Death on SermonAudio

Read: Hebrews 2:10–18; Hebrews 3:14–5:11 Text: Lord's Day 16 Christ's deepest suffering assures me of my eternal salvation. 1. He died and was buried for me. 2. He suffered hell for me.

Dr. Schmidt examines how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were under government control, facing death, and yet they stood firm in their biblical convictions and watched God deliver them from Nebuchadnezzar's furnace.

We must know what the Lord hates, in leaders and in us.

Whatever burdens you face in life—whether illness, loss, uncertainty, or fear—you have a God who is powerful enough to carry you through them. Unlike the false gods of this world that demand your devotion but cannot save, the true God promises to sustain you from the beginning of your life to its very end. Through Jesus Christ, He has accomplished your greatest rescue, delivering you from sin and death and securing your eternal hope. You can face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that you belong, body and soul, in life and in death, to your faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

Guest preacher, Rev. Nathan Marquardt, pastor of Sovereign Grace OPC in Peterborough, NH.

This sermon examines Israel's defeat by the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4, arguing that their attempt to secure victory by bringing the Ark of the Covenant into battle was a superstitious act of control rather than genuine faith. Rev. Batzig contrasts this with the proper response of repentance and reliance on God, highlighting that God would rather suffer defeat than allow His people to believe they own Him. Through the tragic deaths of Eli and Phinehas' wife, the text illustrates the profound weight of losing God's presence, urging believers to value the glory of God above all external religious forms or traditions. The message concludes by pointing to the cross, where Christ's defeat secures the believer's possession by God, calling the church to trust in His presence rather than their own efforts.

The sermon examines Romans 2 to expose the spiritual danger of religious self-righteousness, arguing that condemning others while ignoring one's own sin renders a person inexcusable before God. It contrasts the open sin of the Gentile with the hidden hypocrisy of the religious Jew, emphasizing that God's judgment is based on truth rather than moral superiority or religious affiliation. The message highlights that while God's patience and kindness are intended to lead individuals to repentance, a hard and impenitent heart actively stores up wrath for the day of judgment. The preacher asserts that no one can be justified by the works of the law, as all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory, thereby necessitating a personal trust in Jesus Christ as the only advocate. Ultimately, the sermon calls for humility and genuine faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, warning that mere religious knowledge or outward observance is insufficient for salvation.