Tag: Christianity

Sermon Download: Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)

~ Bob Hayton ~ Leave a comment

This past Sunday, I had the privilege of preaching for a special five-part series at our church. Each week a sermon has been devoted to one of the Five Solas of the Reformation. In English, the Five Solas are: Christ Alone, Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and to the Glory of God Alone. This is also the order we are using for the sermon series. Our pastor has opened the series and will finish it, and two other men and I are privileged to contribute one of the messages for the set.

My sermon from this Sunday was on Sola Gratia, or Grace Alone. I was especially burdened by this topic which is so all-encompassing. My sermon highlighted the role of Grace in salvation — we are saved not on account of our works (praise God!). And I also emphasized how grace opposes legalism, in both its doctrinal and practical forms. Finally I was able to touch on Sovereign Grace just a bit as well.

My text was Titus 3, and I was pleased to discover that Martin Luther preached a pair of sermons on Titus 2:11-4 and Titus 3:4-7 for Christmas of 1522. Those sermons were epsecially pertinent to my theme and I included some quotations. (You can find Luther’s sermons on Titus  here and here).

I’m sharing my sermon notes and audio in this post and welcome any feedback. You can also find all my recent sermons from The Heights Church, St. Paul, here.

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire sermon (52 minutes), please do look over my notes.

Place: The Heights Church, St. Paul
Date: November 12, 2017
Title: Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)
Text: Titus 3:3-8
Notes: Download PDF
Audio Link: Click to listen (right click to download)

Quotes to Note 42: Why the Reformation Was Needed

~ Bob Hayton ~ Leave a comment

Tomorrow is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, as Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the church door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg on October 31, 1517. For the occasion, I have been reading through Diarmaid MacCulloch’s masterful work The Reformation: A History (Penguin, 2005), which comes recommended by Carl Trueman. I stumbled up on a passage which highlights one of the basic reasons why the Reformation was required. Some Roman Catholics like to insist that the Reformation pushed the Catholic church to reform, with its own “Counter Reformation.” So they thank Luther but insist that the Council of Trent is what was needed, not a reactionary movement to leave the Catholic church.

Yet this quote from a post-Trent Counter-Reformation pope proves why Reformers (and their Protestant descendants) found the Catholic church still so lacking. Here is Pope Paul V confronting the Venetian ambassador with the following rhetorical question in 1606:

“Do you not know that so much reading of Scripture ruins the Catholic religion?” ~ Pope Paul V, 1606

MacCulloch goes on to explain.

“One of the tasks of the 1564 Tridentine Index [of prohibited books] had been to keep vernacular Bibles away from the faithful; anyone wanting to read the Bible in a modern language required permission from the local bishop, and in the 1596 Roman Index the ban became complete and without exception. In Italy, the Index’s ban was enforced. Bibles were publicly and ceremonially burned, like heretics; even literary versions of scriptural stories in drama or poetry were frowned on.”

MacCulloch, The Reformation: A History, p. 406, words in brackets were added for clarity.

Before the Reformation, it is true that vernacular Bible translations had been somewhat in vogue, but they were based on the Latin Vulgate. The Reformation saw the introduction of vernacular translations based directly on the Greek and/or Hebrew. In areas where the Catholics had to coexist with Protestant neighbors, knowledge of the Bible was important — at least for priests who were trying to convince the Protestants of their errors. But even priestly study of the Bible was frowned upon by the Counter-Reformation pope and his heirs.

There are many other reasons for the Reformation, which we cannot detail here. But one of the lasting fruits of this movement was the liberation of the Bible for the average Christian. If the Catholic church was correct on its doctrine, why was it seemingly so afraid to let the lay people have access to the Bible? Good question indeed. Be thankful today that you live on this side of the Reformation, and you have the privilege and liberty to read God’s Word for yourself.

A Survey of the Reformation: Its History and Doctrine

~ Bob Hayton ~ Leave a comment

This Fall marks 500 years since the start of the Protestant Reformation. October 31, 1517 is the date that Martin Luther nailed his “Ninety-five Theses” on the church door in Wittenberg. His Reformation ideas quickly spread over all of Europe by means of the movable-type printing press… and the rest, they say, is history.

