PODCAST · religion
Reformed Presbytery in North America
by Pastor Greg Price
The newest sermons from Reformed Presbytery in North America on SermonAudio.
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100
Galatians #34: The Fruit of the Spirit is Longsuffering
The sermon explores the biblical concept of longsuffering as a supernatural fruit of the Spirit that restrains vindictive anger during trials and persecution. By contrasting the Greek terms for patience and longsuffering, it distinguishes between enduring hardship without giving up and actively holding back sinful retaliation. The text emphasizes that suffering for Christ is not a sign of divine disapproval but an opportunity to grow in conformity to Jesus' character. It encourages believers to look to the examples of biblical prophets and apostles who faced similar opposition with faith in God's sovereignty and justice. Ultimately, the message calls Christians to exercise this inherited grace within their families and communities, mirroring God's own longsuffering toward sinners.
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99
Study in Revelation #81
The sermon argues that the papacy fulfills the biblical identity of the Antichrist not through explicit rejection of Christ, but via indirect denial through false doctrines and practices. By examining passages such as 1 John 2 and Titus 1:16, the text demonstrates that one can profess faith while simultaneously denying Christ's true nature, unique mediatorial office, and finished work. The speaker contends that Roman Catholic teachings on transubstantiation, the veneration of saints, and the re-sacrifice in the Mass effectively rob Jesus of His offices and sole headship over the church. This theological analysis serves to refute objections that the Pope cannot be the Antichrist because he verbally affirms Christ's divinity. Finally, the message urges believers to examine their own lives for similar indirect denials through hypocrisy and unrepentant sin, pointing to Christ's ongoing intercession as the sole source of hope.
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98
Galatians #33 The Fruit of the Spirit Is Peace
The sermon explores the biblical concept of peace as a fruit of the Spirit, distinguishing between objective justification and subjective inner rest. It emphasizes that this supernatural peace guards believers against anxiety and fear through trust in Christ rather than circumstances. The preacher highlights Paul's suffering as evidence that divine peace is accessible even amidst profound trials. Key to maintaining this peace is casting all cares upon God through honest prayer and thanksgiving. Ultimately, the message asserts that true rest is found only in Jesus Christ, who reigns supreme over the heart.
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Study in Revelation #80
The sermon identifies the papacy as the Antichrist prophesied in 1 John 2:18, arguing that this title denotes one who claims to be in the place of Christ rather than merely opposing Him. By analyzing the Greek preposition 'anti' and the Latin term 'vicar,' the text demonstrates how the Pope usurps the unique headship and authority belonging solely to Jesus Christ. The speaker contrasts this ecclesiastical usurpation with the biblical offices established by Christ in Ephesians 4, rejecting any human hierarchy as a substitute for divine leadership. Furthermore, the message applies this theological truth inwardly, urging believers to reject the prideful desire for self-rule and submit their consciences exclusively to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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96
Galatians #32 The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy
The sermon distinguishes true Christian joy from worldly happiness by identifying it as a supernatural fruit of the Holy Spirit rooted in Christ's sacrificial love. Drawing primarily from Philippians 4:4, the text argues that believers are commanded to continually rejoice in the Lord regardless of external circumstances or personal suffering. Historical examples from Paul and Solomon illustrate that genuine joy remains stable because it depends on God's unchangeable nature rather than transient life events. The message emphasizes that joy follows love and is sustained by focusing on one's eternal inheritance in Christ instead of temporary losses. Ultimately, the preacher urges listeners to choose daily to rejoice in the Lord, making Christ the central purpose of their lives.
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Study in Revelation #79
The sermon interprets the image of the beast in Revelation 13 as a figurative symbol for the Roman Catholic papacy, which mirrors the political authority of the revived Roman Empire. It argues that the hierarchy of the Church creates and worships the Pope through coronation rituals, fulfilling biblical prophecy regarding false worship and persecution of faithful witnesses. The message contrasts this corrupt earthly authority with the believer's call to be conformed to the spiritual and moral image of Jesus Christ. Emphasizing personal sanctification, the preacher urges listeners to destroy internal idols and pursue holiness rather than focusing solely on external religious errors. Ultimately, the text asserts that true Christians are transformed by the Holy Spirit to reflect Christ's likeness in thought and action.
