Grounded In Grace

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Introduction:  

•        Martin Luther

•    Samhain (Sohw-win) and Halloween

•    All Souls Day (November 2) and All Saints Day (November 1)

•    The Year 1517 and 95 Theses Against Indulgences

I. Who was Martin Luther?

    A. Born in 1483 in Eisleben Germany to John and Margaret Luther

    B. The Events that Led Him to Pursue Theological Studies

    C. Pilate's Staircase (“sancta scala”) 

    D. Romans 1:17

II. The Doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone

    A. The Word “Justification (and doctrine) Interpreted in Latin and Greek 

        1. Latin (the Bible for approx. 1000 years): Justification / Justified =“to be made righteous” 

        2. Greek (the language of the N.T.): Justification / Justified = “to be declared righteous” 

    B. The Rediscovery of the Doctrines of Grace   

III. Was the Reformation a Revival or a Rebellion?

    A. Quote From Heroes of the Reformation [Gideon & Hilda Hagstotz. Rapidan, VA:  Hartland Publications, 1951, pages 12-16]

Conclusion: 

    •    The Sole Hope of Faith in Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Grace

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Introduction:

     A. The Definition of Providential Blessing (vv. 29-30)

          1. Those who Characterized by Love for God (v. 28)

          2. Those who Have Been Called by God (v. 28)

            a. Definition of the call

            b. The Goal of the Call

            c. Aspects of the call

            d. Gospel Requirements of the Call

        3. Those who Have Been Foreknown by God (v. 29)

            a. Historical controversy over the meaning of foreknowledge

                (1) Verb proginoskô (foreknow) / noun prognosis (foreknowledge)

                (2) Hebrew yada        

    A. The Path Includes all of Life's Experiences (v. 28)     

Conclusion (quote by John Piper):

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Introduction:

                    

I. We Hope in Trusting God (7a)

II. We Hope in Waiting Patiently (7b)

III. We Hope in Praying Confidently (7c)

IV. We Hope in Persevering by Grace (8)

V. We Hope in Bearing God’s Displeasure (9a)

VI. We Hope in Christ’s Righteousness (9b)

Conclusion:

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Introduction:                          

I. The Elder’s Call to Serve (1)

    A. It is an Important Call

    B. It is a Restricted Call

    C. It is a Heart-Felt Call

    D. It is an Excellent Call

    E. It is a Demanding Call    

Conclusion: 

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Introduction and Overview of 1 Timothy:                          

I. The Elder’s Call to Serve (1)

    A. Historical Background

    B. What is an “Overseer?”

        1. Eiskopē (to oversee / office of overseer) and Episkopos (an overseer / guardian)

        2. Elders / Pastors / Overseers = same office

            a. Acts 20 and other N.T. passages

        3. Why are there different words for the same office?

            a. Elder

            b. Overseer

            c. Pastor

        4. What they do?

Conclusion: 

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Introduction:                          

III. Salvation's Surety: The Believer's Assurance (10-11)

    A. Being Certain About Your Calling and Election

        1. What Does It Mean? (v. 10)

        2. What Is Required of us in that Regard? (v. 10)

        3. What does it Mean "you will never fall"?

        4. What is the Goal? (v. 11)

    B. Some Thoughts as to a Theology of Assurance

        1. Four Questions to Ask Yourself: “Am I in the Faith?”

            a. Do I Have True Knowledge?   

            b. Do I Have a Real Faith? (trust)  

            c. Am I in the Battle?

            d. Do I Hate My Sin?

        2. How Can I Have Greater Assurance of My Salvation?

            a. By Spending Time in the Word

            b. By Spending Time with the People of God

            c. By Cultivating a Relationship With God

            d. Be Sure that Christ is the Foundation of Your Assurance

            e. Have as your Goal  to Have a "Happy Death"

Conclusion: 

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Introduction: Testimonies and Truth . . .   

II. Salvation's Service: The Believer's Faithfulness (5-9)

    A. Faithfulness Demonstrated Through Seven Virtues (5-7)

    B. Staying Out of the Danger Zone (8-9)

        1. A Positive Exhortation (8)

        2. A Negative Warning (9)

            a. Change in grammar from plural to singular (hypothetical example?)

            b. No such thing as a totally fruitless Christian

            c. Spiritual blind-spots in our lives

Conclusion: 

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Introduction and Quote by Lloyd-Jones . . .   

