"In this sermon from Ecclesiastes 9:1–10, we face one of the most unavoidable realities of life under the sun: death. Solomon shows us that both the righteous and the wicked share the same observable fate in this world—suffering and death—and that God’s providence cannot be interpreted merely by what we see happening around us.
This passage confronts the temptation to judge God’s favor or displeasure by prosperity, suffering, or length of life. Solomon makes clear that such judgments cannot be made from observation alone. Death comes to all, and life in a fallen world is marked by sorrow, injustice, and brevity. These realities are the universal effects of the curse introduced in Genesis 3.
Yet Solomon does not lead us into despair. Instead, he teaches us how the fear of God transforms our understanding of life’s transitory nature. While death renders all earthly things fleeting, it does not render them meaningless. For those who fear the Lord, suffering and death are not signs of rejection. God’s approval rests on His people even as they suffer, and ultimate justice lies beyond this life.
Because God has already accepted those who fear Him, Solomon exhorts believers to enjoy life as a gift from God—to eat and drink with joy, to cherish marriage and family, to work diligently, and to receive everyday blessings with gratitude. Life is short, and these gifts will not last forever, but they are real blessings meant to be enjoyed while God gives them.
This sermon also points us beyond Ecclesiastes to the gospel itself. The believer’s ability to live with joy in a dying world rests on the certainty of eternal life in Christ. Because Christ has been raised from the dead, death does not have the final word. God’s approval, secured through justification in Christ, gives us freedom to live gratefully and faithfully even in a world marked by suffering and loss.
Life is fleeting. Death is certain. But for those who fear God and trust in Christ, joy is not denied—it is redeemed."
"What does Abraham have to do with justification by faith—and with the salvation of the nations?
In Galatians 3:6–9, Paul turns from the Galatians’ experience of the Spirit to an even more foundational authority: the testimony of Scripture itself. After showing that the Triune God bore witness to justification by faith (Christ crucified, the Father giving the Spirit, the Spirit working powerfully), Paul demonstrates that this gospel is not new. It is the consistent message of God from the beginning—already preached in the Abrahamic promises.
Paul begins where Moses begins: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham was not justified by works, lineage, or law-keeping. He received righteousness as a gift—counted to him by faith. And from that truth Paul draws a decisive conclusion: those who are “of faith” are the true sons of Abraham.
That would have landed with force in Galatia. The Judaizers boasted in physical descent and circumcision, but Paul says sonship is determined by faith, not flesh. Believing Gentiles are not second-class citizens in God’s kingdom; they are the very fulfillment of what Scripture promised all along.
Paul then goes further: Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham—“In you shall all the nations be blessed.” This promise is not an obscure detail. It is the backbone of the Abrahamic narrative and God’s answer to the curse that fell upon the nations. The blessing promised to the nations is inseparable from justification, because blessing and curse correspond to justification and condemnation.
The result is Paul’s climactic statement: “So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” We are living in the days Moses longed to see—the worldwide blessing promised to Abraham, fulfilled in Christ, and received by faith alone.
The question for every hearer is therefore simple and searching: Are you a true son or daughter of Abraham? Are you walking in the footsteps of Abraham’s faith—resting in the righteousness God gives freely in Christ?
If you found this sermon helpful, consider subscribing and sharing.
For more teaching through Galatians and the doctrine of justification by faith alone, explore the channel’s sermon playlist.
#Galatians #JustificationByFaith #Abraham #Gospel #ReformedTheology #SolaFide #BibleTeaching #ChristianSermon #NewTestament #BiblicalTheology #CovenantTheology #JesusChrist #GraceAlone #ScriptureAlone #ProtestantReformation"
"In this sermon on Ecclesiastes 8:10–17, we explore Solomon’s sobering teaching on God’s just judgment and the necessity of genuine repentance. Scripture makes clear that while people can deceive others with outward displays of religion, no one can deceive God, who knows the heart.
Solomon reflects on the unsettling reality that wicked people sometimes die with a reputation for holiness, while righteous people may suffer as though they were wicked. Does this mean there is no justice in the world? The answer—resoundingly—is no. These tensions point us to the final judgment, where God will bring every deed to light and render true justice.
Along the way, Ecclesiastes exposes the folly of the wicked who mistake God's patience for license to continue in sin, and it comforts the righteous with the assurance that it will be well with those who fear God, even if appearances in this life suggest otherwise.
What should Christians do in the meantime?
Solomon gives two clear instructions:
Enjoy the good gifts God provides, even in a fallen world.