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Galatians #31 The Fruit of the Spirit Is Love
This sermon explores the first fruit of the Holy Spirit, identifying Christian love as the essential mark of genuine faith. The preacher defines this love using the Greek term agape, distinguishing it from emotional or romantic affection by highlighting its divine origin and eternal nature. Three key characteristics are examined: love is divine because it stems from God's own nature, sacrificial as demonstrated by Christ's death for sinners, and powerful in its ability to transform believers and sustain them through trials. The message emphasizes that this selfless commitment must govern relationships, particularly within marriage, contrasting worldly selfishness with biblical service. Ultimately, the gospel is presented as good news precisely because it offers an unmerited, everlasting love that compels obedience and joy.
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Study in Revelation #78
The sermon analyzes Revelation 13 to identify the second beast as the papal church, which exercises ecclesiastical authority to enforce political obedience and performs lying wonders. It contrasts these deceptive signs with true miracles that confirm biblical doctrine, warning against the temptation to pursue experiences over scriptural truth. Historical examples illustrate how the papacy used excommunications as symbolic fire from heaven to intimidate believers. The message emphasizes that outward displays of power do not validate false teachings, urging listeners to rely solely on God's word rather than sensory evidence. Ultimately, the preacher calls for a life guided by faith in scripture to avoid spiritual delusion.
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Galatians #30 The Fruit of the Spirit Is the Life of Christ
The sermon examines the nature of the fruit of the Spirit as the essential evidence of genuine Christian life and regeneration. It distinguishes spiritual fruit from both natural personality traits and sovereignly apportioned spiritual gifts, establishing it as the shared spiritual DNA of Jesus Christ implanted in every believer. The message emphasizes that while all Christians possess this divine nature, its growth depends entirely on deep communion with Christ through prayer, Scripture, and the sacraments. Furthermore, the preacher explains that God uses suffering and trials as a pruning process to remove deadwood and foster greater abundance in spiritual character. Ultimately, the teaching encourages believers to find comfort in the victorious life of Jesus within them, rather than relying on their own efforts or outward religious performance.
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Study in Revelation #77
This sermon analyzes Revelation 13:11 to identify the Papal Church of Rome as the second beast, a false prophet characterized by its deceptive appearance and dragon-like speech. The speaker argues that the church's use of lamb imagery and two-horned miter fulfills biblical prophecy regarding a counterfeit institution that mimics Christ while promoting heretical doctrines such as transubstantiation and papal infallibility. By examining historical practices and scriptural warnings against false prophets, the text asserts that this entity mixes truth with error to deceive believers. The message emphasizes the necessity of testing all teachings against the supreme authority of Scripture alone rather than ecclesiastical tradition or human leaders. Ultimately, the sermon calls for humility among ministers and vigilance among believers in distinguishing true doctrine from spiritual deception.
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Galatians #29: The Corrupt Heart Delights in The Works of the Flesh
The sermon examines the conflict between the sinful nature and the Holy Spirit through an exposition of Galatians 5:19-21. It categorizes the works of the flesh into sexual, religious, social, and self-indulgent sins to provide a stark contrast with the fruit of the Spirit. The preacher emphasizes that the law cannot make believers holy but only reveals sin, while the Holy Spirit applies Christ's work to transform lives from within. Victory over these sinful desires is presented as an absolute certainty for those who walk in communion with the Spirit rather than relying on their own strength. The message concludes by warning that persistent unrepentant practice of these works indicates a lack of saving faith, while offering encouragement to those who struggle but look to Christ for sanctification.
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Study in Revelation #76
The sermon distinguishes between the first and second beasts of Revelation 13 as two separate entities rather than dual aspects of a single institution. The first beast represents the revived Western Roman Empire, characterized by political power and military force, while the second beast signifies the ecclesiastical authority of the Church of Rome, which operates through deception and false miracles. By analyzing biblical symbolism such as arising from the sea versus the earth, the text argues that these powers are distinct yet allied in opposing Christ. The speaker connects this second beast to the false prophet and the man of sin described in 2 Thessalonians 2. Ultimately, the message emphasizes sola scriptura as the essential safeguard for believers against religious deception.
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Galatians #28 The Guaranteed Victory of the Spirit over the Flesh
The sermon addresses the biblical method for Christian sanctification by examining Galatians 5:16-18. It contrasts unbiblical views of passive yielding or strict legalism with the truth that growth in holiness comes through walking in communion with the Holy Spirit. The preacher explains that believers are engaged in an ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit, yet they are empowered to overcome sin not by their own strength but by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. This spiritual walk involves a willing submission to God's word and requires active effort rather than passivity. Ultimately, true freedom is found in being led by the Spirit, which liberates believers from the condemnation of the law while enabling them to live righteously through grace.