I. Salvation's Sufficiency: The Believer's Inheritance (3-4)

    A. An Inheritance Granted by Grace (3)

    B. An Inheritance Grounded in God's Call (3b)

    C. An Inheritance Guaranteed  to Sanctify (4)

II. Salvation's Service: The Believer's Faithfulness (5-9)

    A. Faithfulness Demonstrated Through Seven Virtues (5-7)

    B. Faithfulness Contrasted with Vice (8-9)

     1. A Positive Exhortation (8)

            a. Note “useless and “unfruitful”

            b. Matthew 13

            c. Back to “true knowledge” in 2 Peter 1

Conclusion . . .

Confirming Your Calling (Part 6): Excursus on “The Almost Christian Discovered” | 2 Peter 1:7 and Selected Scriptures

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A LONG Introduction: The Almost Christian Discovered by the Puritan Matthew Mead   

In Mead's Introduction - he gives his central thesis: "There are very many in the world that are almost and, yet, but almost Christians." Should true Christians despair of hope / assurance?

    1. "How far may a man go in the way to heaven and yet be but almost a Christian?"

    2. Section III. A man may have a high profession of religion, be much in external duties of godliness, and yet be but almost a Christian

    3. Section IV. To come yet nearer, a man may go far in opposing his sin [even hate his sin] and yet be but almost a Christian ("All sin may be chained and yet the heart not changed")

    4. Section VIII. A man may be a member of the church of Christ, he may join himself to the people of God, partake with them in all ordinances, and share of all church privileges and yet be but almost a Christian

    5. Section IX. A man may have great hopes of heaven, great hopes of being saved, and yet be but almost a Christian

    6. Section X. A man may be under great and visible changes, and these wrought by the ministry of the Word, and yet be but almost a Christian

    7. Section XI. A man may be very zealous in the matters of religion and yet be but almost a Christian 

    8. Section XII. A man may be much in prayer. He may pray often and pray much and yet be but almost a Christian. So did the Pharisees whom yet our Lord Christ rejected for hypocrites. 

    9. Section XX. A man may do all as to external duties and worship that a true Christian can and, when he has one all, be but almost a Christian. 

II. Salvation's Service: The Believer's Faithfulness (5-9)

    A. Faithfulness Demonstrated Through Seven Virtues (5-7)

    B. Faithfulness Contrasted with Vice (8-9)

        1. What lies in our hearts? 

        2. Boil it down to two basic areas:

            a. What do you believe?

            b. How do you behave?

Conclusion . . .

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A LONG Introduction: The Almost Christian Discovered by the Puritan Matthew Mead   

In Mead's Introduction - he gives his central thesis: "There are very many in the world that are almost and, yet, but almost Christians." Should true Christians despair of hope / assurance?

    1. "How far may a man go in the way to heaven and yet be but almost a Christian?"

    2. Section III. A man may have a high profession of religion, be much in external duties of godliness, and yet be but almost a Christian

    3. Section IV. To come yet nearer, a man may go far in opposing his sin [even hate his sin] and yet be but almost a Christian ("All sin may be chained and yet the heart not changed")

    4. Section VIII. A man may be a member of the church of Christ, he may join himself to the people of God, partake with them in all ordinances, and share of all church privileges and yet be but almost a Christian

    5. Section IX. A man may have great hopes of heaven, great hopes of being saved, and yet be but almost a Christian

    6. Section X. A man may be under great and visible changes, and these wrought by the ministry of the Word, and yet be but almost a Christian

    7. Section XI. A man may be very zealous in the matters of religion and yet be but almost a Christian 

    8. Section XII. A man may be much in prayer. He may pray often and pray much and yet be but almost a Christian. So did the Pharisees whom yet our Lord Christ rejected for hypocrites. 

    9. Section XX. A man may do all as to external duties and worship that a true Christian can and, when he has one all, be but almost a Christian. 

II. Salvation's Service: The Believer's Faithfulness (5-9)

    A. Faithfulness Demonstrated Through Seven Virtues (5-7)

    B. Faithfulness Contrasted with Vice (8-9)

        1. What lies in our hearts? 

        2. Boil it down to two basic areas:

            a. What do you believe?

            b. How do you behave?

Conclusion . . .