Acknowledge the limits of your understanding, trusting that God will unravel every mystery and right every wrong on the last day.
Ultimately, the call is to a true, heart-level repentance and fear of God—the kind that only God Himself can give through the grace found in Jesus Christ, the One appointed as Judge of all.
📖 May this passage stir you to genuine repentance, deeper trust in God’s justice, and joyful submission to the One who will make all things right.
#Ecclesiastes #Sermon #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #ReformedTheology #FearOfGod #Repentance #FinalJudgment #GodsJustice #WisdomLiterature #ChristianLiving #GospelTruth"
"How do we know that justification is truly by faith alone?
Paul’s answer in Galatians 3 is striking: the Holy Spirit Himself bears witness to it.
In this sermon, we examine Paul’s argument in Galatians 3:1–6 and see how the doctrine of justification by faith is confirmed by the testimony of the Triune God. Paul does not appeal first to church authority or human reasoning, but to what God Himself has done—through Christ crucified, the giving of the Spirit, suffering for the gospel, and even signs and wonders.
Paul reminds the Galatians that Christ was proclaimed to them as crucified through the preaching of the Word, and that the Spirit was given to them not by works of the law, but by the hearing of faith. The same Spirit who began the Christian life must also be the one who perfects it. To turn back to works is not progress—it is regression.
This passage also teaches us how justification and sanctification are inseparably connected. Having begun by the Spirit, we are not perfected by the flesh. Growth in holiness comes through faith, union with Christ, and diligent use of the means of grace—not through self-reliant striving.
Paul’s argument reaches its climax by pointing to the Spirit’s miraculous work among the Galatians as God’s own confirmation of the gospel they received. To reject justification by faith is therefore not merely to reject a doctrine, but to resist the testimony of God Himself.
This sermon calls us to hear the witness of the Father who gives the Spirit, the Son who was crucified for sinners, and the Spirit who confirms the truth of the gospel—so that we might stand firm in justification by faith alone."
"In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:12–22, we explore Paul’s profound teaching on the resurrection and how it flows directly from the doctrine of union with Christ. Every benefit of salvation—justification, adoption, sanctification, and now glorification—comes to us because we are united to Christ, the second Adam and our covenant head.
Some in Corinth denied the resurrection of the dead. Paul responds by showing that to deny our resurrection is to deny Christ’s resurrection, because the two are inseparably linked. Christ is the firstfruits—the beginning of one great harvest. His resurrection guarantees ours. Your future resurrection is not only promised; it has already begun in Him.
This reality transforms how we endure suffering in this life. Just as Christ entered glory after humiliation and suffering, so believers—united to Him—follow that same pattern. Our sufferings are “with Christ,” and our glorification will be with Him as well.
At Christmas we remember why this union is possible at all: the incarnation. The eternal Son became man so that we could be united to Him and share in His life, His righteousness, and ultimately His resurrection. As we have borne the image of the man of dust, so we will bear the image of the Man of heaven.
If Christ is raised, then you will be raised. If you are in Christ, you will live.
This is the hope, the comfort, and the unshakeable foundation of the Christian life.
#1Corinthians15 #UnionWithChrist #Resurrection #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #Glorification #ReformedTheology #GospelHope #Incarnation #ChristTheFirstfruits #EternalLife #ChristianLiving"
"If we are justified by faith and cannot lose our salvation, why not just go on sinning?
That question—raised by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Jews, and even by the Pharisees in Paul’s day—is not new. The Apostle Paul faced it directly in Romans 6: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” His answer: By no means! But the reason he gives is crucial—union with Christ.
In this sermon, we see that the believer’s sanctification is not grounded in self-effort, fear, or uncertainty, but in the reality of being united to the risen Christ. If you are in Christ, you have died to sin with Him and are raised to newness of life with Him. You cannot be united to Christ for justification without also being united to Him for sanctification.
Sanctification, therefore, is not an optional add-on—it necessarily flows from union with the Holy One Himself. True holiness is not achieved by striving in the flesh but by abiding in Christ through the Spirit, prayer, the Word, and worship.
📖 Key Text: Romans 6:1–14
✝️ Theme: Sanctification comes through union with Christ.
