Solus Christus

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Join us on Sunday Mornings at 9:30 am for our Reformation Truths series and Wednesday evenings at 6pm for our Study on Puritan theology.

October 31st is our Reformation day party at 5pm

Prepare for Worship

Call To Worship

Responsive Reading 323 Psalm 98:1-9

Confession

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, we acknowledge and confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed; we have not loved you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. Deepen within us our sorrow for the wrong we have done, and the good we have left undone. Lord, you are full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy; there is always forgiveness with you! Restore to us the joy of your salvation; bind up that which is broken, give light to our minds, strength to our wills, and rest to our souls. Speak to each of us, and let your word abide with us until it has wrought in us your holy will. Amen.

Assurance of Faith

God is slow to anger and full of compassion. He forgives all who humbly repent and trust in his Son as Saviour and Lord. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Worship

177 In Christ Alone

126 Behold Our God

80 How Deep the Fathers Love

Prayers of the People

Prayer Request

Lords Prayer: Found on the back cover of the Westminster Hand out

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy

kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us

this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our

debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen.

Solus Christus

This week week look at our 4th reformer and our 4th principle of the Reformation.

Solus Christus - Christ Alone

We have said in the past few weeks that accorsing to Scripture alone, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone

This week we identify that singular article of faith, the object, or subject of our faith that saves. That is Christ alone

we acknowledge that we are saved by the grace of God alone, because we in our fallen sinful state have no self driven desire or ability to seek out salvation from God, but rather, because of His grace He bestows upon us a heart of flesh, that reorients our desires to Him, and produces faith, a faith that we cannot gain of our own efforts, but rather a faith that is given as a gift to point us to the one who has done the work of salvation for us, Jesus Christ.

Christ is the only Savior, He is the only one that could accomplish the final work of salvation for mankind. He is the only one that could fulfill all of the law, and fulfill it perfectly.

In the past few weeks, we looked first at the principle of the Reformation, that was our focus, and then exploreed the Reformer who best reflected that principle, or who had written so specifically on the principle itself.

This week I am turning that order around.

Jonathon Edwards

I am first introducing you to the man who would become to be known as the Last Puritan.

Like the many Puritans before him, he was a consummate academic, and prolific writer. Producing hundreds of works over his lifetime.

The most famous of his works is a sermon titled Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

He was a pivotal figure in the First Great Awakening, a turning point in the history of the United States

Intro to Edwards

Edwards was born in 1703, and his life story was nothing profound, like some of the other figures we have examined.

Becoming a preacher after his conversion in 1721, but it wasnt until 13 years later that things would get our of the ordinary

In 1734 as He continued to preach as he always had, God began to do something miraculous. In a normal sermon in December, the church experienced 6 sudden conversions, by spring they averaged 30 a week.

He was considered a dull preacher, not emotional, not sensational, simply proclaiming the truth of the power of the work of Christ.

Life Through Christ Alone

Of Owens many works, one stood out particularly in formulating this series.

A sermon called Life through Christ Alone. in it Edwards highlighted the heart of hte matter.

He preached on John 6:68

John 6:68 ESV

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

Background of this passage in John 6

Edwards in this sermon sought out to preach on the exclusivity of Jesus.

He preached that Jesus is the only way to salvation now and in the past.

He preached how Jesus is the only acceptable one that could serve as the Christ. The only one fit to be the sacrifice, the only one able to able to take the sins of the world upon Himself. Not all of man, or an angel, can fulfill that role.

And He preached that Christ Alone is the only one that can bring all those He saves through till the end.

A Life Dedicated to Christ

Owen’s greatest desire was to serve God in and through all his life. While I am sure he had a natural desire to study and write as much as he did, often upwards of 13 hours a day. It was his desire to communicate Christ to all those who did not know Him, that drove him day by day.

Solus Christus

So we come to our biblical exmination of the principle of Solus Christus, which today takes on a slightly different form.

Edwards sermon on Christ Alone, lays out the fact that Jesus alone is the only one suited for fulfillment of the work of Christ.

In his sermon on Peter’s question, Edwards tells us: And accordingly, our blessed Savior fully and clearly resolved this question while he was on earth, for he tells us that he himself is the way, the truth, and the life. It was his prophetical office to teach us the way to eternal life. 'Tis his priestly office to purchase it for us and it is his kingly office, by his almighty power, to bring us to it.

It was these three roles that Christ fulfills, priest, prophet and king, that only He could fulfill.

Christ Justifies as Priest

The role of the Priest was instituted by God in the Old Testament. They served certain roles that were directed by God

They taught and determined matters of the Law

They made determinations as to peoples cleanness and uncleanliness

They brought sacrifices before God as the mediator between man and God

They fulfilled the role of bringing atonement (payment, forgiveness) of sins to God’s people according to God's law.

