Confession on SermonAudio

Tonight we view the conversion of an Ethiopian and examine what it is to be converted.

Midweek Teaching Series - The Second London Baptist Confession, 1689 Chapter 26: The Church Section 1 "Its Identity (Universal and Invisible)" Pastor Bucky Erwin

Grace Covenant Baptist Church is a Reformed Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana. We are a confessional church subscribing to the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689. We adhere to the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation; Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, and Soli Deo Gloria. Find more information about or listen to past sermons from Grace Covenant Baptist Church at https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/gcbcwm/

Does the grave keep any power over the soul of the man who dies in the Lord? Read verse 15 and ask whether God redeems the psalmist from the grave or from "the power of the grave" (Psalm 49:15). Then ask how He does it, and read Revelation 6:9 to see where the souls of the slain are found. "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me." (Psalm 49:15)

The sermon centers on the declaration that Jesus Christ is the sole sovereign of the church, drawing a parallel between the historical conviction of the Scottish Covenanters and the theological message of Psalm 72. It highlights the story of Reverend Thomas Hogg, a Covenanter minister imprisoned for his refusal to acknowledge King Charles II as head of the church, to illustrate the cost of confessing Christ's exclusive authority. The exposition interprets Psalm 72 not as a prayer for Solomon himself, but as a prophetic petition for the coming Messiah, emphasizing that His name will endure as long as the sun. The message encourages believers to view the name of Jesus as a source of light, life, and salvation that remains constant amidst changing generations and political powers. Ultimately, the sermon affirms that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus, who alone provides redemption and whose kingship is eternal.

In this lecture Jonathan Arnold teaches that the New Testament text must be approached in light of Scripture's Divine inspiration and providential preservation. The Received Text, rooted largely in the Byzantine manuscript tradition and used in Reformation translations, is presented as a faithful witness preserved through the church's continual use. Modern critical texts are challenged for prioritising older manuscripts and employing methods that permit ongoing revisions. Differences affecting verses and phrases demonstrate why the underlying Greek text matters for translation. Historical testimony and Reformed confessions support confidence in preserved copies of Scripture. Believers are encouraged to trust God's enduring Word as their foundation for faith and hope.

This sermon examines the theological weight of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, defining it as a deliberate rejection of the Spirit's testimony that Jesus is the Messiah. The message emphasizes that while all other sins can be forgiven, this specific sin involves a hardened heart that refuses the Spirit's convicting work and attributes divine power to evil. By contrasting the historical context of the Pharisees with the present-day application, the teaching warns believers to remain sensitive to the Spirit's guidance rather than grieving or quenching Him. The tone is both convicting and pastoral, urging the audience to trust in the Holy Spirit for boldness in confession and to respond with humility to God's truth. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a posture of dependence on the Spirit, reminding listeners that the fear of committing this sin is evidence of a living faith.