Sermons That Exalt Christ
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Real Christians & Deep Fakes - Part 3
Pastor Tom Pennington concludes his two-year study of 1 John, emphasizing the contrast between real Christians and "deepfakes" (false believers) created by Satan. The final verses (1 John 5:16-21) offer insights into distinguishing true Christians. Real Christians are identified by three certainties. First, they have a new relationship with sin; those born of God do not persist in sin, as Christ protects them. Second, they have a new Father and family, being "of God" rather than "of the evil one," leading to love for God and His people. Third, real Christians possess a new, saving understanding of the true God. This understanding originates from God's incarnate Son, Jesus, who gives it through His inspired Word (explaining past revelation, bringing new truth, and authorizing the New Testament) and through His Holy Spirit (who provides spiritual life and illumination). This new understanding enables believers to truly know God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and be united to Him in continuing fellowship, exclusively through Jesus Christ. The sermon stresses the singular nature of this truth: there is only one true God, and salvation is found solely in Jesus.
Real Christians & Deep Fakes - Part 2
Pastor Tom Pennington�s sermon, "Real Christians & Deep Fakes (Part 2)," draws parallels between art forgeries and spiritual "deep fakes" to help identify genuine believers, referencing 1 John 5:16-21. The core idea is that all false forms of Christianity are idolatry stemming from Satan, leading to death, while truth through Jesus Christ alone offers eternal life. The sermon highlights two distinguishing marks of true Christians. Firstly, they possess a **new relationship with sin (v.18)**. Real Christians do not live in an ongoing pattern of unrepentant sin; though they still sin, they hate it, confess it, and strive for purity. This transformation is secured by their new spiritual nature and Christ's constant protection, shielding them from enslaving sin, Satan's lies, and ultimately, destruction. Secondly, genuine believers have a **new Father and family (v.19)**. They know they are "of God," adopted into His family, unlike the "whole world" which remains under Satan's control, blinded by his deceptions. True Christians, therefore, love their new spiritual family. The sermon encourages those recognizing themselves as forgeries to repent and trust in Christ for salvation, assuring true believers of His unwavering safekeeping.
Real Christians & Deep Fakes - Part 1
Pastor Tom Pennington introduces the concept of "deepfakes" in the church, referring to professing Christians who embrace false faith or make false professions, much like the original deepfakes misrepresent reality. He explains that 1 John 5:16-21 offers guidance on distinguishing real Christians from these "deepfakes" and how to pray for them, emphasizing the idolatrous nature of all false belief. Pennington outlines two common interpretations for "a sin not leading to death" and "a sin leading to death." One view suggests praying for true believers caught in unrepentant sin (not leading to physical death), but not for those facing severe divine physical judgment (leading to death). The other, which Pennington prefers, interprets "sin not leading to death" as referring to false believers in deception, for whom we should pray for salvation, as God grants eternal life. "A sin leading to death" in this view pertains to hardened false teachers whose ultimate judgment is certain, making prayer not necessarily effective for them.
Babylon is Fallen! - Part 4
Tom Pennington's sermon "Revelation Babylon Is Fallen! (Part 4)" analyzes Revelation 18, detailing the future, instantaneous destruction of "political-commercial Babylon," Antichrist's capital city during the tribulation. This unparalleled devastation, far exceeding earthly disasters like the Maui fires, is announced by God and occurs "in one hour." Earth's kings, merchants, and shipmasters mourn this event, weeping over their catastrophic economic losses and not their sins, observing from a distance in fear. In stark contrast, heaven rejoices. Saints, apostles, and prophets celebrate God's righteous victory, avenging His persecuted people and ushering in Christ's kingdom. An angel symbolizes Babylon's permanent disappearance by throwing a millstone into the sea, signifying its utter ruin due to abusive wealth, deception through sorcery, and the slaying of saints. Pennington concludes with two lessons: non-Christians must heed Jesus' warning about gaining the world but losing their soul, urging them to flee to Christ. Believers are called to be content, trust God over wealth, be generous, and invest in kingdom work, recognizing the heart's attitude towards money is key.
The Nature of Saving Faith - Part 7
This sermon, part of a series on "The Nature of Saving Faith" from 1 John 5:13-15, focuses on the "Assurance of Saving Faith" and its profound result: confidence in prayer. God desires believers to know they have eternal life, verifiable by three tests: belief in the biblical Jesus/gospel, love for God and His people, and obedience to His Word. This assurance then yields three key confidences in prayer. First, we have confidence that God is our loving Father. Knowing we are His children allows us to approach Him with boldness and intimacy, speaking freely. Second, we are confident that God hears our prayers. While He is not obligated to hear unbelievers (except for a repentant cry for salvation), He always listens to His children with love and attention. Third, we have confidence that God always grants certain requests, specifically those made "according to His revealed will" in Scripture. When our prayers align with God's explicit promises and commands in His Word (e.g., praying for holiness, understanding His love, or fulfilling the Lord's Prayer petitions), we know He not only hears us favorably but has already granted the request the moment we pray.
The Nature of Saving Faith - Part 6
Pastor Tom Pennington's sermon, "The Nature of Saving Faith (Part 6)," focuses on the biblical doctrine of assurance of salvation from 1 John 5:1-13. He warns against false assurance, characterized by claiming Christ without genuine obedience, as opposed to true belief evidenced by a life of doing Jesus' words. He also notes that genuine Christians often struggle with weak assurance due to factors like unrepentant sin, neglected spiritual disciplines, or misunderstanding justification. Assurance, defined as the confidence of having eternal life, is crucial for spiritual growth and is God's explicit desire and command for believers. It is primarily objective, stemming from what one *knows* from Scripture, not unreliable feelings. To gain genuine assurance, Pennington outlines two essential means. First, believers must examine their lives against the three tests in 1 John: consistent belief in the biblical Jesus and Gospel, love for God and His people, and a life increasingly marked by obedience. If these tests are passed, one can biblically know they have eternal life. Second, they must actively believe and rest in the explicit promises of the Gospel, such as those found in John 3:16 or Romans 8:29-30.
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