There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than the fact that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to thisโthat because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do, that you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will abound all the more to the glory of grace. That is a very good test of gospel preaching. If my preaching and presentation of the gospel of salvation does not expose it to that misunderstanding, then it is not the gospel.
MartynThe man or woman who is born of God, who is regenerate, simply does not and cannot continue-abide-in a life of sin. They may backslide temporarily, but if they are born of God they will come back. It is as certain as that they have been born again. It is the way to test whether or not someone is born again.
MartynWe must not concentrate overmuch upon our feelings. Do not spend too much time feeling your own pulse taking your own spiritual temperature, do not spend too much time analyzing your feelings. That is the high road to morbidity.
MartynLove is not just a sentiment. Love is a great controlling passion and it always expresses itself in terms of obedience.
MartynIf we believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the only begotten Son of God and that He came into this world and went to the cross of Calvary and died for our sins and rose again in order to justify us and to give us life anew and prepare us for heaven-if you really believe that, there is only one inevitable deduction, namely that He is entitled to the whole of our lives, without any limit whatsoever.
MartynThe man who is meek is not even sensitive about himself. He is not always watching himself and his own interests. He is not always on the defensiveโฆ To be truly meek means we no longer protect ourselves, because we see there is nothing worth defendingโฆ The man who is truly meek never pities himself, he is never sorry for himself. He never talks to himself and says, โYou are having a hard time, how unkind these people are not to understand you.
Martyn