In honor of this anniversary, I am re-posting my teaching series entitled, “A Survey of the Reformation: Its History and Doctrine.”

I developed this teaching series in 2012 and have taught through it for adult Sunday School classes in two different churches. The audio files are primarily from 2012, but one of the lessons had corrupted audio and so I made a replacement recording in 2014 the next time I taught the material.

My goal in this series is two-fold: to introduce people to the history and ideals of the Reformation, and to give an introduction to the doctrine known as the five points of Calvinism or the doctrines of Grace. I have found that understanding and appreciating the doctrines of Grace is easier when one is led to understand the history of the Reformation as a whole. Also stressed in this study, are the Five Solas, and the Reformation emphasis on God’s sovereignty.

The Reformation doesn’t stand or fall with the doctrines of Grace, but that understanding flows directly from the heart of the Reformation. And while Luther may not have agreed on all the particulars of how the five points came to be articulated, he is in fundamental agreement on God’s role in salvation — as were all the original reformers.

Feel free to use the .pdf and .mp3 audio files freely, I just ask to be credited as the source of this presentation. May God grant the spirit of the Reformation and its doctrine, to continue to occupy a warm place in the hearts and minds of God’s people.

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A Survey of the Reformation: Its History and Doctrine

HISTORY

  1. Introduction & An Overview of Church History • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.
  2. Forerunners of the Reformation • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.
  3. The Protestant Reformation • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.
  4. Puritanism & The Legacy of the Reformers • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.

DOCTRINE

  1. Reformation Doctrine: The Big Picture • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.
  2. Total Depravity & Irresistible Grace • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.
  3. Limited Atonement • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.
  4. Unconditional Election • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.
  5. Perseverance of the Saints • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.
  6. Answering Objections • Download the Audio ∼ View the Slides.
  7. Why the Reformation Matters Today • No audio (see note below) ∼ View the Slides.

Note: You may notice that the audio deviates from the slides more and more as the lessons progress. This is due to the fact that the slides match the 2014 audio, which is unavailable. The 2012 audio files line up closely with my older slides available here. 

I used a variety of resources for this series, but the four I recommend to my SS class are listed here below:

“Israel – God’s Heart: Landscapes and Legacy of Israel” by Ron Gafni and Kathleen Barrett

~ Bob Hayton ~ Leave a comment

In every Christian’s heart there is a warm spot reserved for the land of Israel. Who wouldn’t want to visit the land where so many biblical stories unfolded — the place where most of the Bible was written? I know I would like to pause in the valley where David chose his five stones. I would enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (if there are no storm clouds in sight). And I would be captivated by a visit to Jerusalem, where I’d enjoy the western Wall almost as much as the empty tomb.

Most of us can only make one such trip in a lifetime, and many never get the chance. But with today’s technology, Israel can come to us. This is where the aerial photography of Ron Gafni comes in. He is the author of several photobooks showing Israel’s beauty from above. In his latest book, Israel – God’s Heart: Landscapes and Legacy of Israel, he partners with author Kathleen Barrett to provide “a captivating pictorial of the Holy Land and a scriptural journey through God’s redemption story.”

The images in the book do include the sights I mentioned above (with the exception of the empty tomb), but the focus is not on the biblical world directly. Instead it is modern Israel and its landscapes which monopolize the camera’s lens. The collection of images does foster reflection and the Bible verses and devotional thoughts are helpful to that end. The quality of the devotional writing however, is not what you’d expect and the occasional formatting and spelling errors serve to distract the reader (character formatting – p. 78; spelling – p. 70 “influencee”, p. 90 “totallly”, etc.). I would almost think from the grammar in some places that the original text was in Hebrew and translated back into English, although that doesn’t seem likely.

I could wish for a map, as many of the places mentioned are not familiar, such as the Maagan Michael coastline pictured on p. 78-79. And when there is a biblical connection, most readers would still benefit from a reference on a map: an example is Eilat (known as Eloth in the Bible) pictured on p. 80. The caption doesn’t inform the reader that this city is located on the gulf of Aqaba, an arm of the Red Sea. Another wish would be for the book to be available in a larger format. The small size roughly 9 x 6.6 inches (23 x 17 cm) makes this book unlikely to find a place next to more durable and vibrant photobooks adorning the coffee table. Perhaps a larger size will come later, as other books produced by SkyPics (Ron Gafni’s company) do come in two sizes, with the larger size being roughly 10 x 13 inches (25 x 34 cm).

