Metropolitan Tabernacle

New believers when truly enlightened and saved are moved to make a pledge or vow to God, which will be renewed and deepened throughout this pilgrimage. Here are the important features of such vows, their scope, and their benefits and blessings.

God appeals to our intelligent minds – but will we listen? Our inclination is to turn away, but if God in His mercy places in us a thirst for certain things, we listen and come to Him. Here are the needs that draw us to God.

The apostle's remarkable summary text provides five objectives in the believer's life that secure a deep sense of God's embracing love and of His nearness. All five are essential, and here is how we pursue them, by grace.

'And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.'

In this Lecture Dr Masters demonstrated the urgent necessity of regular, persuasive Gospel preaching, together with the clear New Testament precedents and examples, the difficulties involved, and right and wrong concepts of evangelistic preaching.

It is said that there is little understanding of eternal life in the Old Testament, but this is very mistaken. 46 Psalms of David speak of eternal glory, and here we survey ten to show that all the Bible is about everlasting salvation.

The New Testament reasons with people to be saved from condemnation and receive eternal life, and here are several famous passages where heavenly glory, and how to be sure of it, is proclaimed. Here also is the urging of God's heart of love for lost souls.

The anchor is as old as ships, but is used as an analogy in the Bible only in this verse. Scores of 'anchors' are used to steady and inspire life in the world. But there is only one powerful and effective for the soul and for eternity.

Paul personifies sin as an emperor who conscripts us into his army and drills us in unbelief and lust to bind us in his service. Then Paul shows how we may be 'brought out' of our bondage to walk with the Lord God.

Beginning with humility in preachers and church officers, Peter calls all to place themselves under them. Exactly what is intended? He then speaks of being 'clothed' in humility. We explore the helps and hindrances to advancing in this essential grace for all believers.

While urging pastors to live humbly as patterns to others, and to be forward to preach and to watch, the apostle speaks of being partakers now – in some measure – in the glory of Christ to be revealed at the end. Here are the glories we taste even now.

Christ sets out life's options. Here is the meaning of the wide gate, through which one is carried by the crowd into purposelessness and spiritual disaster. In contrast – the narrow gate; and why it gets this description, when in fact it is the gate of enduring happiness.

We are not to think that bad treatment of believers is abnormal, says the apostle. It is bound to happen if our lives show Christ and salvation. Here is counsel for tried believers and how assurance is strengthened and God's promises are gloriously fulfilled.

A very striking and unusual exhortation commands our special attention. How do we 'sanctify' God in the heart? Is it Christ who is to be hallowed? What is meant by the 'heart'? Here is the believer's essential preparation for securing blessing in trials or witness.

What is the source and authority for our views about life, its source, how it should be lived, what standards we adopt, what we value and support, or what we believe in? Is the authority no more than the imaginations or desires of the heart?

Seven verses show how God calls His people to tenderheartedness, meekness under provocation, and the promotion of peace. We are also exhorted to love this present life, and hear things we can only do for God's glory while here on earth.

To switch political parties or to change on opinions are significant acts, but nothing is as profound and permanent as conversion. Here Christ illustrates the magnitude and wonder of conversion, and how it changes many aspects of a person to make 'a new creation'.

This challenging and informative passage begins with God-given roles, urging conduct and hope for an unbelieving spouse, extolling the beauty of Christ's character, and showing how the equality of saved husbands and wives (in spirituality, illumination, sanctification and usefulness to God) is consistent with male headship.

This passage shows that the believer's duty of respect for civil authorities applies also to employers, even the unjust. Our obedience is rewarded by God. When we were called to Christ we saw His patient endurance. It saved us, and called us to be like Him.