🕊️ Main Points:
The objection to justification by faith and Paul’s answer
Dying and rising with Christ in Romans 6
Union with Christ as the source of all sanctification
Fighting sin in the Spirit, not in the flesh
Why holiness is inevitable for those who are in Christ
Takeaway:
You cannot be in Christ and remain unchanged. If He is your righteousness, He must also be your sanctification. All progress in holiness flows from your living union with Him—Christ, our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
#UnionWithChrist #Sanctification #Romans6 #JustificationByFaith #ChristianSermon #ReformedTheology #Holiness #GospelTruth #FaithInChrist #ChristOurSanctification #BiblicalPreaching #HolyLiving #GraceAndTruth"
"What does it really mean to be a child of God? Among the glorious benefits of salvation—justification, sanctification, and glorification—there is one that often receives less attention but reveals the very heart of God’s love: adoption.
In this sermon, we explore what it means that believers are called sons and daughters of God through union with Christ. Adoption goes beyond being declared righteous—it means being welcomed into God’s own family, having access to Him as Father, receiving His loving discipline, and being made co-heirs with Christ.
From John 20:17 and Galatians 4:4–6, we’ll see how the Son of God became like us so that we might share His relationship with the Father. This truth gives assurance, comfort in suffering, and boldness in prayer: the God of heaven is our Father.
If you’ve ever wondered what it means to truly belong to God—not just as His creation, but as His child—this message will deepen your appreciation of the gospel and the love that adopts us into His eternal family.
📖 Key Texts: John 20:17, Galatians 4:4–6, Romans 8:14–17, Hebrews 12:5–11
✝️ Theme: We are sons of God by union with Christ.
🕊️ Main Points:
Adoption distinguished from justification and regeneration
The Father’s declaration of love
Access to God in prayer
The comfort of divine discipline
Our inheritance as co-heirs with Christ
#Adoption #UnionWithChrist #ChildOfGod #ChristianSermon #BiblicalTheology #ReformedTheology #GospelTruth #SonsofGod #Galatians4 #John2017 #Romans8 #FaithInChrist #ChristOurBrother #GodOurFather"
"What does it mean to say that we have become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)? Many claim that this verse speaks of moral transformation or covenant membership—but Paul is describing something far more glorious. In this sermon, we explore the connection between union with Christ and justification by faith, showing that believers are declared righteous before God because Christ’s own righteousness has been imputed to them.
God does not merely forgive our sins—He clothes us with the righteousness of His own Son. This righteousness is not earned by works, nor is faith itself the righteousness that justifies. Rather, by faith we are united to Christ, and in Him, God declares us righteous with the very righteousness of God.
📖 Text: 2 Corinthians 5:21
🕊️ Theme: The believer’s justification in union with Christ
✝️ Proposition: We have received the righteousness of God in Christ.
Hashtags (one line):
#JustificationByFaith #UnionWithChrist #ImputedRighteousness #2Corinthians521 #ReformedTheology #ChristOurRighteousness #GospelTruth #BiblicalTheology #SolaFide #ChristAlone"
"What does it mean to be in Christ? The answer is nothing less than the heart of the gospel itself.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 1:30–31, we explore the glorious truth that salvation is union with Christ. Every blessing of the gospel—justification, sanctification, adoption, redemption, and glorification—flows from this one reality: believers are united to the Son of God who became man for our salvation.
Union with Christ is not merely one aspect of Christian theology—it is salvation. From eternity past to the final glory, every part of our redemption is rooted in our connection to Christ. We are united to Him by faith, and that faith itself is the gracious gift of God.
You will discover in this message:
• Why union with Christ is the foundation of every gospel blessing
• How justification and sanctification are inseparable because Christ cannot be divided
• Why all salvation is of grace—in Christ alone
• How the incarnation makes union with Christ possible: the eternal Son became man so that we might be united to God
• The glory and humility of belonging to the God-Man who is wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption for us
📖 Text: 1 Corinthians 1:30–31
🎯 Proposition: Salvation is union with Christ
May this message lead you to glory not in yourself, but in the Lord who has united you to Himself by grace.
#UnionWithChrist #ReformedTheology #Sermon #ChristianTheology #Incarnation #Salvation #InChrist #Justification #Sanctification #Adoption #Glorification #GraceAlone #FaithAlone #ChristAlone #BiblicalTheology"
"Obeying the King: Wisdom, Authority, and Your Limitations (Ecclesiastes 8:1–9)
In this sermon we explore Ecclesiastes 8:1–9 to uncover a profound biblical truth:
👉 True wisdom includes humble submission to God-given authority.
Our culture idolizes “freedom” and self-rule—an inheritance of the Enlightenment and one of the driving engines of rebellion, critical theory, and the modern suspicion of all authority. Scripture, however, presents a radically different picture: wisdom begins with fearing God and honoring those He has placed over us.
