcibly led drag (AC 21.30); (3) of a net haul, drag (JN 21.6); (4) as a legal technical term lead by force, drag into court (JA 2.6); figuratively, of a strong pull in the mental or moral life draw, attract (JN 6.44)

impf. imperfect

Biblical Theology

My Greek and Hebrew Prof. has some Biblical Theology teaching on the web. Click the title and check it out.

Grace and Mercy Be With You

Grace & Mercy Be With You

Grace and mercy. Two beautiful words. Two useful words. How else could you explain God's love? Scripture is clear that the only thing sinful man deserves from the hand of God is judgement. God is under no obligation to save sinners. Read carefully the first two chapters of Genesis and nowhere did God give Adam and Eve any hope that if they disobeyed him that he would save them from death. The die was cast; "The day you eat thereof, you shall surely die." Capital punishment was to be the consequence of disobedience.

But the God of the Bible is a multi-faceted God. His attributes are multitudinous. Several times in the Old Testament we read that "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." (Psalm 103:8 ESV) Oh what compassion the Heavenly Father displays! "He does not deal with us according to our sins; nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him..." (Psalm 103:10,11 ESV)

Grace and mercy.

GRACE - receiving what we don't deserve: forgiveness, deliverance, salvation.

MERCY - not receiving what we do deserve: death, Hell, separation.

May we worship the Lord and thank him for his grace and mercy.

Grace and mercy be with you!

Man punches people to heal them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K8XjObzfXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUTCWLoD4-4


This is stupid... I can not believe people are flocking to see him...

The True Israel of God

Eschatology is one of my favorite theological subjects. I was raised on the Scofield Reference Bible. Our theme song was, "My hope is built on nothing less, than Scofield notes and references." In fact, I was 23 years old before I came to the understanding that Scofield's notes were not verbally inspired!

Over the years I have moved from an ultra Pre-Trib Dispensational Pre-Mil position to where I am at now. Where am I now? The book of Hebrews is a good starting point. The Old Covenant has passed away - gone, finished, kaput,  and the New Covenant is in place. The Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all Covenants. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is the seed of Abraham and all who believe and follow Him are the children of Abraham and heirs of all Covenant promises. We have been in "the last days" since His first advent and are looking only for the "last day" - the Blessed Hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The following article: Justification by Faith and the Israel of God best sums up what I believe. Check it out:

Justification by Faith and the Israel of God

A Sweet Cosmic Chain Conspiracy (Uncle Lee)

A Sweet Cosmic Chain Conspiracy

We are once again in the throes of a political upheaval called the Presidential elections. One of the staple arguments put forward during this cacophony of political discordances is the “conspiracy.” Whether it be the “illuminati;” Rothchilds; Rockafellers, 666; antichrist; etc there lies ahead a New World Order looming.

I care not for any earthly, man-made conspiracies for I believe in a “higher” conspiracy. There is nothing sinister or evil about this sweet cosmic conspiracy. In eternity past, the God Head, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit entered into an agreement. They conspired to each act in a powerful and successive way as to bring about the salvation of mankind. God the Father set out to record the names of each individual that would be rescued from a life of sin and damnation. He wrote each name in the Lamb’s Book of Life that would graciously be justified – a number, by-the-way that no man could number.

God the son, agreed to enter “time and space” as “one of them.” He would take upon himself the likeness of human flesh and being found in said likeness, He would humble himself unto death, even death on a cross. After living a life in faithful obedience to His Father, He would then offer said life as the propitiation for the sins of all those to whom the Father had given Him.

Upon the completion of the Son’s participation of His part in the conspiracy, the Holy Spirit would bring to fruition – in time and space – the actual calling, regeneration and redemption of those whom the Father had given the Son. Through the foolishness of preaching, the Holy Spirit would quicken the elect and translate them from the kingdom of Satan’s darkness into the Kingdom of the Beloved Son.

All of this took place so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.

Passages of said Scripture that supports this Sweet Cosmic Chain Conspiracy:

Acts 4:23-28

Romans 8:28-30

! Corinthians 2:6-11

1 Peter 1:17-21

Ephesians 2:11 – 3:13

Some definitions:

cos·mic (kŏz'mĭk) adj.
· Of or relating to the regions of the universe distinct from the Earth.
· Infinitely or inconceivably extended; vast:

con·spir·a·cy [kuhn-spir-uh-see] –noun, plural -cies.
· the act of conspiring.
· any concurrence in action; combination in bringing about a given result.

chain conspiracy
•a conspiracy in which the conspirators act separately and successively

Uncle Lee

Answer to the 1st poll question

God gives a man right standing with Himself by mercifully accounting him innocent and virtuous.

This is wrong (God gives a man right standing with Himself by actually making him into an innocent and virtuous person.)

Praise the Lord everyone seemed to agree on this one. Justification need not be confused with sanctification, or glorification.

Question: What is justification?

Justification is a declarative act, or forensic. Justification should not be confused with Regeneration, or Sanctification.

Justification is a declaration or pronouncement respecting the relation of the person to the law, which he, the judge is required to administer.

Justification does not mean to make holy or upright. When a Judge justifies a person he does not make that person an upright person. He simply declares that in his judgment the person is not guilty but is upright in terms of the law relevant to the case.

If what the Bible says about man is true, and it is. The questions is not “How can man be just with God; but how can sinful man become just with God?"

Passages in the Old Testament say.

Deut. 25:1 “If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty,

Proverb 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

This is the question we will look at next. John Murry addresses this issue in his book Redemption Accomplished and Applied. I highly recommend it if you do not have it. (see description below)

Description: Murray explores the biblical passages dealing with the necessity, nature, perfection, and extent of the atonement, and goes on to identify the distinct steps in the Bible's presentation of how the redemption accomplished by Christ is applied progressively to the life of the redeemed.

More later.....

What think ye of Christ by John Newton

What think ye of Christ? by John Newton

What think you of Christ? is the test

To try both your state and your scheme;

You cannot be right in the rest,

Unless you think rightly of him.

As Jesus appears in your view,

As he is beloved or not;

So God is disposed to you,

And mercy or wrath are your lot.

Some take him a creature to be,

A man, or an angel at most;

Sure these have not feelings like me,

Nor know themselves wretched and lost:

So guilty, so helpless, am I,

I durst not confide in his blood,

Nor on his protection rely,

Unless I were sure he is God.

Some call him a Savior, in word,

But mix their own works with his plan;

And hope he his help will afford,

When they have done all that they can:

If doings prove rather too light

(A little, they own, they may fail)

They purpose to make up full weight,

By casting his name in the scale.

Some style him the pearl of great price,

And say he's the fountain of joys;

Yet feed upon folly and vice,

And cleave to the world and its toys:

Like Judas, the Savior they kiss,

And, while they salute him, betray;

Ah! what will profession like this

Avail in his terrible day?

If asked what of JESUS I think?

Though still my best thoughts are but poor;

I say, he's my meat and my drink,

My life, and my strength, and my store,

My Shepherd, my Husband, my Friend,

My Savior from sin and from thrall;

My hope from beginning to end,

My Portion, my LORD, and my All.

(Well)

New Poll

I am going to have a poll question on this blog. I will respond to the question after some people have voted. My Uncle Lee gave me these questions a while back.

Headed into summer Greek

I will be taking summer Greek in a few weeks. Things are going to be crazy. However, it is necessary, and I am looking forward to it. I am still thrilled that I am able to attend RTS. It is truly a blessing compared to my liberal undergraduate religious education.