“ Forgiveness and Consequences ” Having told us in this series much that forgiveness is and does, Pastor Martin now continues a theme begun in the last message, namely, certain things that forgiveness does not mean. (In the last message we learned it does not automatically mean trust is restored.) In this message we learn: 1. The conferral of gospel forgiveness does not cancel or reverse the natural consequences of the sin fully and freely forgiven, but rather, that these consequences may even last for a lifetime 2. The conferral of gospel forgiveness does not preclude the possibility of chastisement for the sin forgiven. Examples from Noah to David to Corinth to our own homes and children illustrate his points, and it is sobering to consider the biblical accounts in which the sin of half an hour affects generations. Finally, concerning chastisement of repentant believers, we are urged to remember that it is fatherly (Hebrews 12), and does not mean the repentance was deficient or the forgiveness is not complete; that it is a fruit of Christ's work, not a supplement to it; that it helps enforce the lesson of the evil of sin; that it is legitimate to fear this chastisement, among other gospel motives for holiness; and that this chastisement of God provides a pattern for wise parental and church discipline.
“ Must I Trust? ” Pastor Martin in this seventh message addresses the sticky matter of trust. Many are told that the conferral of forgiveness mandates the immediate restoration of trust. But this is unbiblical, and imposes false guilt and a needless burden on those grievously sinned against. In this message, Pastor Martin contrasts the conferral of forgiveness and the restoration of trust. The conferral of forgiveness is free, undeserved, and by grace. It is the work of a moment and the commitment of a lifetime. The restoration of trust, by contrast, is earned, deserved, and by merit. It is not the work of a moment, and it is not the obligation of the one sinned against! It is the work of the one who sinned, and it takes time to re-earn lost trust. Pastor Martin warns that it is easier to earn trust in the first place than to re-earn it after losing it through grievous sin. Using the story of a fictional couple, as well as Joseph and John Mark, Pastor Martin illustrates these principles. Pastors are warned not to do anything to lose the trust of their people; church members are advised that a repentant, forgiven, sinning pastor does not need to be restored to his pulpit right away; and we are charged not to be unreasonable in the restoration of trust, but to appropriately credit efforts to re-earn
“ Apology vs. Confession ” In this sixth message Pastor Martin opens with a helpful review of the series so far.
He then distinguishes between the common practice of apology and the biblical process of confessing sin and seeking forgiveness.
What, then, to make of the widespread practice of apology in the church?
Pastor Martin explains four things that apology may be: everything from a sincere but imprecise effort at confessing sin, to a carnal substitute for the pride-withering, grace-exalting real thing.
He also provides helpful guidance on how to receive, wisely and graciously, different kinds of apology.
As well, he glances on the subject of the sincerity of the one apologizing, a subject which I believe is dealt with more fully in a later message.
He concludes with a challenging call to make full, biblical confession and forgiveness our family pattern, to the end of full reconciliation in the face of our unavoidable sins against one another.
“ Very Helpful Distinctions! ” Pastor Martin in this fifth message now helps us avoid four common mistakes in thinking about forgiveness:
1. Failure to distinguish between the duty to relinquish vengeance, and the granting of forgiveness
2. Failure to distinguish between the disposition of a forgiving spirit, and the act of conferring forgiveness
3. Failure to distinguish between a love-motivated, unilateral covering of the sin of another, and the bilateral transaction of conferring forgiveness
4. Failure to distinguish between loving your enemies and forgiving your enemies
In all this Pastor Martin presses us with the sweeping requirements to love from the heart and to leave vengeance to God, and sets forth the examples of Christ, Stephen and others to that end.
In case anyone might think that all these distinctions are splitting hairs, Pastor Martin shows how important they are by setting forth the case of a woman sexually abused by her father as a child. If when she repents of her vengeful spirit she goes to her father and says merely "I forgive you," he may be left thinking that God too will forgive him, without his ever repenting of his vile sin. Listen to the message to hear how she can turn from her vengeful spirit but also better benefit her father and mirror the gospel.