Solomon asks, “Who is like the wise man?” The wise are joyful, stable, and discerning—unlike a society collapsing under its own rejection of God’s order. In this passage, Solomon reminds us that civil authority is appointed by God, that rebellion is both sinful and foolish, and that humility is the path of life and peace.
In this sermon, we examine:
🔹 Why obedience to governing authorities flows from the 5th commandment
🔹 How rejecting authority is rooted in Enlightenment thinking—not Scripture
🔹 Why resisting lawful authority is ultimately resisting God
🔹 Our human limitations, and why they make rebellion dangerous and futile
🔹 How Christians in America must resist cultural tendencies toward disorder and revolution
🔹 Why submission to rulers is ultimately an act of devotion to Christ, our true King
Solomon teaches that wisdom recognizes reality:
Government is powerful.
We are limited.
God stands behind every authority structure.
Therefore, civil obedience—unless commanded to sin—is both wise and godly.
✨ Christ Our King
We submit not because rulers are perfect, but because Christ is worthy. Wives submit to husbands, children to parents, citizens to leaders—not as an endorsement of their righteousness, but as an act of loyalty to the King of kings.
May God grant us quiet and faithful lives that honor Him in every sphere, and may our humility be a testimony even to those in power.
#Ecclesiastes #Sermon #ChristianTeaching #BiblicalWisdom #Authority #ObeyTheKing #Romans13 #5thCommandment #ReformedTheology #BibleStudy #ChristianLiving #FearOfGod #wisdomliterature"
"At the heart of Paul’s gospel is one great truth: our justification by faith rests on our union with Christ.
In Galatians 2:20–21, Paul reveals the foundation beneath his uncompromising defense of justification by faith alone. Why does he refuse to yield an inch to any teaching that adds works to faith? Because such teaching undermines the very heart of salvation—our union with Christ.
In this sermon, we explore how every aspect of the Christian life flows from this glorious union:
We are justified because we are united to the Righteous One.
We are sanctified because Christ lives in us by His Spirit.
We are adopted because we share in the Son’s own relationship with the Father.
We will be raised because we are joined to the risen Lord.
For Paul, Christ is salvation. To add works to faith is not merely to misunderstand justification—it is to deny the sufficiency of Christ Himself. If righteousness could come by the law, then Christ died for nothing.
May this message deepen your love for Christ, strengthen your assurance in His finished work, and help you see that the life of faith is nothing less than the life of Christ in you.
📖 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” — Galatians 2:20"
"True wisdom and righteousness are highly prized—but exceedingly rare. In this sermon on Ecclesiastes 7:15–29, we explore Solomon’s sobering yet hopeful teaching about human sinfulness, the scarcity of righteousness, and the ultimate value of fearing God.
The world often assumes people are inherently good, or that small compromises are acceptable, but Scripture repeatedly shows that there is no one righteous on earth. Solomon uses practical examples—from speech and hypocrisy to sexual immorality—to demonstrate the pervasive sinfulness of mankind.
Yet there is hope: through fear of the Lord, we are delivered from sin, justified by faith, and drawn into sanctification. All true wisdom, righteousness, and redemption are found in Christ, and only by turning to Him can we be truly wise and righteous.
In this message, you will discover:
• Why fearing God is the antidote to both pride and folly
• The rarity and value of genuine righteousness
• How human sinfulness is undeniable, yet salvation is offered through faith
• The connection between wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification
• How Christ embodies all wisdom and righteousness, giving hope for our lives"
"The law was never meant to be a ladder to heaven—it was always meant to drive us to Christ.
In this sermon, we look at one of the most important theological controversies in the first-century church: the question of the ceremonial law and its relationship to justification by faith. The Judaizers claimed that Gentiles must keep the law of Moses—especially circumcision—to be saved. But Paul rebuked this view sharply, showing that to rebuild what Christ has torn down is to make oneself a transgressor.
We’ll explore how Paul’s words in Galatians 2:17–21 reveal the true purpose of the law: to expose sin and lead us to the only source of righteousness—Jesus Christ. We’ll also address modern distortions, such as the New Perspective on Paul (NPP), which narrows “works of the law” to ceremonial works and thus weakens the gospel of grace. But Paul’s teaching is clear: no works—ceremonial or otherwise—can justify sinners before a holy God.
