Sermons on Sovereign Grace
1 Samuel 10:1-16
In 1 Samuel 10:1-16 Saul is privately anointed king of Israel and is given signs of confirmation which culminate in the Spirit coming upon him and turning him into “another man”. Saul receives the benefits of the work of the Spirit, and yet his reign is disastrous and he likely was not a believer. How then are we to understand the work of the Spirit in this context? We are to understand that the Spirit can give gifts to equip…
Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35
In Matthew 13:10-17 Christ explains why he speaks to the people in parables. The reason he speaks in parables is both to reveal and conceal truth about the kingdom of God. This shows that the knowledge of the kingdom of God is sovereignly given by Christ. He gives it to his disciples by grace and withholds it from others in justice according to the eternal decree. God’s grace is sovereign and therefore unbelief is part of his plan to the…
Matthew 12:33-37
In Matthew 12:33-37 Jesus concludes his response to the Pharisees and their accusation against him that he casts out demons by Beelzebub. Christ says that the words a person speaks reveals the contents of their heart. Thus, this blasphemy from the Pharisees reveals the blasphemous character of their hearts. Not only this, but Christ declares that on the last day the true nature of the heart will be revealed by the words a person has spoken.
Matthew 11:25-27
In Matthew 11:25-27, after seeing unbelief and describing the judgment that will come to those who don’t believe, Christ responds. It can be difficult to see many turn away from the gospel in unbelief. What does Jesus do when he sees this? He gives thanks to God. Christ shows that even unbelief demonstrates the greatness of God’s sovereign grace. God uses unbelief to show that ultimately he is the only one who can open the heart to believe the gospel.…
Deuteronomy 31:14-32:47
In Deuteronomy 32 Moses teaches the people the Song of Moses, meant to be a witness against the people when they sin. God is always good. All of heaven and earth testifies to this. There is never any excuse for sin. Even as we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 (Part 4)
In Deuteronomy 30:6 Moses prophesies that God will circumcise the hearts of his people. By speaking of this inward circumcision that God will sovereignly accomplish, Moses distinguishes between outward circumcision, which all the Jews received, from inward circumcision, which God gives through Christ. Baptism, the new circumcision, has the same outward/inward dichotomy. The Scriptures teach us to look to God to grant the new heart sovereignly, rather than placing our hope merely in the outward sign as the Catholics and…
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 (Part 3)
In Deuteronomy 30:1-10 Moses speaks fo the days when God will circumcise the hearts of his people. The fact that this is necessary shows that without God first circumcising the heart, no one can believe. Deuteronomy 30:1-10 shows that the entire Bible is one great story of God’s sovereign grace. Everything that we have, even faith, is a gift of God. May God be praised for his marvelous mercy to men.
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 (Part 2)
In Deuteronomy 30:1-10 Moses teaches that the people of God will one day return from exile at which point God will circumcise the hearts of his people. Paul teaches us that all the promises of God are “yes” and “amen” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). In this sermon Pastor Grasso shows how Christ fulfills all of the promises in Deuteronomy 30:1-10.
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 (Part 1)
In Deuteronomy 30:1-10 Moses speaks to the people of God about the day when they will be brought back from exile. When this happens God will circumcise their hearts. Throughout Old Testament history the people of God constantly turn away from him, but Moses promises a day when God will sovereignly put faithfulness into the hearts of his people. This passage becomes the foundation for much of what the prophets say and is foundational for the message of the bible.…