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Dr. Schmidt examines the apostle Paul's admonition for Christian's to guard against getting caught up in useless legalism and false pride in a false attempt to impress God.

The sermon examines Paul's argument in Galatians 3 to refute the Judaizers' claim that adherence to the Mosaic Law is necessary for salvation. It establishes that the Abrahamic covenant, which promised justification by faith, was unconditional and could not be annulled by the Law given 430 years later. The Law is presented not as a means of salvation but as a temporary schoolmaster designed to reveal human sinfulness and the inability of works to provide life. By demonstrating that the Law condemns all under sin, it drives believers to recognize their need for a Savior. The message concludes that since faith has come through Christ, believers are no longer under the guardianship of the Law but live under the grace of God, having been justified by faith alone.

Sermon | Esther 9:1-16 | Sunday Evening Service, October 18 2026. Preacher: Rocky Stevenson The sermon explores the dual themes of divine reversal and human restraint found in Esther 9, highlighting how God flips the fate of His people from destruction to victory. It connects this event to the historical disobedience of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15, arguing that the Jews' refusal to plunder their enemies, despite having legal right to do so, completes a cycle of obedience that was failed five centuries prior. Ps Rocky emphasizes that God's covenant faithfulness remains irrevocable even amidst Israel's disobedience, using this narrative to illustrate the broader theological truth that God's grace is displayed against the backdrop of human sin. By referencing Romans 11 and 12, the message concludes that the appropriate response to God's mercy is not entitlement or greed, but a transformed life characterized by holy restraint and gratitude. #reversal #restraint #obedience #covenant #grace Visit Benoni Bible Church: www.benonibiblechurch.co.za Address: 149 President Brand Rd, Rynfield, Benoni - view on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oag383xq3U2b7RQN6 Copyright © 2026, Benoni Bible Church. All rights reserved.

The sermon addresses the Corinthian church's tendency to resolve internal disputes through secular courts, arguing that such actions reflect a failure to live as redeemed people. It distinguishes between civil legal matters and spiritual reconciliation, emphasizing that the church is equipped to handle trivial conflicts through biblical wisdom and grace. The central message calls believers to stop causing harm and to extend mercy, recognizing that their identity is defined not by their past sins but by their justification and sanctification in Christ. By contrasting the unrighteous with the washed and justified, the text highlights the transformative power of the gospel, which should produce a distinct community characterized by forgiveness rather than scorekeeping. The tone is both convicting and comforting, urging the congregation to embody the new life they have received in Jesus.

This sermon examines 2 Peter 1 as a call to progressive spiritual maturity, emphasizing that God's divine power supplies everything necessary for eternal life and godliness. The central message presents a 'chain' of virtues—faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love—that believers are to cultivate not through self-effort but by relying on God's grace. The preacher clarifies that this list is not legalism but a practical outworking of salvation, where the presence of these qualities confirms genuine faith and provides subjective assurance of election. By contrasting fruitful growth with the spiritual blindness of those who neglect these virtues, the sermon urges believers to diligently confirm their calling and secure their entrance into the eternal kingdom through daily dependence on Christ.

This sermon explores the theological purpose of God's eternal election as presented in Ephesians 1:3-6, arguing that believers were chosen for holiness, adoption, and the praise of God's glory. The message clarifies that salvation is not merely about forgiveness but involves a transformative process where grace produces obedience, countering both legalism and antinomianism. It emphasizes the familial reality of adoption, urging believers to approach God with the confidence of children rather than the fear of outsiders, while grounding their identity in Christ's work rather than fluctuating emotions. The sermon concludes by directing the ultimate end of election toward the worship of God, warning against pride or speculation and encouraging a humble, awe-filled response to the sovereign grace that chose the elect before the foundation of the world.

This sermon addresses the danger of legalism, described as the 'ditch on the right' that Christians must avoid while pursuing a life of obedience to God's commandments. The central argument is that legalism arises from a false theological separation between salvation and sanctification, treating the Christian life as a two-stage process rather than an organic outgrowth of the Gospel. By relying on self-generated righteousness and man-made rules instead of the sustaining grace of Christ, believers risk becoming disconnected from the Head of the Church. The message emphasizes that true obedience flows naturally from a heart transformed by God's love and the work of the Holy Spirit, rather than from a desire to earn favor or maintain self-righteousness. Listeners are urged to remain rooted in the assurance of justification and adoption, allowing the law to function as a rule of gratitude rather than a burden of performance.

This sermon explores the theological concept of imputation as the divine remedy for the legal and practical consequences of original sin. It distinguishes between inherited corruption, which is addressed through regeneration and resurrection, and imputed guilt, which is resolved through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. The message explains that Adam's guilt is legally transferred to all humanity, while Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers, satisfying the demands of divine justice. The preacher uses the imagery of God clothing Adam and Eve in Genesis to illustrate how God not only removes guilt but also covers shame, offering complete acceptance and peace. The tone is instructional and pastoral, urging listeners to accept this gift of grace to find freedom from both legal condemnation and personal shame.

Mark 9:1 was first and most immediately fulfilled in the Transfiguration, when Peter, James, and John went up the mountain and received a stunning, firsthand preview of Jesus's divine glory. But the promise goes even deeper—the kingdom of God was decisively, legally, and officially established at the resurrection, which was God's public declaration that Jesus is the rightful King who has conquered sin and death. Today, we see this kingdom actively at work through the global spread of the church, powered by the Holy Spirit just as we read about in the book of Acts. It helps to think of the kingdom as something that is fully present in power right now, even though we are still looking forward to the beautiful day when Christ returns to bring it to its final, glorious completion.

This sermon examines Jude 1:4, warning believers about false teachers who have infiltrated the church and pervert the grace of God into license for sin. The message distinguishes between genuine faith, which produces obedience and holiness, and antinomianism, which rejects Christ's lordship while claiming His salvation. By referencing historical examples of rebellion and the Battle of the Bulge, the text illustrates the need for spiritual discernment to identify wolves in sheep's clothing. The preacher emphasizes that while salvation is by grace alone, true believers are motivated by love to keep God's commandments, avoiding the extremes of legalism and antinomianism. The central call is to earnestly contend for the faith by examining one's life for the fruit of righteousness and remaining vigilant against deceptive doctrines. Questions: What is antinomianism? Does being saved by grace mean I can live however I want? Can Jesus be my Savior without being my Lord? What is the difference between legalism and antinomianism? If Christians are saved by grace and not works, why does obedience matter? Does once saved, always saved mean it doesn't matter how I live? How can I tell the difference between a struggling Christian and a false believer?

The sermon concludes the exegesis of Romans 16 by examining Paul's warnings against false teachers and his benediction, which highlights the revelation of the mystery of the church. The speaker transitions to a systematic overview of the epistle, outlining its structure from condemnation to justification, sanctification, and glorification. This framework is used to distinguish the Protestant view of salvation, where justification is a past legal declaration, from the Roman Catholic view that treats it as a process. The teaching emphasizes that believers are simultaneously righteous and sinners, relying on faith for both justification and the ongoing process of sanctification. Finally, the sermon sets the stage for a deeper study of human depravity in Romans 1-3, contrasting Arminian and Calvinist perspectives to establish a biblically faithful understanding of God's grace.