This message shows why every attempt to add human effort to the work of Christ—whether through ceremonies, moralism, or modern reinterpretations—undermines the very gospel it seeks to defend. The law kills, but Christ gives life. The law shows our sin, but Christ is our righteousness.
📖 “Through the law I died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:19–20)
#Galatians #JustificationByFaith #LawAndGospel #NewPerspectiveOnPaul #PaulineTheology #ReformedTheology #SolaFide #ChristAlone #BiblicalPreaching #ExpositoryPreaching #gospelofgrace"
"We live in a world obsessed with beginnings—new jobs, new homes, new projects, new excitement. But in Ecclesiastes 7:8–14, Solomon reminds us that “the end of a matter is better than its beginning.” In this sermon, we explore the wisdom of living not for short-term gain or immediate excitement, but for the long-term good that comes from patient endurance and trust in God’s providence.
Those who are wise know that true success can only be seen at the end of a thing, not its beginning. Solomon shows us how this truth shapes our view of faithfulness, parenting, suffering, and even eternity itself. The wise patiently seek the long-term good, trusting that every crooked path God ordains is for our sanctification and ultimate joy in Christ.
Join us as we consider how this passage teaches us to:
• Value faithfulness that endures over excitement that fades.
• Cultivate patience rather than pride or anger.
• Pass on wisdom and faith to future generations.
• Rejoice in both good days and days of adversity.
• Fix our eyes on the final end—Christ’s return and the glory to come.
📖 Text: Ecclesiastes 7:8–14
🎯 Proposition: The wise patiently seek long-term good.
#Ecclesiastes #Sermon #ChristianWisdom #Patience #Faithfulness #Endurance #ChristianLiving #BibleTeaching #ReformedTheology"
"Has the doctrine of justification by faith alone really been the faith of the church in every age—or was it invented at the Reformation?
In Galatians 2:15–16, Paul declares that “a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox critics often claim that the Reformation view of justification is a late, novel interpretation. But the testimony of Scripture and church history shows otherwise.
In this sermon, we explore:
The Perspicuity of Scripture – why Paul’s teaching on justification is clear and authoritative
The Early Church Fathers – Clement, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Chrysostom, Basil, Ambrosiaster, and others who spoke of justification by faith alone
Augustine & the Medieval Witnesses – how even in the Middle Ages, voices like Anselm, Bernard, and Wycliffe upheld the truth that salvation is wholly of grace
The Reformation – not a new doctrine, but a return to the biblical and historic gospel
From Adam to Abraham, from Paul to the Reformers, from the fathers to faithful believers in every century, the church has always confessed the same truth:
We are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.
#JustificationByFaith #FaithAlone #SolaFide #Galatians #ChurchHistory #ReformedTheology #GospelTruth #ChristAlone #GraceAlone"
"Why does God allow His people to suffer? What possible good could come from mourning, loss, and pain? In Ecclesiastes 7:1–7, Solomon gives us a surprising answer: suffering is often better for us than laughter—because God uses it to make us holy.
In this sermon, we see that holiness is worth suffering for. A good name—true godly character—is better than all the wealth or comfort the world can offer. When God takes away our “precious ointment” but gives us a “good name,” He has done something far better for us. Suffering, when received in faith, is the refining fire that produces righteousness and wisdom.
We’ll look at how the “house of mourning” teaches us to live in light of eternity, how rebuke is better than flattery, and why the wise learn more from sorrow than from song. As Solomon shows, the one who fears God and keeps His commandments—trusting in His Son—has nothing to fear in death, for holiness will shine forever when all else fades away.
📖 Main Text: Ecclesiastes 7:1–7
📖 Supporting Texts: Psalm 39, Psalm 103, Psalm 119:71, Psalm 139
🕊️ Main Themes:
The value of holiness over comfort
Why suffering produces godliness
The wisdom of mourning and mortality
Rebuke vs. flattery
Living in light of judgment and eternity
“The end of the matter is this: fear God and keep His commandments, for God will bring every deed into judgment.”
#Ecclesiastes7 #SufferingAndHoliness #ReformedTheology #FearOfTheLord #ChristianSuffering #Sanctification #Holiness #WisdomLiterature #Sermon #ExpositoryPreaching #FearGod #EternalPerspective #GospelHope"
"Is justification by faith really taught throughout the whole Bible—or is it just a “Pauline doctrine”? In Galatians 2:15–16, Paul insists that “we who are Jews know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” Why does he assume that every faithful Jew already knew this truth? Because the Old Testament itself proclaimed it.