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Study in Revelation #75
The sermon analyzes the first beast of Revelation 13 as a political entity derived from the Roman Empire, tracing its historical progression through seven heads and ten horns. It argues that this beast derives its authority from Satan but operates under God's sovereign permission to test nations. The preacher identifies four key characteristics: satanic power, implicit worship by nations, utterance of blasphemies against God's law, and persecution of the saints. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing between explicit and implicit idolatry, warning that civil governments usurping divine prerogatives engage in blasphemous worship. The message concludes with a call for believers to maintain patience and faith, recognizing Jesus Christ as the sole King of Kings.
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86
A Picture of Christ's Sacrificial Love Before His Crucifixion
The sermon explores Christ's sacrificial love as revealed in the Garden of Gethsemane, emphasizing that Jesus willingly submitted to betrayal and suffering out of eternal affection for His people. It contrasts the disciples' spiritual weakness with Jesus' divine power and protective care, illustrating how He preserved them from a trial they were not yet ready to face. The preacher argues that salvation depends on the object of faith—Jesus Himself—rather than the strength of human belief or endurance. Believers are called to respond to this immense grace with total commitment, rejecting indifference and embracing a life of active love and obedience. Ultimately, the message urges listeners to trust in Christ's atoning work to escape eternal judgment and experience transformative grace.
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85
Who Is In Control of This World?
The sermon explores the absolute sovereignty of God as revealed through the life, miracles, and death of Jesus Christ. It argues that every detail of Christ's crucifixion was part of God's eternal plan rather than a random event or mere foreknowledge of human actions. While affirming God's ultimate control over history, the text emphasizes the full moral responsibility of sinful men for their wicked acts. The preacher contrasts this divine sovereignty with the futility of chance or fate, urging listeners to trust in God's wise and good purposes. Ultimately, the message calls for humble submission to God's authority and confident hope in His redemptive work.
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Study in Revelation #74
The sermon analyzes the symbolic heads and horns of the Beast in Revelation, evaluating various historical interpretations to identify the revived Roman Empire. It critiques Futurist and Preterist views for their inconsistencies before proposing that the ten horns represent barbarian kingdoms dividing the Western Roman Empire after 476 AD. The text argues that these kingdoms united with the Papacy under Charlemagne in 800 AD to form a persecuting alliance against faithful witnesses. This union is described as fulfilling prophetic timelines, ultimately leading to divine judgment and the eventual conversion of these kingdoms. The message concludes by encouraging believers to trust in Christ's ultimate sovereignty over history.
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Galatians #27 The Freedom to Love Like Jesus
The sermon explores the biblical definition of Christian liberty by contrasting worldly freedom with the spiritual freedom found in Christ. It argues that true liberty is not a license for self-indulgence but a call to serve others through sacrificial love, fulfilling the Law's summary commandment. The preacher distinguishes between justification by faith alone and sanctification, emphasizing that believers are freed from condemnation to live obediently out of gratitude. Abuse of this freedom leads to spiritual bondage and destructive conflict, while embracing servanthood brings peace and reflects the gospel's power. Ultimately, the message urges listeners to reject self-centeredness and walk in the glorious freedom purchased by Jesus Christ.
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Study in Revelation #73
The sermon analyzes the seven heads of the Beast in Revelation 13 and 17, arguing that they represent successive governments of Rome from its beginning to its end. The speaker identifies the sixth head as the Roman emperors, which received a deadly wound in 476 AD and was revived in 800 AD with Charlemagne's coronation. This revival is interpreted as the eighth head, initiating a 1,260-year period of conflict ending in 2060. The preacher critiques alternative Historicist and Preterist views for failing to account for this specific timeline or conflating distinct biblical entities. Ultimately, the message connects these historical events to the ongoing nature of the Beast's political power through subsequent European empires.
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Galatians #26 You Began So Well—Who Hindered You?
The sermon uses the metaphor of a race to illustrate the Christian life, emphasizing that believers must run by faith alone in Christ alone from start to finish. It warns against false teachers who add human works to salvation, arguing that such additions nullify the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and remove the offensive nature of the true gospel. The text asserts that God's grace alone sustains believers through trials and ensures they persevere to the end, while those who pervert the gospel face divine judgment. Believers are urged to identify and cast off any hindrances, such as pride or fear, to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus. Ultimately, the message calls for a renewed commitment to the pure gospel of grace, which offers salvation solely through Christ's righteousness.
