Tag Archives: Robert Martin

The Courageous Manner of Paul’s Preaching and the Fruit of his Preaching in his Own Conscience

Paul's Farewell, Preaching

robert_martin_conferenceDr. Robert Martin

I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable. . . .
I go bound in the spirit . . . I hold not my life of any account as dear unto
myself . . . I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all
men. For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God
(Acts 20:20, 22, 24, 26-27).

In previous chapters, we have been considering Paul’s example as an able and faithful preacher of the Word of God. Thus far we have looked at the scope of his preaching and its focus and recurring themes. In this chapter, we will consider the courageous manner of his preaching and its fruit in his own conscience.
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The Foci and Recurring Themes of Paul’s Preaching II

Paul's Farewell

robert_martin_conferenceDr. Robert Martin

To testify the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

In the last chapter we began to consider the foci and recurring themes of Paul’s preaching. We examined Acts 20:21, where Paul speaks of his “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” And we saw that in this statement, he identifies a primary focus and recurring emphasis in his preaching, i.e., the themes of repentance and faith. In this chapter, we continue this study by examining the words in verse 24 that he uses to summarize and characterize the ministry that he received from the Lord Jesus: “to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
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The Foci and Recurring Themes of Paul’s Preaching I

Paul's Farewell

robert_martin_conferenceDr. Robert Martin

Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks
repentance toward God and
faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (20:21).

In this segment of our study, we are considering Paul’s example as an able and faithful preacher of the Scriptures. In the last chapter we looked at Paul’s claim concerning the scope of his preaching, as described in the words: “I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable” (20:20), “I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God” (20:27). In this chapter, we come to . . .
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The Scope of Paul’s Preaching

Paul's Farewell, Preaching

robert_martin_conferenceDr. Robert Martin

I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable . . .I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:20, 27).

In previous studies, we have seen that Paul appeals to the Ephesians’ knowledge of his consistent humility, compassion, and unselfishness. In this chapter, we begin to take up the next mark of a true pastor, which is that he is an able and faithful preacher of God’s Word. Paul says to the Ephesian elders,
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The Moral Law II
The Moral Law and the Christian Life, Romans 7:25

The Law of God

Dr. Robert Martin

AUDIO

At 3:21 Paul turns a corner–now to open up the gospel. His theme is Sola Scriptura, Sola fidei, Sola gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo gloria. He speaks of a saving righteousness from God that is imputed to the believer and of God’s righteousness in doing this, i.e., of his honoring his own law in such a way that he may be just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus.

At 6:1 he turns another corner–this time to speak of the implications of the gospel re. the possibility of believers continuing in sin. As he develops this question he assumes a number of truths, including the continuing prescribing function of God’s moral law as a rule of life for the believer. This is woven into the canvas on which he displays his case. By the time we get to 7:25, this is explicit. Now, we can’t follow Paul at every turn from 6:1 to 7:25, where he says, “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God”–but we need to see enough to understand how important that statement is to our appreciating the place of the moral law in our living the Christian life.

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The Moral Law I
The Moral Law and the Gospel

The Law of God

Dr. Robert Martin

AUDIO

Now we know that whatever the law says,
it says to those who are under the law,
that every mouth may be stopped, and all
the world may become guilty before God.
Therefore by the deeds of the law
no flesh will be justified in His sight,
for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:19-20).

The relation of God’s law to the gospel is the most important practical theme in Christian theology. Charles Bridges (The Christian Ministry, 228) says,

We cannot indeed have too much of the Gospel; but we may have too little of the Law. And a defect in the Evangelical preaching of the Law is as clear a cause of inefficient ministration, as a legal preaching of the Gospel. In such a Ministry there must be a want of spiritual conviction of sin generally–of spiritual sins most particularly–and–flowing directly from hence–a low standard of spiritual obedience. Indeed, all the prevalent errors in the Church may be traced to this course.

J. Newton similarly says, “Ignorance of the nature and design of the law is at the bottom of most religious mistakes” (Works, 1:176). These statements seem excessive, but the more we consider them the more accurate they appear.

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The Moral Law and the Gospel →