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The Lords Supper, the Lord's means to strengthen faith in His people

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2026-11-01 PM - Rev. Jeph Nobel - The Spirit of the Sacraments - [Genesis 2:8-19, Belgic Article 33]

With Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 3:1-8, and Romans 8:5-8 and with Article 14 of the Belgic Confession, we learn the original state of man, the fallen state of man, and the tragic consequences of the fall. Pastor Martijn Heijboer preaches created without sin, willfully fallen into sin, and enslaved to sin.

The spread of the gospel to the nations is entirely dependent on the sovereign will of God, as He directs missionaries to preach according to His plan, illuminates the minds of the hearers, and regenerates hearts. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, preaching is in vain. But the Spirit never works without the Word, but through it for the effectual calling of God's elect from among the nations.

This episode examines Chapter 4, Paragraph 2 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, focusing on the creation of man in the image of God. It argues that objective reality, such as the distinction between male and female, is grounded in revelation rather than subjective feelings, countering modern cultural trends that deny this natural order. The discussion highlights the original state of man, which included reasonable and immortal souls, knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, along with the law of God written in their hearts. The speaker emphasizes that while man was created with the liberty of will and the possibility of transgression, he was not yet a slave to sin, distinguishing the pre-fall state from the current condition of fallen humanity. Ultimately, the episode calls for a recovery of the doctrine of creation to worship the true God and affirm the authority of God's revelation in nature and Scripture.

Spurgeon hates sin, and rightly so. It is, in part, a reflection of his love to Christ, and his love to Christ only increases as he considers the sinfulness of sin. This is a profoundly insightful sermon, with shades of John Owen's books on temptation and the mortification of sin, a sort of anatomy of sin, at least in the way that it tries to draw us into darkness and wickedness. So first we think about the way in which sin deceives, given that its very nature is to assault the truth of God and the God of truth. Spurgeon spends a large proportion of the sermon telling us the kinds of lies which sin whispers in our ears and to our hearts. If we have never thought about this, then the sermon will shock us and teach us. Then we think about the way in which this deceit tends to harden the heart, and again we are in the realm of spiritual experience, and the gradual coarsening of the conscience, the increasing carelessness with regard to conduct, that comes when we listen to sin's lying tongue and begin to act accordingly. Finally, branching out a little from the text, we are urged to fight against deceiving sin by faith, by confession, by tenderness of heart, and by exhorting one another daily—and that means a willingness both to receive and to give appropriate exhortation. We are not a pack of barking dogs, nipping at each other constantly and unkindly, but we are to look out for each other, both as we commit sins and omit duties. Loaded with pastoral wisdom, here is an outstanding reminder of our susceptibility to sin, and our need to be on guard against it.

Title: The Word Did Everything Speaker: Joshua Dutton Series: 2026 Reformation Reflections Date: October 30, 2026 Bible: Romans 1:16-17 This sermon traces the life of Martin Luther from his anxious monastic years to his pivotal theological breakthrough in Romans 1:17. It highlights how Luther's struggle with guilt and the corruption of the Catholic Church, particularly the sale of indulgences, led to the Protestant Reformation. The narrative emphasizes that the Reformation was driven not by human rebellion, but by the expositional preaching of Scripture and the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Through key events like the Diet of Worms and the Augsburg Confession, the message underscores that the Word of God, not human effort or authority, accomplishes the work of salvation. The sermon concludes by celebrating the enduring legacy of these biblical truths, affirming that salvation is a gift of divine grace received through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Dangers of Synods & Sessions, Creeds & Confessions