I believe his previous sermon series before this one was on “dead faith” and Jame’s epistle. I think JM saw what happened with televangelism and easy believism and is being reactionary in these sermons. I read an interview transcript on what motivated his book on this sermon. It was having close friends through Christian schools and seminary who went on to deny Christ or live in sin without remorse. I am in the middle of “The Gospel According to Jesus Christ” and he makes the point, as he does in this sermon, the compass heading should have done a 180 when we were saved.
I think his point is the examination. Some kids who grow up in Bible believing Christian churches and make that altar call, are baptized go off to school and then they either move on to be faithful Christians showing the fruits, or you never hear from them or when you do it is not a good report. I did not get the impression he is saying those are not saved, he is just saying if someone repents and has saving faith you will see a change no matter how small and that person will hate the sin that used to enslave them.
I did not get at all that JM is promoting a faith+works salvation. The boldest point I think he made is, well there is a litmus test for us and not others to judge us.
Thus, the title of examining ourselves.
I am reminded of a “Way of the Master” Ray Comfort video where he encountered a man who was clearly a crossdresser and transvestite. When asked if the ‘man’ was saved, the man said “yes I made an altar call many years ago and am living the life God wants me to live.” Of course Ray pointed out to the man the same points JM did in this sermon. I think with all the debates on this forum about works based salvation, we never get to the meat of “if you love Me you will obey Me.” If we say that here (as I just did:)) the responses would be “see works are necessary for salvation.” Well John Mac is not saying that. He is saying what the Bible says. If we are a new creature we will act like one. We won’t be perfect, but those things that kept us from Christ will no longer command us. And it is with this changed heart we love to obey.
Can you imagine a just born again Christian comparing themselves to his list of what it takes to be “holy” or “righteous” to determine if they are indeed saved? I surely wouldn’t want them to. I can’t look into his heart and determine what he “meant” but can only hear the tone of his words.
Scripture tells us “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” and that’s good enough for me. After someone “professes with their mouth and believes in their heart” I’ll leave it to the Holy Spirit to write into their heart unless I see direct contradiction to what scripture teaches at which time we are to “exhort, rebuke or correct”.
The external examination simply smacks of legalism. The external can too easily be faked and then self glory expecting salvation on one’s own merit.