Providence Church of San Diego

Providence Church of San Diego

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Providence Church of San Diego episodes

  • The Lamb on the Throne

    Text: Revelation 5:1-14

    Main Idea: As the Lamb on the throne, Jesus meets all our need in redemption and is worthy of all our worship.

    We have a desperate need for Jesus. (vs. 1-5)

    Genesis 49:9-10, Isaiah 11:1, 10

    The supremely worthy Jesus Christ not only meets, but exceeds our need through redemption. (vs. 6-10)

    The depth of redemption: for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God.

    The breadth of redemption: from every tribe and language and people and nation
    The height of redemption: you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.

    The appropriate response that Jesus deserves is magnificent, awe-struck, wonderful worship. (vs. 11-14)

    Matthew 11:28-30: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

    Discussion Questions: What is the condition of the churches to whom John is writing? Why is Jesus the only one worthy to "open the scroll" and reveal humanity's destiny? What is the significance of Jesus being the Lion and the Lamb? What does the realization that Jesus is in control of the future, despite present circumstances, lead Christians to experience? Why does Jesus deserve to be worshipped? How is worship expressed?

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  • The Conquering King

    Text: Luke 1:30-33

    Main Idea: As the conquering King, Jesus rules over His people and defends them from all enemies.

    Grace is needed to see glory and respond. (vs. 30)

    Jesus is the promised and long anticipated, great King. (vs. 31-32)
    As the great King, Jesus will rule forever. (vs 33)

    He subdues His people with love.

    He defends His people from all enemies. Luke 1:46-55

    Discussion Questions: Is your understanding of Jesus shaped more by Scripture or by popular culture? How is the Kingdom of God "all about Jesus?" How does Jesus "subdue His people with love?" Are there areas of your life that are not submitted to Jesus' rule? What can you do about this?

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  • The Great High Priest

    Text: Hebrews 4:14-16

    Main Idea: As the believer's Great High Priest, Jesus Christ is perfect in every way; and is, therefore, able to come to our aide in ever way.

    As our Great High Priest, Jesus' sacrifice is perfect.

    As our Great High Priest, Jesus' person is perfect.
    As our Great High Priest, Jesus' provision is perfect.

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  • The True Prophet

    Text: John 1:1-5

    Main Idea: As the true Prophet, Jesus Christ shines the light of truth upon darkened hearts to reveal God.

    As the true Prophet, Jesus shines light to reveal reality.

    Jesus shines the light because He is the light.

    John 1:9-13; Hebrews 1:1-3

    The light Jesus shines not only illuminates, but animates.

    Discussion Questions: Why do we need Jesus to shine the light of truth to see reality? How does the Old Testament point to Jesus? Discuss the vital significance of the truth that Jesus reveals God, and is God. Do you remember a time when you were averse to the truth of God? Talk about His grace and kindness to you in how He led you into truth. How does God speak to us today? Are you listening? What are some practical benefits of Jesus being our life and light? How do these truths apply to our daily lives?

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  • The Seed of the Woman

    Text: Genesis 3:15

    Main Idea: Through Jesus, our gracious God defeats the enemy of our souls, redeems us from sin, and restores our relationship with Him.

    God graciously takes initiative to restore fallen people.

    The conflict with evil is real and long-lasting.
    Jesus has conquered the enemy of our souls!
    Complete victory is certain!

    Victory comes through suffering.

    Discussion Questions: Why is it significant that God responded with grace immediately after man's fall into sin? How might we be deceived to believe that what God gives us is not good, and to pursue what we think is better? Who is the "offspring" (seed) of the woman? How did Jesus rescue and free us from such pursuits? A.W. Pink wrote, "The redeemed have gained more through the last Adam than they lost through the first Adam." How is that true? Do you live daily life from more context of the assurance of victory, or the prospect of defeat? Why?

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  • Soli Deo Gloria – For the Glory of God Alone

    Text: Romans 11:33-36

    Main Idea: God alone is due all glory for our salvation as it was appointed by Him, accompanied by Him, and ultimately has His glory as its goal.

