Matthew Smith and Indelible Grace in Concert
Friday, February 27th - 7:00 p.m.
Covenant Presbyterian Church
836 Shady Grove Rd.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
A seminar by Matthew will be at 5:00 p.m.
For more info, please call: 501-623-1112.
“But from Him you are in Christ Jesus–who for us became
wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30
Wisdom outside of Christ–is damning folly!
Righteousness outside of Christ–is guilt and condemnation!
Sanctification outside of Christ–is filth and sin!
Redemption outside of Christ–is bondage and slavery!
When a man is converted, he is forever at enmity with sin;
yes, with all sin–but most of all with his own sins–and
especially with his bosom sin. Sin is now the object of his
indignation. His sin swells his sorrows. It is sin which pierces
him and wounds him; he feels it like a thorn in his side, like
a splinter in his eye! He groans and struggles under it,
and not formally–but feelingly cries out, “O wretched man
that I am!” He is not impatient of any affliction–so much
as of his sin. If God should give him his choice–he would
choose any affliction–so that he might be rid of sin. He
feels sin like the cutting gravel in his shoes–pricking
and paining him as he goes.
Before conversion he had light thoughts of sin. He cherished
it in his bosom, as Uriah his lamb. He nourished it up, and
it grew up together with him; it ate, as it were, of his own
plate, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and
was to him as a sweet daughter. But when God opens his
eyes by conversion–he throws it away with abhorrence, as
a man would a loathsome toad, which in the dark he had
hugged fast in his bosom–and thought it had been some
pretty and harmless pet.
When a man is savingly changed–he is deeply convinced
not only of the danger–but the defilement of sin; and O,
how earnest is he with God to be purified! He loathes
himself for his sins. He runs to Christ, and casts himself
into the fountain set open for sin and for uncleanness.
If he falls into sin–what a stir is there to get all clean
again! He has no rest until he flees to the infinite
fountain–and washes and rubs and rinses–to cleanse
himself from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit.
Moreover, although our mind cannot apprehend God without rendering some honor to him, it will not suffice simply to hold that there is One whom all ought to honor and adore, unless we are also persuaded that he is the fountain of every good, and that we must seek nothing elsewhere than in him. This I take to mean that not only does he sustain this universe (as he once founded it) by his boundless might, regulate it by his wisdom, preserve it by his goodness, and especially rule mankind by his righteousness and judgment, bear with it in his mercy, watch over it by his protection; by also that no drop will be found either of wisdom and light, or of righteousness or power or rectitude, or of genuine truth, which does not flow from him, and of which he is not the cause. Thus we may learn to await and seek all these things from him, and thankfully to ascribe them, once received, to him. For this sense of the powers of God is for us a fit teacher of piety, from which religion is born. I call “piety” that reverence joined with love of God which the knowledge of his benefits induces. For until men recognize that they owe everything to God, that they are nourished by his fatherly care, that he is the Author of their every good, that they should seek nothing beyond him - they will never yield him willing service. Nay, unless they establish their complete happiness in him, they will never give themselves truly and sincerely to him.
–John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Ch. II, Section I.
This teaching is an exposition of 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 originally preached by Charles Spurgeon. May we give thanks to the Lord for the opportunity to hear teachings from gifted men who, though being dead, yet speak to many and are more alive than ever in the presence of our Lord. We hope you are encouraged and edified by this message.
Chris Miller, pastor of Trinity Grace Church — Rogers, AR, offers this teaching from the Hebrews 12:18-29. We invite you to listen in and hope that this sermon encourages your growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord.
This sermon was preached by Tim Keller at St. George’s-tron church in Glasgow, Scotland. Pastor Keller started Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, NY in 1989 after serving nine years as pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia. In this sermon, we are challenged to consider the context of the parable and its implications. Also, we are challenged to think about this passage in more than a sentimental way and to peer into the depths of its truth.