In this sermon, we explore the historical witness to justification by faith:
Why justification by faith is the only way God’s justice can be upheld
How Psalm 143:2 shows that no one can be justified by works before God
Why the sacrificial system and atonement point to salvation by grace, not merit
How Abraham, David, Habakkuk, and the Prophets all taught justification by faith
Why Christ himself is called “The Lord our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:6)
From Genesis to the Prophets, from the Psalms to the Gospel, the entire Bible proclaims the same message: no one can be declared righteous by works of the law. Our only hope is Christ, whose perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us through faith alone.
This is the gospel Paul defended with all his strength—the same gospel proclaimed by Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and fulfilled in Christ.
#JustificationByFaith #FaithAlone #Galatians #OldTestament #Messiah #ReformedTheology #ChristAlone #GraceAlone #SolaFide #GospelTruth"
"What does it mean to truly enjoy the fruit of your labor? Solomon teaches that this enjoyment is not the result of wealth itself, but a blessing from God.
In Ecclesiastes 5:18 – 6:12, we see two people with the same material possessions — one finds joy, the other despair. The difference? One receives his labor’s fruit with thanksgiving to God; the other lives for wealth and cannot enjoy it. This contrast reveals a profound biblical truth: to enjoy your work and its rewards is a divine gift, while to labor without joy is a curse.
In this sermon, we explore:
Why all things are vanity when lived apart from God
How enjoying your work reflects God’s covenant blessings
Why some cannot enjoy their wealth — even when they have everything
The danger of the “futility curse” and how Christ redeems it
How faith transforms labor and gratitude into worship
Solomon points us back to the Garden — and forward to redemption in Christ, who removes the curse of futility and restores us to the joy of fruitful labor.
📖 Text: Ecclesiastes 5:18 – 6:12
🎯 Theme: To enjoy the fruit of one’s labor is a blessing from God.
✝️ Key truth: Only those who live by faith in Christ can truly enjoy their labors as God’s gift.
#Ecclesiastes #ReformedTheology #ChristianLiving #Sermon #FaithAndWork #BiblicalWisdom #VanityOfVanities #ChristOurRedeemer #LaborForGod #ContentmentInChrist"
"Does the Bible contradict itself on justification? Paul says in Galatians 2:16 that we are justified by faith and not by works. But James 2:24 says that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. How are we to understand this apparent tension?
In this sermon, we walk carefully through both passages to show that Scripture speaks with one clear voice. Paul is teaching how a sinner is declared righteous before God—through the righteousness of Christ received by faith alone. James is addressing the nature of true, saving faith—faith that always produces good works.
Together, these truths show us:
Why Paul rebuked Peter for walking contrary to justification by faith alone
How James distinguishes between dead faith and living faith
Why true faith always leads to sanctification and good works
How works function as the evidence of justification, not the ground of it
Why both Paul and James ultimately proclaim the same gospel
The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox objections often claim that the Bible is unclear on justification and requires church tradition to interpret. But Paul insists his words are clear and binding—and to distort them is to lose the gospel itself.
Brothers and sisters, justification by faith alone is not just a Reformation slogan. It is the good news of the Bible: Christ alone is our righteousness, received by faith alone, a faith that is never alone.
#JustificationByFaith #FaithAlone #Galatians #James2 #ReformedTheology #ChristAlone #GraceAlone #SolaFide #GospelTruth #BiblicalPreaching"
"Can wealth ever truly satisfy the soul? Solomon says no — “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10) In this sermon, we consider what Scripture teaches about the deceitfulness of riches and the emptiness of living for wealth.
Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and money.” Many think they can serve both, but Solomon shows us the folly of such a life: wealth cannot satisfy when you gain it, and it brings sorrow when you lose it. It promises peace but produces anxiety, darkness, and despair.
True satisfaction comes only from serving God — the fountain of living waters — not from chasing what cannot fill the heart. As Augustine wrote, “You have made us for Yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in You.”
In this sermon, you’ll learn:
Why the love of money is incompatible with serving God
How the pursuit of wealth leads to vanity and anxiety
Why losing wealth is devastating to those who live for it
How true contentment is found in glorifying and enjoying God
What it means to use wealth rightly — as a tool for God’s glory
📖 Text: Ecclesiastes 5:10–17
🎯 Theme: Wealth does not satisfy — only God does.
#Ecclesiastes #WealthAndGod #ReformedTheology #ChristianLiving #Sermon #VanityOfWealth #ContentmentInChrist #BibleTeaching #ChristCentered #FaithOverWealth"