    The glory of God is an internal attribute of His infinite, intrinsic worth. (Romans 11:33-36)

    God is gloriously incomprehensible. (Romans 11:33)

    God is sovereignly glorious. (Romans 11:34-35)
    God alone is of eternal, infinite, glorious worth! (Romans 11:36)

    God alone should be glorified because of who He is and what He has done. (Psalm 115:1; 1 Cor 15:3-4; John 3:16; Rom 3:23-24; Rom 5:8-9; Heb 2:10)

    God alone is glorified when we joyfully reflect His glory in every area of life. (Eph 2:1-10; Rom 12:1; Col 3:17; 1 Cor 10:31; 2 Cor 5:17-20; Eph 3:14-21)

    Discussion Questions: Thomas Watson said that glorifying God consists of four things: Appreciation, Adoration, Affection, & Subjection. Evaluate your heart in each of these areas and ask, "Am I glorifying God?" How does God's sovereignty in salvation affect your view of Him? As God's ambassadors, our lives are about Him and for Him, not us. What are the areas of your life that you are strong in this regard and which need work?

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  • Sola Fide – Faith Alone

    Text: Acts 16:16-34

    I. The issue:  how can a sinful man be justified in order to stand before God? "How can a man be just with God?   The answer given to this question decides the character of our religion, and, if practically adopted, our future destiny.   To give a wrong answer, is to mistake the way to heaven.   It is to err where error is fatal, because it cannot be corrected.   If God require one thing, and we present another, how can we be saved?   If He has revealed a method in which He can be just and yet justify the sinner, and if we reject that method and insist upon pursuing a different way, how can we hope to be accepted?"  Charles Hodge

     

    II. The answer:  faith in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Acts 16:31, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  2 Cor. 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

     

    III. The importance of words.

    A.  Faith (pistis):  "The assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence.  In theology, the assent of the mind or understanding of the truth which God has revealed."  Webster's 1828 Dictionary
    B.  Believe (pisteuo):  "In theology, an assent of the understanding to the truths of the Gospel."  Webster's 1828 Dictionary

     

    IV. Justification by faith alone during the Reformation.

    A.   "This doctrine of justification by faith is the head and the cornerstone.  It alone begets, nourishes, builds, preserves, and defends the church of God and without it the church of God cannot exist for one hour."  Martin Luther
    B.  "This, then, is the amazing definition of Christian righteousness.  It is the divine imputing or accounting for righteousness because of faith in Christ or for Christ's sake.  God accounts and acknowledges him as righteous without any works who receives His Son by faith alone."  Martin Luther
    C.  "The safety of the church depends as much on the doctrine of justification by faith as human life does on the soul.  If the purity of this doctrine is in any degree impaired, the church has received a deadly wound."  John Calvin
    D.  "Whenever the knowledge of justification by faith is taken away, the glory of Christ is extinguished, religion abolished, the church destroyed, and the hope of salvation utterly overthrown."  John Calvin
    E.  "The theme of justification is the main hinge on which religion turns, so that we devote the greater attention and care to it. . .  Justified by faith is he who, excluded from the righteousness of works, grasps the righteousness of Christ through faith, and clothed in it, appears in God's sight not as a sinner but as a righteous man."  John Calvin

     

