Trinity Baptist Church

I. See and Accept the Hand of God II. Acknowledge and Convey to God the Bitterness of Soul III. Hope in God IV. Wait on God V. Repent and Obey

The sermon centers on the urgent exhortation to 'hold fast to the word of life'—the gospel of Jesus Christ—as a call to persevering faith amid spiritual warfare, temptation, and trial. Rooted in Philippians 2:12–18, it emphasizes that salvation is not earned but is to be actively lived out with reverence and dependence on God's work within believers, who are called to remain steadfast in the truth despite distractions such as worldly relationships, career demands, false teaching, or personal struggles. The ultimate purpose of this perseverance is not self-glory, but the joy of seeing God's work fulfilled in the lives of believers, which brings deep satisfaction to both the faithful and their spiritual leaders. This joy is not fleeting, but rooted in the eternal hope of Christ's return and the certainty of eternal life, making the Christian life a joyful, enduring commitment that overcomes suffering and fuels mutual encouragement within the body of Christ.

The doctrine of God's covenant as the foundational framework for understanding Scripture, emphasizing that salvation is entirely the result of God's sovereign, voluntary condescension—initiated not by human effort but by divine grace. It distinguishes between the covenant of works, implied but not named in the confession, and the covenant of grace, which is the sole means of salvation for fallen humanity, revealed progressively from Eden through the Old Testament covenants and fully realized in Christ. The covenant of grace is grounded in the eternal covenant of redemption between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and its substance lies in God's free offer of life through faith in Christ, secured by the Holy Spirit's work in the elect. The sermon underscores the exclusivity and certainty of this covenant, affirming that no other covenant or human effort can bring salvation, and concludes with a call to trust in God's unbreakable promise, finding assurance and comfort in His everlasting, ordered, and secure covenant of grace.

1. The public preaching of God's word is the primary means of grace and must be kept central in the life of the church. 2. Pastoral counseling is also a necessary and important aspect of ministry and must not be neglected. 3. Preaching and counseling complement eachother.

Applications: 1. Preaching to yourself is essential to the Christian life 2. Remembering God's truth and former blessings is essential to the Christian life 3. Heartfelt public worship is essential to the Christian life

"The path to praise is meditating on God"

1. Power of God 2. Word of God 3. Care of God

Though God, according to His eternal decree, has chosen a definite number to salvation, He nevertheless sincerely and earnestly desires the salvation of all men; therefore, the church must proclaim and pray with confidence that the gospel of Christ is freely and genuinely offered to every sinner, without restriction or hesitation.

"Experience is important but Scripture is indispensible"

1. Instructive Context 2. Descriptive Condition 3. Effective Cure

Reflecting on Paul's deep sorrow and grief over the spiritual condition of his fellow Jews, and emphasizing his heartfelt longing for their salvation despite their unbelief. Romans 9:1–6, the preacher highlights the unparalleled privileges of Israel—adoption, glory, covenants, the law, worship, promises, the patriarchs, and most significantly, the incarnation of Christ—God's promises remain faithful even as many Jews rejected the gospel. The central theological affirmation is that God is not to blame for Israel's unbelief; the word of God has not failed, and divine sovereignty does not negate human responsibility. The sermon calls believers to emulate Paul's compassion by praying for the lost, including family, nation, and ethnic groups, while rejecting all racial and ethnic prejudice, grounded in the gospel's universal truth that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, not by ethnicity or heritage.

In this message the truth of God's word in James Ch 4 on the brevity of our lives is opened up and applied against the backdrop of the recent senseless murders in our day, even as Jesus exemplified in Luke 13. The brevity of our lives is set before us that our eyes and heart may be fixed on the Lord who alone is the author and sustainer of Life, and who's will should be our pursuit in life. The scriptures were applied to all hearers urging their personal and ongoing need to ensure that they are ready to meet the Lord, and to be joyfully awaiting His return, with application made to the young children as well as all who were seated under the word of God, to seek the Lord now while he may be found, for today is the day of salvation.