Evangelism

Pastor Martin brings in a fifth group of witnesses to Christ's deity: the fact that divine worship is directed to Him and received by Him without rebuke. Beginning with the strict monotheism of the Old Testament and Peter's and Paul's refusal to receive worship, he traces how calling on Christ's name, being baptized into His name, looking to Him for grace, and the worship of heaven itself all demonstrate that Christ is truly God. The sermon closes with searching questions: Is this the Christ you worship? And a lament over the cheap, flippant "Jesus" of much modern preaching.

Pastor Martin continues the doctrine of calling by surveying the biblical uses of the word 'call.' He first disposes of the general non-theological usage (designating, summoning with authority, inviting, and occupation) and then focuses on the exceptional theological usage: the universal, free, general call of the gospel drawn primarily from the parables of Matthew 22 and Luke 14. This universal call involves four elements — the presentation of gospel provision, the command and plea to partake, the promise of forgiveness to every believer, and the sober warning against refusal. He then answers why such a call is given even though it does not always produce what it offers: it is the context in which the special call comes, it magnifies God's mercy, and it intensifies the sinner's responsibility. He closes with a charge to the bride of Christ to say 'Come' and to preachers to give the free offer with passion and without qualification.