    V. Justification by faith alone in the Reformed confessions.

    A.  "To speak more clearly, we do not mean that faith itself justifies us, for it is only an instrument with which we embrace Christ our Righteousness.  But Jesus Christ, imputing to us all His merits, and so many holy works which He hath done for us and in our stead, is our Righteousness."  Belgic Confession 1561
    B.  "God, for the sake of Christ's satisfaction, will no more remember my sins, neither my corrupt nature, against which I have to struggle all my life long; but will graciously impute to me the righteousness of Christ, that I may never be condemned before the tribunal of God.  Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, but because only the satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only."  Heidelberg Catechism 1563
    C.  "Christian faith is not an opinion or human conviction, but a most firm trust and a clear and steadfast assent of the mind, and then a most certain apprehension of the truth of God presented in the Scriptures."  Second Helvetic Confession 1566
    D.  "Those whom God effectually calleth he also freely justifieth; not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous: not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and resting on him and his righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God."  Westminster Confession 1648
    E.  "Question #77. Wherein do justification and sanctification differ?  Answer. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification, yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ; in sanctification his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof; in the former, sin is pardoned; in the other, it is subdued: the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation; the other is neither equal in all, nor in this life perfect in any, but growing up to perfection."  Westminster Larger Catechism 1648

     

    VI. Justification by faith alone during the Puritan era.

    A.  "We are justified, not by giving anything to God, - what we do, - but by receiving from God, what Christ hath done for us."  William Gurnall
    B.  "We acknowledge no righteousness but what the obedience and satisfaction of Christ yields us:   His blood, not our faith; His satisfaction, not our believing it, is the matter of justification before God."  John Flavel
    C.  "Walk humbly.   Ye are justified, but it is by the righteousness of another.   Ye are pardoned, but it was procured to you by the satisfaction of a Saviour.   Your debt is paid, your discharge is got up; but thanks to free grace, not to you, for it."  Thomas Boston
    D.  "Indeed this is one of the greatest mysteries in the world--namely, that a righteousness that resides with a Person in heaven should justify me, a sinner on earth."  John Bunyan

     

    VII.  Justification by faith alone during the 19th century.

    A.  "He who refuses to be represented by another before God must represent himself and draw near to God on the strength of what he is in himself or what he has done."  Horatius Bonar
    B.  "By the righteousness of Christ Paul means Christ's legal status, or the merit acquired by all that He did in satisfying the demands of God's law, including what has been called His active and passive obedience. . .   The gracious character of justification consists for Paul in the fact that the righteousness on the ground of which God justifies the ungodly is a righteousness which is graciously provided by God, and which Paul contrasts with his own righteousness which comes from law works (Philippians 3:9).   The sinner, therefore, is pardoned and accepted as a righteous person, not on account of anything in himself, but only on account of what Christ has done for him, which means that the merits of Christ's suffering and obedience are imputed to the sinner as the ground of his justification."  Caspar Hodge
    C.  "Now, what flesh and blood cannot do, that Jesus Christ by His redemption did.   Here I stand, the sinner.  I am condemned to die.  God says, 'I will condemn that man; I must, I will—I will punish him.'  Christ comes in, puts me aside, and stands Himself in my stead.  When the plea is demanded, Christ says, 'Guilty;' takes my guilt to be His own guilt.  When the punishment is to be executed, forth comes Christ.  'Punish Me,' He says; 'I have put My righteousness on that man, and I have taken that man's sins on Me.  Father, punish Me, and consider that man to have been Me.  Let him reign in heaven; let Me suffer misery.  Let Me endure his curse, and let him receive My blessing.'  This marvellous doctrine of the changing of places of Christ with poor sinners, is a doctrine of revelation, for it never could have been conceived by nature."   Charles Spurgeon

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  • Sola Gratia – Grace Alone

    Text: Ephesians 2:1-10

    Main Idea: From beginning to completion, sinners are saved by grace alone.

    We understand the grace of God only in the light of the sinfulness humanity. (vs. 1-3)

    Sinners are saved by God's grace alone from beginning to completion. (vs. 4-8)
    God's grace has a purpose that is practically worked out in the daily life of believers. (vs. 9-10)

    Discussion Questions: How was graced defined in the sermon? Express thanksgiving to God as you meditate on the depths of your own depravity and the grace of God that "made us alive...in Christ." Why is it important to understand salvation by grace alone from beginning to end? Are there any obvious or subtle ways in your life where you should pride about being a Christian? How could you "bend" God's grace outward toward someone this week?

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It's all about Jesus! Providence exists to glorify God by making disciples of all nations.