Jonathan Sims “My Journey in Grace Thus Far…”
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ESV
How I have grown in grace over the years:
1) Expositional Preaching – verse by verse; book by book
2) Friendships
- Personal
- Books – biographies and writings of the great preachers and missionaries
Inability of Man
Eph 2:4-5
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— ESV
Repentance is from God
Rom 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ESV
God’s Call is Effectual
John 10:27-30
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.” ESV
Fears and Doubts for the future
~ Knowledge puffeth up – Pride
~ Monastic Separatist Spirit
~ Arrogant Young Preachers
~ Weak on the Local Church – no accountability
~ Cooling of Evangelism
How to guard against error
1) Pulpit firmly anchored in expositional preaching
2) Church discipline
3) Church standards
4) God-centered church
Short Video clip of the sermon