“ Great Preacher ” I have had the privileged of rubbing shoulders with Pastor Martin off and on since 1987. He passionate, kind, and quite funny. He loved his deceased first wife and sought to be a faithful father. Yes, he very straight forward and is very forthright in his preaching. He has made me blush a bit during his preaching, but he clearly preaches the way of salvation. Many have come to a deeper understanding of Christ and His finished work through his preaching.
“ Clarifying and Convicting ” In this fourth message in his series on forgiveness, Pastor Martin sets out the conditions on which God himself forgives. Why? Because we are to forgive AS God has forgiven us (Message 3). And God does not forgive unconditionally! He forgives upon our repentance and faith.
(We do not earn our forgiveness BY our repentance or our faith--Jesus Christ alone earns our forgiveness--but God confers his forgiveness only UPON our repentance and our faith.)
Even so, then, we are to forgive each other upon repentance.
But listen to the message to hear an inspiring, convincing explanation of what our approach to someone whose sin has caused a breach in our relationship should look like. We are there to seek their repentance; we are hoping, eager, to forgive; how should we go, then? Not with "you've offended me and I'm here to tell you how!" No, instead bathed in the humility of a sinner forgiven by grace. Highly recommended.
Finally, for those who are wondering about the idea of "unconditional forgiveness," a popular idea which Pastor Martin does not find in the Bible, more on that is coming, I believe, in the next message in the series.
“ Thanks Sermon Audio staff ” It is appropriate that this sermon this week is a SermonAudio Pick since this week is also Albert Martin's 80th birthday. April 11th. The irony is that in the Reformed Baptist blogosphere, Pastor Martin has been the subject often this year, either attacking him in one blog, or defending him in another. But look past the man, and listen to the message. From 1955, to the present - he just preached an ordination sermon on March 31st, SID=3311463961, he has not failed to declare unto us the whole counsel of God. I fear often it is his message and his not holding back that is met with aversion by his detractors. But in the words of Pastor Martin himself, November 1963, I don't always want to hear that which will comfort me, I need to sometimes read or hear that which will prod my own too often cold, dead heart, and make it feel.
“ Great Sermon! ” This is a remarkable sermon filled with so
many life lessons for mother's, father's and children. I have been greatly blessed
and would recommend this sermon to all who
come upon it.
“ Great Sermon! ” Despite this being at a pastor's conference for pastors, there is invaluable information and knowledge in these two messages for the everyday believer living in this post modern culture. Some good preaching herein.
“ Great Sermon! ” Spiritually dead men will not believe the Gospel of God's grace in Christ alone. Proud? Yes. Very proud. This is the condition of dead souls. They will not respond to the Gospel no matter what, unless God gives them life to believe. No life(dead), no action.
Preach the Gospe,l but keep in mind, only the sheep will hear and respond.
“ Great Sermon! ” A story about the effect of this sermon on a few hearers is quite interesting to me. There was a gentleman who lived in Brooklyn, NY who heard this sermon on the radio program, Conference Echoes - Family Radio. He ordered the tape and had his friends from Brooklyn and Queens come to his house and hear it. They determined they needed to go hear this Pastor Martin. In those days, they all took public transportation so the only way they could get to the church was to split the cost of a taxi-ride. Over 30 miles one way. To make a long story short, they all eventually got cars, and when I met them in 1984, they all took turns car pooling to church. I owe it to them as they helped get to Trinity Baptist Church because I was stationed in Manhattan in the Coast Guard and had recently learned about Albert Martin. The brother I speak of and his wife now have attended T B C over 30 years. The other men eventually went their own way, they were all single at the time. Little did I know that one day I would become Pastor Martin's friend, neighbor and computer tutor. Life is stranger than fiction. But I praise God for this one message!!!
“ Great Sermon! The real bane of the church ” Christian liberty is subject to the influence and persuasion of the lowest common denominator. Young and old alike must be ever guard against the appeals of the world (and church alike) to not hold back on the exercise of all liberty to the fullest.
4/30/14 12:59 PM