Deuteronomy 33:10 ESV

They shall teach Jacob your rules and Israel your law; they shall put incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

Our need for a Priest has not diminished over time, but rather God provided for us a permanent Priest, a perfect Priest. Heb 4:14-16

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 7:23–28 ESV

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

He is our perfect intercesor, His perfect sinless life is all God see’s as he makes intercession for us.

The prist brought the sacrifice before God for the sins of the people. Christ brought the perfect sacrifice. Heb 9:11-14

Hebrews 9:11–14 ESV

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

This is the source of our justification before God, it is the means by which all of our sins are forgiven, the reason the price has been paid, because the perfect Priest brought the perfect sacrifice.

Christ Sanctifies as Prophet

The priest served the role of salvation of the people through the work of sacrifice so that their sins might be forgiven.

The second person of the Old Testament that God ordained to save His people, was the Prophet, the prophets job was to keep the people from sin, or to call them back when they were in sin. Similar to the work of sanctifying.

The OT prophet brought the Word of God to bear on the people so that they might be saved from falling deeper in sin, or being brought to repentance and saved from the Covenantal curses of God.

Moses was the archetypal prophet in the OT. But one of his many prophecy’s was that God would send a perfect prophet. Deut 18:18

Deuteronomy 18:18 ESV

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

In the New testament we see various passages in which Jesus is called prophet, and he alludes to himself in Mark 6:4, But it is in Acts 3:22-26 that we see the explicit statement that Moses prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus.

Acts 3:22–26 ESV

Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Jesus is the perfect prophet. He brings the Word of God, because He is that Word himself. We can be assured that if we but turn continuously to His word, that we might be brought further from our sin, and closer to Him. This is the process of sanctification.

We are told that we are made new in Christ, and it is He that keeps us Gal 2:20

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Christ is the perfect prophet, because His word is truth, and He through the Spirit is in us so that we might be able to have life and have it more abundantly.

Christ Glorifies as King

The third role that Edwards identifies fulfilled in Christ as a salvific figure in the life of his people is the King.

The King was given to the people in the OT to not simply rule them, but to provide for them a perfect Kingdom in which to dwell, one in which there are no enemies and in which no one needed.

Jesus is that perfect King. He is the King that will bring us into glory. That final salvation, a salvation for all time, a Kingdom absent of sin.

Jesus is the one who prepares the Kingdom John 14:1-3

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

He will defeat every enemy. Psalm 110:1

Psalm 110:1 ESV

The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

He prepares a place for us in Heaven, and defeats His enemies here on earth, and in the end He will glorify us and the creation, bringing heaven and earth together again to dwell with us eternally in perfection Rev 21:1-7

Revelation 21:1–7 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

How Then Shall We Live?

In Christ alone do we have the perfect Saviour, the one who intercedes for us, the one who directs us in the right path, and the one who saves the world.

Again we ask why is this important to me? How do I apply it in my life? Knowing this information, How then shall I live?

Without salvation

If you are here today, and you have a concept of Christ, maybe even believe the stories are true, but you do not fully trust the fact that His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension are the fulfillment of God’s promise to reconcile us to Himself, I ask you to pray, pray that God open the eyes of your heart. That He bestow on you by grace the kind of faith that knows He has done the work that is necessary for you to be saved. Don’t wait, don’t question it alone, speak with me after the service, let me tell you about the God who saved me.

For the one who Believes

We are to live a life to Christ Alone. Knowing what he did for us, and sharing it as far as He might have prepared for us.

There is much for us to learn and know of Christ. But not always the opportunity. And while we are called to be ever growing in our knowledge of the one we love, the one who saved us, If all else fails we should seek to be as Paul was with the ever stumbling Corinthians 1 Cor 2:1-5

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The Church

As a church we have a charge from Christ. We must seek to fulfill it Matt 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

To whom much is given much is required. We must utilize our talents and gifts as a church to reach the world as far as we can with what we are given.

Conclusion

Jon Edwards lived during a miraculous time of change in the heart of men. A time when God opened th eyes of so many hearts. He did not seek to excite people unto salvation, or to appeal to their intellect so they might believe, but rather he preached a message about the hope found in Christ alone, and left the rest to God. Let us seek to have that same resolve, and trust that God will bless our endeavors.

Doxology

Closing Prayer

If anyone has any questions or concerns feel free to catch me afterwards. And a quick reminder we do have plates in the back for anyone who desires to worship through giving today. The plate to the right is general giving, and the one to the left is specific for our missions giving.

Join us as we sing the doxology:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye Heavenly Host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Commissioning: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Amen