Finally, some of the pictures seem odd in a book geared for devotional use. Several pictures of beach goers (many sporting bikinis) are captured with a wide lens, and there is an odd picture of some sort of beach party on p. 62-63.

These caveats aside, the book would make a nice addition to most Christian homes. The pictures are well done and intriguing, the landscapes are fascinating, and the devotional thoughts can be uplifting. The book can make a nice gift.

Preview the book here.

See more reviews at litfuse.com.

Where to Buy:
Pick up a copy of this book at any of the following online retailers: Amazon or direct from SkyPics.

Disclaimer:
This book was provided by the publisher. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a positive review.

A Biblical Theology of Living Water

~ Bob Hayton ~ Leave a comment

In my most recent opportunity to preach, I enjoyed tracing out a biblical theology of living water. My text was Ezekiel 47:1-12, and the focus was on Ezekiel’s vision of a river of life flowing from the end-times Temple sanctuary (you can see my notes and download the audio here). In one part of the message, I traced out a biblical “history of living waters” in a journey through the Bible. I want to share that outline here. The message was received well, and I hope I gave people a taste of the richness that biblical theology has to offer.

  1. Eden’s Four-fold River
    • Gen. 2:10 “A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.”
            » Gold, onyx are mentioned in Gen. 2, and they are central to the Temple. There is a tree of life in the garden too, like Ezek. 47, and Rev. 22.
    • SIDENOTE: 3 points illustrating why Ezekiel is looking back on Eden with his prophecy in Ezek. 47.
      1. Ezek. 36:35 “land shall be like a garden of Eden.”
      2. Eden called the Mountain of God in Ezek. 28:14 and the temple vision starts with the Temple on a high mountain (Ezek. 40:2).
      3. Outside of Eden was wilderness – similar to the Dead Sea region being a wilderness (prior to the coming of the river in Ezek. 47).
  2. Water from the Rock (Exodus) – preserved life
    • Ps.  78:16 “He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.”
    • Exod. 17:6 “you shall strike the rock and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.”
  3. The Joyful River of God
    • Ps. 46:4 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.”
            » There is no river in Jerusalem.
    • Ps. 36:8-9 “and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life…”
    • Ps. 63:1 “…my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
    • Is. 12:3 “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
  4. The LORD is the Fountain
    • Jer. 2:13 “they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters.”
    • Jer. 17:13 “they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.”
  5. Streams in the Desert (New Exodus) – renewed life
    • Is. 35:6 “waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.”
    • Is. 43:19 “For I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
    • Is. 48:21 “they did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out.”
    • Is. 49:10 “He who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.”
    • SIDENOTE: the NT draws on this, with John the Baptist using the same cry given in Is. 40:3 – another New Exodus passage.
  6. Cleansing with Water and the Outpouring of the Spirit
    • Is. 44:3 “I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”
    • Ezek. 36:25-27 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean… I will put my Spirit within you…”
  7. Renewed Israel and a fountain in Jerusalem
    • Is. 58:11 “you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
    • Zech. 14:8 “on that day living waters shall flow from Jerusalem.”
    • Joel 3:18 “in that day… a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim.”
    • Zech. 13:1 “on that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”
            » To cleanse sin.
  8. New Jerusalem (ultimate fulfillment)
    • Rev. 22:1-2 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
            » Clearly draws from Ezekiel.
    • Rev. 7:17 “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd and he will guide them to springs of living water.”
            » ultimate New Exodus.
  9. CONCLUSION from this Biblical History
    • Water is connected with spiritual joy and life in God’s presence.
    • Water is sourced in God – the True Fountain of Life.
    • Water is associated with the Temple:
            » Eden itself was a paradise – “Garden of God” – depicted in Ezek. 28 as a mountain.
            » Eden is the template to which the Tabernacle and Temple imagery point back to.
            » Ezekiel’s temple looks back to Eden with the “trees of life” on its banks (Ezek. 47).
    • Water is associated with the Holy Spirit who will be outpoured and cleanse the renewed Israelites (and believers in Christ) of their sins.