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At the end of this podcast is the answer to the question: What would John Owen say to the Theocast podcast, "Why I left Lordship" salvation." For John Owen, severing the Lordship of Christ from His saving work is a theological impossibility because saving faith receives the undivided Person of the God-Man, who simultaneously executes the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. In Christologia and Meditations on the Glory of Christ (Volume 1), Owen demonstrates that Christ's Kingly office is not an optional addendum to salvation, but the very mechanism by which He bestows His Spirit, subdues the rebel heart, and delivers His people from the dominion of sin and Satan. True faith involves the voluntary subjection of the soul to Christ's scepter; therefore, a "salvation" that leaves a sinner in active rebellion against King Jesus claims a benefits-only fiction that departs entirely from the genuine gospel.

As you meditate on the truth of the Word today, consider these words that David sang in v. 19 above, and actively engage in what "Selah" calls you to do as you pause and ponder their glorious meaning. What is one of the many reasons that you are to kneel down, praise, and adore your great covenant Lord? He is the great giver of daily benefits to His people.

This devotional explores the paradox of the cross as presented in 1 Corinthians 1, highlighting how the message of Christ crucified appears as foolishness to the world but stands as the power of God for those who believe. The text contrasts human wisdom and strength with divine wisdom and power, emphasizing that God chose to save believers through the seemingly weak and foolish means of the gospel rather than through signs or intellectual debate. The preacher underscores the humility of God's chosen method, where ordinary sinners proclaim the message of redemption, and invites the congregation to reflect on this truth as they prepare for the Lord's Supper. The central theme is the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work, which transcends human understanding and serves as the ultimate wisdom and strength for the church.

This sermon explores the profound identity of believers as children of God, emphasizing the authority and security that come with this status. Drawing from Psalm 103, the message encourages the congregation to actively recall the benefits of belonging to God, countering the human tendency to forget. The central themes include being remitted of all iniquities, restored from spiritual and physical sickness, redeemed from destruction, rewarded with steadfast love, and renewed with inner strength. The tone is pastoral and comforting, urging listeners to meditate on these truths to combat doubt and find satisfaction in God alone. The sermon concludes with a call to worship and a reminder of the ultimate hope found in Christ.

In this Psalm 1 sermon, Pastor Richard Caldwell preaches The Way of Prosperity & The Way That Perishes Pt. 2 on the righteous and the wicked. The first Psalm serves as a gateway to the Psalter by dividing all of humanity into two distinct categories. God recognizes people by their manner of living, comparing the fruit of a righteous person to a tree firmly planted by streams of water. True believers are marked by their sincere love for God and their genuine delight in His inerrant Word. In contrast, the unredeemed are described as chaff driven away by the wind. They walk in the counsel of the ungodly and have no fellowship with the truth or the community of the saints. Ultimately, their rebellion against the final authority of Scripture leaves them without hope at the final judgment. True wisdom is found only in the law of the Lord and salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. As we examine the inevitable destinies of these two paths, we are called to evaluate our own hearts. God preserves the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will end in eternal destruction. Key Biblical Takeaways: - True spiritual joy and blessedness belong exclusively to those whose sins are forgiven and who take refuge in God. - A righteous life is evidenced by a deep, enduring delight in the Word of God that shapes daily meditation and produces lasting spiritual fruit. - The wicked are completely separated from God and His people, living a life that ultimately amounts to worthless chaff with no eternal substance. - Every human life ends in one of two guaranteed destinies: everlasting fruitfulness and preservation by God, or eternal destruction and banishment.

This sermon explores the emotional and spiritual depth of Jeremiah's lament in Lamentations, highlighting how the prophet felt abandoned and burdened by God's judgment on Jerusalem. The message contrasts this feeling of isolation with the enduring truth of God's faithfulness, using the parallel narrative of Job to illustrate how suffering can lead to spiritual refinement. It emphasizes that while human relationships may fail or become bitter, God's mercies are new every morning and never fail. The preacher encourages the audience to shift their focus from their circumstances to the Savior, reminding them that God is present even in the darkest times. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a daily meditation on Scripture as a source of strength and a reminder that God has not forsaken His people.

This sermon explores the divine attributes of God's steadfastness and loving kindness, emphasizing that these qualities are central to His character and distinct from the fickle nature of human affection. By examining key passages such as Exodus 34:6 and Jeremiah 31:3, the message highlights that God's love is an unbreakable covenant ratified by the blood of Jesus Christ, ensuring that nothing can separate believers from His grace. The preacher encourages the congregation to find comfort, confidence, and motivation for worship in the knowledge that God's love remains constant even in the face of sin or suffering. This understanding of divine faithfulness is presented as the primary driver for a life of obedience, prayer, and mutual love within the community of faith. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to meditate on this enduring love as a source of daily strength and a foundation for their spiritual walk.

What are Christians like? How are Christians different from our unsaved neighbors, coworkers, and friends as we journey through life in a world that is not our home? Christians are hopeful, says 1 Peter 1:13. Christians are holy, says verse 15. And Christians are reverent; we live in the fear of the Lord. "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your sojourn," 1 Peter 1:17 (LSB). God's children live with reverent awe before their Father and Judge, knowing that He evaluates everything in our lives impartially. Ours is not the fear of condemnation awaiting those who have no refuge from God's wrath; it is the reverence of those who belong to a holy God and take seriously how they live before Him. Why do we live this way? Because we've been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. Christians are the reverent redeemed. This Lord's Day, we'll continue our look at 1 Peter 1 and its call to godly living in a God-denying world. Join us as we consider, "Homeward Bound: The Reverent Redeemed." Prepare for Sunday: Read and meditate on 1 Peter 1:13-21, focusing on verses 17-21. Also read 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 and 1 John 3:1-3. What reasons does Peter give for Christians to live in reverent fear? How should we understand the call to fear God in light of the Bible's teaching that believers are forgiven and accepted by God? How should knowing that God judges impartially—and that Christ has redeemed us at such a cost—change the way we live?

This sermon examines the progression of prayer through the lens of Psalm 77, illustrating how God shapes a believer's requests over time. The central message emphasizes that prayer is not a static event but a dynamic process involving initial appeal, compelled perseverance, helpful recollection of God's character, and specific examples of His past faithfulness. Key theological themes include the alignment of human will with divine will, the necessity of fervent and persistent prayer, and the comfort found in meditating on God's holiness and power. The tone is instructional and pastoral, encouraging the congregation to trust in God's sovereignty while actively engaging in prayer for specific needs, such as the provision of church leadership. The speaker argues that as believers reflect on God's historical acts of redemption, their doubts are replaced by confidence in His ongoing provision.