Sermons That Exalt Christ
The preaching of God’s Word is central to the life of the church. Tom's pulpit ministry is dedicated to providing clear, biblical teaching to equip believers, strengthen faith, and exalt Christ.
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The preaching of God's Word is central to worship and of the utmost importance for the sanctification of every believer in Christ.
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Christology: The Atonement - Part 2
The text delves into the atonement of Jesus Christ, defining it as the covering of sin to reconcile humanity with God. It emphasizes Christianity's uniqueness in teaching that God initiated and completed this atonement through His Son's substitutionary sacrifice. The atonement was necessary due to sin's gravity, and caused by God's justice and love. Its nature is penal (satisfying God's law for our lawless deeds) and substitutionary (Christ taking our place, enduring punishment on our behalf). This vicarious death provides common grace, redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, and justification. A significant portion addresses the "extent of the atonement"�for whom Christ died. The pastor refutes universalism (actual salvation for all) and the idea of potential salvation for all (unlimited atonement), advocating for "definite" or "particular redemption" (often called limited atonement). Arguments for definite atonement include its consistency with God's eternal plan of redemption, where the Father chose specific individuals for the Son to save. Scriptural passages often speak of Christ dying for "His people" or "the church," not all without exception. Furthermore, verses seemingly supporting unlimited atonement, using terms like "all" or "world," are argued to mean "all without distinction" (e.g.
No Condemnation! - Part 1
Pastor Tom Pennington begins a sermon series on Romans 8, describing it as a profoundly life-changing chapter that outlines the absolute security of the Christian. He identifies seven reasons for this security presented in the chapter, starting with God delivering believers from condemnation (Romans 8:1-4). Focusing on Romans 8:1, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," Pennington explains this verse as a logical conclusion to Paul�s argument in Romans 5, where Christ's work results in our justification. "No condemnation" signifies a complete, permanent reversal of a believer's legal status before God. It means there is no guilty verdict and no divine penalty for those in Christ, because Jesus bore the condemnation for their sins. Pennington clarifies that this doesn't diminish the seriousness of sin, the priority of sanctification, or future judgment for believers' works (for rewards, not punishment). Instead, for Christians, sin becomes a relational issue with God as a Father, rather than a legal issue in a courtroom of justice. This status of "no condemnation" is permanent, bookending Romans 8 with the assurance that nothing can separate believers from God�s love in Christ Jesus.
The Dark Guest - Part 3
The sermon explores Romans 7, emphasizing the Christian's universal inner conflict with sin, a lifelong battle many try to avoid through spiritual shortcuts or alternative experiences. Pastor Pennington states this struggle is normal for believers, describing it as a conflict between the redeemed soul, delighting in God's law, and the unredeemed flesh, which wages war against these desires. The desperate cry, "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24), marks a true believer recognizing their sin against God's holiness. This isn't despair but a longing for future, complete deliverance. "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25a) expresses confident hope in a coming new, glorified body, free from indwelling sin, at resurrection. This future hope doesn't eliminate the "continual war" of present reality (Romans 7:25b), where the mind serves God and the flesh serves sin. Romans 8 then offers victory and confidence, reminding believers that this tension is their normal existence until Christ's return or death.
The Dark Guest - Part 2
Tom Pennington's sermon "The Dark Guest (Part 2)" interprets Romans 7:14-25, revealing the Christian's persistent struggle with indwelling sin, termed a "professional squatter" or "dark guest." Using an analogy of a Colorado squatter law, Pennington explains that this "flesh"�our unredeemed part�continually wages war within believers until glorification. Paul�s laments (Romans 7:14-20) describe the paradox of wanting to do good but doing evil, and vice versa. This isn't the regenerated self sinning, but "sin which dwells in me," as nothing morally good resides in our flesh. This internal conflict stems from two opposing principles: the redeemed soul's joyful delight in God's law (Principle 1) and the flesh's war against it, making one a "prisoner of the law of sin" (Principle 2). Pennington asserts this struggle is a universal Christian experience and a test of genuine faith. A true believer delights in God's law, desires obedience, battles indwelling sin, and is acutely aware of this inner conflict. The very presence of this spiritual battle proves one is a Christian, providing comfort and encouragement. Ultimately, freedom from sin's bondage is found only through Jesus Christ, offering the sole hope for all.
The Dark Guest - Part 1
In a sermon on Romans 7:14-25, Tom Pennington addresses the believer's ongoing struggle with sin, emphasizing the Law's weakness not due to its inherent flaw, but due to human sinfulness. He argues this passage describes all believers�mature and immature�and how they respond to sin: hating it and desiring holiness, despite repeated failures. Pennington refutes the popular "conflict of two natures" view, which often misinterprets regeneration as an old self warring with a new self. Scripturally, at salvation, the "old self" dies with Christ, and believers become entirely new creations. The continued struggle is between this new, redeemed self and the "flesh," defined as unredeemed humanness residing primarily in the physical body and brain, with its ingrained sinful patterns. Paul's laments express this internal battle: doing what he hates and failing to do what he wills, acknowledging the Law's goodness but being bound by indwelling sin. This doesn't negate personal responsibility but differentiates the redeemed person from the lingering influence of sin. Ultimately, this internal conflict is a hopeful sign of true regeneration, demonstrating a love for God's Law and a hatred for sin, confirming the believer's freedom from condemnation in Christ.
Christology: The Atonement - Part 1
This text on Christology emphasizes the unique nature of the atonement in Christianity. Unlike man-made religions where individuals must atone for their own sins, Christianity asserts that God Himself, the offended party, made full and complete atonement for sinners through the substitutionary sacrifice of His Son. While God was not absolutely compelled to save anyone, once He determined to redeem a people, the death of Jesus became absolutely necessary, as there was no other way for a righteous, holy God to reconcile with sinners. The causes of this atonement are rooted in God's character: His justice, demanding every sin be punished; His profound love, which initiated the plan; and His gracious will, all enacted for His own glory. The biblical doctrine of atonement refutes false theories like ransom to Satan or the moral influence view, which deny its necessity. Instead, it defines atonement as Christ's vicarious (substitutionary) sacrifice that satisfied God's justice, paying sin's penalty, bringing forgiveness, imputing righteousness, and reconciling humanity to God.
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