Back to Basics: Sola Gratia (Part 3)

Pastor Matt Tarr – PM Sermon

Scripture: Selected Scriptures

If salvation is in any way dependent on man, then it would stand to reason that eternal security also depends on him. In fact, it’s for that very reason that Roman Catholics and Arminians reject the perseverance of the saints. However, Scripture clearly teaches that salvation itself is wholly a grace gift of God, and so is the believer’s perseverance to the end.

What Are We Not Seeing?

Pastor Matt Tarr – AM Sermon

Scripture: Mark 8:11-13

The moment Jesus arrives once again in Galilee, He is instantly met with the hostility of the Pharisees and the Jews who demand a sign to validate His message. But after having witnessed all He had already done in Galilee, just what were they looking for? Regardless, Jesus refused to oblige them saying, “No sign will be given to you,” and for a very important reason.

Add. Ref.: John 15:23, 8:19; 2 Kings 20:1-11; Isaiah 7:10-17; Psalm 95:8-11; Matt. 12:38-42; 16:1-4

Back to Basics: Sola Gratia (Part 2)

Pastor Matt Tarr – PM Sermon

Scripture: Selected Scriptures

What better reason do we have to be thankful than in the reality that man is saved by God’s grace alone? After all, it’s because of the complete nature of Christ’s cross-work that we can be confident that His grace is sufficient for salvation. However, the Roman Catholic Mass makes a gross mockery of God’s grace, and find out why the true Christian can never participate in the event.

Compassion Even to the Gentiles

Pastor Matt Tarr – AM Sermon

Scripture: Mark 8:1-10

Many contemporary “scholars” have rejected Mark’s account of Jesus’ feeding of the 4,000 in Decapolis, pointing to the many similarities between this account, and the feeding of the 5,000 near Bethsaida. What they fail to see, however, are the many dissimilarities between the two accounts. In fact, it is because of one major dissimilarity, that this miracle in Mark 8 communicates a whole new message to Mark’s audience in Rome.

Add. Ref.: Acts 2:1-4

Back to Basics: Sola Gratia (Part 1)

Pastor Matt Tarr – PM Sermon

Scripture: Selected Scriptures

In the words of the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, “If anything is hated bitterly, it is the out-and-out gospel of the grace of God… [But] if you remove grace out of the gospel, the gospel is gone. If the people do not like the doctrine of grace, give them all the more of it.” This is most definitely true. The gospel itself demands salvation by grace through faith alone. And if you understand the nature of man, you’ll understand why. It is because of our totally depraved condition, that grace is a Divine necessity.

All Things Done Well

Pastor Matt Tarr – AM Sermon

Scripture: Mark 7:31-37

Jesus is in Decapolis – a region of ten cities established by Pompey a bastion for idolatrous worship. But it would be here that the crowds would react to a particular healing more dramatically expressed than any reaction to miracles performed in Galilee. Very simply, they were superlatively beyond all measure, superlatively astonished, leading them to conclude rightly about Him, “He does all things well.”

Add. Ref.: Romans 8:18-19, 26

Back to Basics: Justification (Part 2)

Pastor Matt Tarr – PM Sermon

Scripture: Selected Scriptures

The great question before all humanity is this, “How can sinful men be justified before a holy God?” Roman Catholicism adamantly maintain that justification by faith alone was a protestant convention found nowhere in Scripture. Is that true? Furthermore, what do we make of James 2:14-26 which seems to confirm justification by faith plus works? The answer is quite simple, but the text, just as with the rest of all Scripture, must be understood in context.

Feeding Dogs and the Gospel of the World

Pastor Matt Tarr – AM Sermon

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30

Jesus’ message being completely rejected by those from his own region in Galilee, Jesus moves north to the completely pagan, idolatrous, and wicked region of Tyre and Sidon where He is met by a woman with a desperate plea. Ironically, she demonstrates to have a better understanding of God’s redemptive plan than even the Jews, and because of her great faith, Jesus casts the demon out of her daughter.

Add. Ref.: 1 Kings 11:9-10; Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 8:5-12

Back to Basics: Justification (Part 1)

Pastor Matt Tarr – PM Sermon

Scripture: Selected Scriptures

Justification is the method by which we are forgiven and reconciled to a holy God. It is a result of the Holy Spirit’s work which gives us a new heart for worship. Although not made righteous, through Justification we are declared righteous. This is a foundational Christian doctrine, and one which every Christian should understand.

Dealing with the Heart

Pastor Matt Tarr – AM Sermon

Scripture: Mark 7:14-23

As Jesus teaches His disciples, it is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out of him. In other words, it is what is within his heart that causes him to be defiled, since a person’s outward actions are a result of inward attitudes. There is only one way to resolve this issue, and that is to receive a new heart.