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Study in Revelation #72
This sermon interprets the seven heads of the Beast in Revelation as successive governments within the Roman kingdom. It argues that the sixth head, the emperors, received a deadly wound in 476 AD but was revived in 800 AD through Charlemagne's coronation, leading to the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire. The speaker traces this political entity through subsequent historical manifestations, including Napoleon and the Third Reich, to suggest its ongoing presence in modern European structures like the European Union. The message emphasizes that the Beast remains a present political reality despite periods of reduced visibility. Ultimately, the sermon urges believers to recognize these prophetic patterns while maintaining their faith in Christ's ultimate victory.
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Galatians #25 Stand Fast in Your Christian Liberty
This sermon explores the biblical definition of true freedom as found in Galatians 5, contrasting it with the bondage of legalism. The preacher warns that seeking justification through works or adding human effort to Christ's sacrifice nullifies the grace of the gospel and leaves one under condemnation. True liberty is defined not as license to sin, but as the Spirit-enabled ability to delight in God's will and walk in obedience. Believers are called to stand firm in the finished work of Christ, trusting solely in His righteousness for salvation. The message concludes by urging Christians to fix their hope on future glorification while currently living out faith through love.
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Study in Revelation #71
This sermon interprets the Beast rising from the sea in Revelation 13 as a political entity representing the divided Roman Empire, distinct from the religious False Prophet. Drawing parallels with Daniel 7, the speaker identifies the Beast's features as symbolic of successive empires, ultimately pointing to the post-barbarian invasion era where civil and ecclesiastical powers conspire against the faithful. The central message urges believers to reject reliance on political parties for national reformation, emphasizing that true change comes only through the gospel transforming hearts and families. Trusting in human institutions is portrayed as futile compared to placing complete confidence in Jesus Christ as King of kings. The preacher concludes by calling for fervent prayer for spiritual revival and the acknowledgment of Christ's supreme authority over all nations.
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77
The World Thinks Meekness Is Weakness
The sermon explores the biblical concept of meekness as a supernatural grace rather than worldly weakness, defined by humility, gentleness, and courage. It explains that this character trait is forged through adversity and submission to Christ's lordship, countering cultural stereotypes with the examples of Moses and Jesus. The preacher emphasizes that believers inherit earthly blessings and eternal life not by merit but by grace through their union with Christ. Growth in meekness occurs through communion with Jesus, prayer, and accepting His yoke amidst life's trials. Ultimately, trusting in God's sovereignty allows Christians to live without fear and find true rest in their divine inheritance.
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Study in Revelation #70
Revelation 12:12–17 presents a profound theological portrait of the ongoing spiritual warfare between God's people and Satan, who, though defeated in his attempt to destroy the church through pagan Rome, responds with escalating strategies through new agents of deception and persecution. The passage reveals that Satan's wrath intensifies as he knows his time is short, prompting him to shift from violent persecution to heretical doctrine—symbolized by a flood from the serpent's mouth—aimed at corrupting the church's purity. Yet God preserves His people through divine protection, illustrated by the woman's flight toward the wilderness, which is not a literal place but is a symbolic state of obscurity, sustained by the Lord's providential care through Christian emperors and ecumenical councils that rejected heresies like Arianism, Nestorianism, and Pelagianism. Ultimately, the remnant of the woman's seed—the faithful believers who uphold God's commandments and the testimony of Jesus—face a final, prolonged assault through the beast and false prophet, signaling the culmination of Satan's opposition before his ultimate defeat. The sermon underscores the necessity of constant vigilance, spiritual readiness, and reliance on Christ's victory, reminding believers that while Satan is defeated at the cross, he remains a relentless adversary until the final consummation.
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75
This Is My Body and My Blood
The Lord's Supper, as presented in Mark 14:22–24, is a sacred covenant meal that vividly portrays Christ's sacrificial love through the symbolic bread and wine, representing His body broken and blood shed for the forgiveness of sins and the establishment of the New Covenant. Far from a mere ritual, it is a spiritual encounter that strengthens faith, renews commitment to Christ, and deepens communion with Him and with fellow believers, emphasizing unity in Christ and the exclusivity of salvation through Him alone. The sacrament functions as both a visible sign and seal—confirming the certainty of the believer's inheritance, which is secured by Christ's death and resurrection and guaranteed to all who believe, making believers heirs of immeasurable spiritual riches beyond earthly measure. It calls for a response of repentance, surrender, and daily communion through the Word and prayer, inviting believers to partake not merely with eyes, but with faith, to taste the presence of Christ and to be transformed by His grace, while warning against unworthy participation. This sacred meal calls believers to remember, rejoice, and recommit to a life of love, obedience, and joyful dependence on the Savior who gave Himself for us.
