What is the purpose of baptism? Why did Jesus teach baptism after someone is saved? In this sermon on the sacrament of baptism (the second sermon in his series on the sacraments of the church), Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones walks through a topic sometimes debated even amongst believers. Baptism’s meaning, he says, is an outward illustration of the inward cleansing from the pollution of sin. Its purpose is not to cleanse from sin and regenerate because that would mean that people are saved through the work of baptism, something that Scripture clearly denies. So, what does it accomplish? Baptism serves as a sign and seal of one’s justification and remission of sins. And yet, he says, not everyone is eligible to be baptized. This teaching runs counter to the Catholic teaching on baptism….
Category: Holiness
Has America Forgotten God? Agenda Weekly 10-12-24
The message of this week’s video reminded me of a John MacArthur sermon in that Curtis’ assessment of the ills of America were shown to be consequences of our turning from God to trust in man. God causes a nation to rise or fall based on the views / actions of a people towards Him. Curtis gave many specifics and he called Christians to repent….
Exposing the Campaign for Immorality – John MacArthur
Dr. MacArthur opens this message by explaining the different kinds of wrath of God that are apparent in Romans 1: eschatological wrath (end times); sowing and reaping wrath which is dealt out as consequences for the sin a person sows; cataclysmic wrath, God unleashes this type of wrath via miraculous use of the natural order, such as the flood or any other massive disaster that catapults souls into eternity; eternal wrath, as in those who suffer hell; but the wrath referred to in Romans 1 is different, it is the wrath of abandonment. …This type of judgment is, per the text: Romans 1:18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. …When man abandons God as revealed in creation, in conscience, in holy scripture; suppressing the truth, God judges that society. Even though that society considers themselves to be wise, that society is the ultimate ship of fools….
God’s Refining Process Part 2 of 2
The 4-minute video of this post explains “How God Tests Us.” In the initial two minutes the metal refining process is explained; then that information is applied to the Christian by explaining the manner and purpose of God’s “testing” process. Highlight points are below the video. A few relevant scriptures are used in closing, to show that God’s testing process is like that used in refining metal.
Combat Between the Flesh and the Spirit – Puritan Christopher Love
This post contains 3 videos: a video short, a 17-minute excerpt of the full sermon from which the short came; and the full-length sermon. The Puritan Christopher Love addressed the matter of the Holy Spirit’s work in sanctifying the believer. He focused on two aspects: what the Spirit does to dissuade a believer from sinning; and what the Spirit does to sanctify the believer after he has sinned. Every Christian needs to understand this matter as well as possible such that he/she is receptive to the Spirit’s workings. Highlights are provided for the 17-minute excerpt; a link to some posts in this blog about Jonathan Edwards addressing these matters, but Edwards was not as thorough as Love.
The Covenant – R C Sproul – [Part 4]
There is a war on God’s Word from both within and outside the church, and doubts about the trustworthiness of God’s word arise in the hearts of the faithful. How can we be sure God will do all He has promised? Dr. Sproul examines this thought as he explains what measures God has taken to ensure His promises to us.