James concludes his address to the pleasure-seekers and begins his address on the ideals of the believer's behavior by exalting God's grace. This text is one of the most succinct statements found in the Scriptures on the virtues that God desires for His people. James accomplishes this with ten imperative statements. James issues a call to all who insist on fulfilling their natural lustful desires to abandon their thinking by humbling themselves.

James concludes his address to the pleasure-seekers and begins his address on the ideals of the believer's behavior by exalting God's grace. This text is one of the most succinct statements found in the Scriptures on the virtues that God desires for His people. James accomplishes this with ten imperative statements. James issues a call to all who insist on fulfilling their natural lustful desires to abandon their thinking by humbling themselves.

Canons of Dort Heads 3-4 ARTICLE 9 - Because of sin within man, they reject the Gospel or allow other cares and pleasures to choke it out. This is not the fault of the Gospel. It is not the fault of the gospel, nor of Christ offered therein, nor of God, who calls men by the gospel and confers upon them various gifts, that those who are called by the ministry of the Word refuse to come and be converted. The fault lies in themselves; some of whom when called, regardless of their danger, reject the Word of life; others, though they receive it, suffer it not to make a lasting impression on their heart; therefore, their joy, arising only from a temporary faith, soon vanishes, and they fall away; while others choke the seed of the Word by perplexing cares and the pleasures of this world, and produce no fruit. This our Savior teaches in the parable of the sower (Mt. 13). ARTICLE 10 - Those who believe the Gospel do so, not by their fallen free wills, but by the effectual call of God. But that others who are called by the gospel obey the call and are converted is not to be ascribed to the proper exercise of free will, whereby one distinguishes himself above others equally furnished with grace sufficient for faith and conversion (as the proud heresy of Pelagius maintains); but it must be wholly ascribed to God, who, as He has chosen His own from eternity in Christ, so He calls them effectually in time, confers upon them faith and repentance, rescues them from the power of darkness, and translates them into the kingdom of His own Son; that they may show forth the praises of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light, and may glory not in themselves but in ...

How has sin affected humanity and their reasoning? Many scorn the ideas of God, Jesus, and the need for salvation and say that no rational person can possibly be a Christian. In this sermon on Numbers 11:4–6 titled "The Mind of Man," Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that Scripture has a very different idea of what it means to be reasonable. After the people of Israel are set free from bondage in Egypt, they quickly begin complaining that they do not have the food and comfort that they had while they were slaves. This is wholly irrational, but it serves to show that humans are fallen, and sin has affected minds and hearts. It is rational to believe that God has sent Jesus into the world and He died, but people are blinded to this truth until God graciously opens the eyes to see Him and believe Him. Humanity's essential problem is that they are fallen and blinded by sin and immorality. Fallen people are slaves to sin until Jesus Christ overcomes the sinful heart and makes them new.

What is wrong with the world today? Apart from the Bible, one can only speculate about the trouble humans find themselves in. However, with the Bible, one can know the cause of the broken world, as well as the solution. In the Bible, God works out His plan of salvation for His rebellious people. In this sermon on Genesis 11:1–32 titled "Babel" The Tragedy of Man," Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches about the Tower of Babel with this theme of Scripture in mind. In this story, he sees the whole essence of the tragedy of humanity. They displayed great ingenuity in noticing the effect the sun had on clay and used that knowledge to make brick. The tragedy of humanity is that it uses its ingenuity to build a life apart from God. Their controlling ideas revolve around trade, pleasure, and security; thus, the city of Babel was built out of pride and self-sufficiency. The tower was built with brick so it would last forever, yet Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes the trace of humanity's lurking fear in the building of Babel. There was a threat of being scattered because God abhors the thought of His creation building a life apart from Him. Indeed, God came down, destroyed Babel, and scattered the people.

This sermon expounds Psalm 16:7–11 as a window into the mind of Christ according to his human nature, tracing how the Father's counsel, the promise of resurrection, and the prospect of pleasures forevermore sustained the Lord Jesus through suffering. Drawing on Peter's citation in Acts 2 and Paul's in Acts 13, the sermon demonstrates that David's confidence in deliverance from Sheol finds its ultimate fulfilment in Christ's resurrection — and that this same resurrection-hope anchors the people of God. Main points: - the declaration of praise — Psalm 16:7 - the stability of the psalmist — Psalm 16:8 - the hope of the psalmist — Psalm 16:9–11 - the glory of the psalmist — Acts 2 and Acts 13 Scripture references: - Psalms 12:6; 14; 15:1-5; 16:5-6; 49:15; 86:13; 104; 130:4; 133 - Isaiah 53 - John 5:1-23; 15:21-23; 17:5 - Acts 2:21-36; 13:33-39 - Romans 6:9 - 2 Corinthians 11 - Ephesians 1 - Hebrews 12:2; 13:20 - Revelation 14; 19:11-16 Free Grace Baptist Church — https://www.freegrace.ca Full transcript & sermon notes: https://sermons.freegrace.ca/sermons/sermon-psalm-16-the-resurrection-hope-of-the-righteous-one-2 Description generated by Tyrannus.ai: https://www.tyrannus.ai

The sermon centers on the profound truth that a good name before God—secured through faith in Christ—is more valuable than any earthly honor or possession. It emphasizes that the day of a believer's death is better than the day of their birth, not because death is desirable, but because it marks the transition from a life of sin and suffering to eternal life with Christ. The preacher calls the congregation to reflect on the brevity of life, the inevitability of death, and the urgent need to be spiritually prepared. Through personal testimony and biblical exposition, he urges listeners to prioritize eternal realities over temporal pleasures, reminding them that only in Christ can one find true hope, peace, and a name that endures forever. The tone is both pastoral and urgent, calling sinners to repentance and believers to steadfast faith.

Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

As pilgrims in this world, Christians are to maintain their distinct identity and develop a spiritual appetite for heavenly things rather than worldly pleasures. In this sermon, Christians are urged to endure present hardships with joy and hope, fixing their eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of faith, and live lives of radical generosity and faithfulness as citizens of a future kingdom.