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74
Wives, Submit as to the Lord
The sermon centers on the biblical principle of a wife's submission to her husband as a reflection of Christ's headship over the church and the believer's submission to God, emphasizing that true submission is not a sign of inferiority or slavery, but a God-given, supernatural grace rooted in love, humility, and obedience to Christ. It clarifies that submission is not absolute, but always within the bounds of God's moral law, and is to be practiced in the context of mutual respect, prayerful communication, and the husband's loving leadership. The passage underscores that submission is not earned by a husband's perfection, but is a spiritual discipline cultivated by the Holy Spirit, and it is tested most profoundly in times of disagreement, where faithfulness to Christ is paramount. Ultimately, the sermon calls both husbands and wives to model Christ's self-giving love and humble obedience, recognizing that marriage is a living picture of Christ's relationship with His church, and that both spouses are called to grow in the grace of submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
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Study in Revelation #69
The passage from Revelation 12:10–12a proclaims a cosmic victory in which the accuser of God's people—Satan and his earthly agents, the pagan Roman Empire—is cast down, marking the triumph of God's kingdom and Christ's authority. This victory is celebrated by a unified voice of faithful believers who overcame through the blood of the Lamb, the testimony of their lives, and their willingness to die rather than deny Christ, reflecting both spiritual and historical fulfillment in the rise of Christianity under Constantine and Theodosius. The sermon interprets this as a divine reversal where the persecution of Christians by pagan rulers was not only a human conflict but a spiritual battle, with Christ ultimately vindicating His people and dismantling the power of evil. The call to faithfulness remains urgent: believers are to stand firm in the gospel, speak truth without compromise, and live with the conviction that their ultimate loyalty is to Christ, even unto death. This enduring testimony, rooted in covenantal faithfulness and divine sovereignty, challenges the church to persevere in a world still shaped by spiritual opposition.
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Husbands, Lead like Christ
The sermon presents a biblically grounded vision of Christian marriage, centering on the husband's role as a loving, servant-leader modeled after Christ's headship over the church. It emphasizes that a husband's primary role is not dominance but godly leadership rooted in Christ's sacrificial love, which is both delegated by God and accountable to Him. The primary duty of the husband is to love his wife sacrificially, selflessly, and faithfully—mirroring Christ's death for the church—by seeking her sanctification, honoring her as an equal heir of grace, and leading her to Christ. This love is not a mere romantic sentiment or worshipping one's wife, but a supernatural, righteous, and enduring commitment that rejects selfishness, unfaithfulness, and worldly models of authority, instead calling men to repentance, humility, and daily self-denial. The sermon concludes with a call to faithful preparation, repentance, and mutual encouragement, affirming that a Christ-centered marriage is a powerful witness to the world and a means of God's glory.
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Study in Revelation #68
The passage reveals a cosmic spiritual battle waged in the symbolic ecclesiastical/political heaven, where Michael—identified as the uncreated Son of God, Jesus Christ—defeats Satan, the dragon, and his angels, resulting in their expulsion from the symbolic heaven. This heavenly victory mirrors the historical triumph of Christianity over paganism in the Roman Empire, not merely through political might, but through Christ's sovereign triumph over spiritual forces. The sermon emphasizes that the true conflict is spiritual, with believers called to rely on divine weapons—prayer, Scripture, and communion with Christ—rather than merely on earthly means, affirming that every believer is an overcomer through Christ's finished work. The historical events of Constantine and Julian are interpreted as earthly reflections of this eternal spiritual warfare, underscoring that Christ's victory is both past and present, securing the believer's ultimate triumph.
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Galatians #24 The Story of Abraham's Two Sons
The sermon draws a powerful theological contrast between two covenants—represented by Abraham's sons Ishmael and Isaac—using Galatians 4 to illustrate that true freedom comes not from human effort or adherence to religious rituals, but from faith alone in Christ alone. It reveals that the Mosaic covenant, symbolized by Hagar and Mount Sinai, produces bondage, while the covenant of promise, represented by Sarah and the Jerusalem that is and comes from above, brings spiritual freedom through grace. The preacher emphasizes that believers, like Isaac, are children of the promise, not of the flesh, and must reject any attempt to add human works to faith in Christ in their justification before God, in the form of religious traditions or imperfect works of obedience. The application challenges Christians to recognize that true freedom is found in surrendering to Christ's lordship, not in self-directed autonomy, and that serving Christ is not bondage but the highest form of liberation, marked by joy, purpose, and eternal significance.
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Study in Revelation #67
Revelation 12:1–6 presents a symbolic vision of the true visible church in intense suffering under the persecution of the satanic pagan Roman Empire, represented by a great red dragon, culminating in the birth of a man-child—interpreted as Emperor Constantine and his Christian successors—who is destined to rule the nations in the Roman Empire. The passage unfolds through a historical lens, identifying the period of the Great Persecution (303–305 under Diocletian) and the subsequent political fragmentation of the empire in 312, when one-third of the church's leaders were cast down by Maximin's persecution, while two-thirds remained protected under Constantine and Licinius. The fulfillment of the prophecy is seen in Constantine's rise to sole rule by 324, marking the beginning of Christianity's ascendancy, culminating in the official establishment of Christianity under Theodosius I. The vision underscores God's sovereign providence in turning persecution into triumph, demonstrating that the church's victory comes not through military might but through the power of the gospel and divine appointment, encouraging believers to remain faithful amid trials, trusting that Christ, as King of Kings, remains in control of history and nations.
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Galatians #23 A Tender Appeal by Paul to Those Who Are Falling Away
The sermon centers on the necessity of receiving and giving loving correction within the Christian community, rooted in the gospel of grace and modeled by Paul's relationship with the Galatian believers. Drawing from Galatians 4:12–20, it emphasizes that true spiritual maturity involves enduring truthful correction not as personal offense, but as evidence of love and shared faith, reflecting Christ's work in believers. The preacher highlights Paul's tender appeal to the Galatians—recalling their past kindness and reception of him despite his physical infirmity—as a call to remember God's past mercies and not let present disagreements overshadow them. Paul's deep pastoral concern, likened to a mother in labor, underscores the ultimate goal: Christ being formed and growing in believers, transforming their hearts, affections, and lives. The message calls for humility in both giving and receiving correction, recognizing it as a fruit of the gospel, not mere legalism, and urges believers to desire Christ's continual growth within them, not just an initial profession of faith.
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Study in Revelation #66
The passage in Revelation 12:1–6 presents a symbolic vision of the true visible church, portrayed as a woman in travail, enduring intense persecution under the pagan Roman Empire, particularly during the reign of Emperor Diocletian from 303 to 305 AD, when the empire's use of the diadem crown and dragon imagery aligns with the text's description of the 'great red dragon.' This period of suffering culminates in the rise of Emperor Constantine, who is depicted as a divinely appointed type of Christ—symbolically the 'man-child'— delivers the church from persecution through the Edict of Milan in 313, begins the Christianization of the Roman empire, and convenes the Council of Nicaea (325), thus establishing a new ecclesiastical and political order. The language of ruling with a 'rod of iron' and being 'caught up to God and His throne' is interpreted typologically, not literally, reflecting Constantine's ascension to supreme authority as a type of Christ's reign, with God's throne symbolizing Christ's sovereign rule on earth through appointed human agents. The vision thus frames Constantine's rise as a pivotal moment in redemptive history, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate victory while highlighting the church's deliverance from the Satanic Roman dragon's oppression through divine providence.
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Galatians #22 How Being Known by God Should Change Your Life
The sermon centers on the transformative nature of true knowledge of God, contrasting a mere superficial, intellectual awareness of God—whether among Gentile converts from paganism or Jewish believers from the Old Testament era, both of whom served false gods. It emphasizes that genuine faith is not merely doctrinal assent but a life marked by trust, love, and obedience, rooted in God's prior, sovereign, and intimate knowledge of His people. The preacher warns against reverting to legalistic observances of Old Testament rituals, which are mere shadows now fulfilled in Christ, as such a return denies the gospel's completion and risks nullifying the grace of salvation. With pastoral urgency, the message calls believers to examine their hearts: is their desire to know God growing daily through Scripture, prayer, and communion, or are they content with a mere factual knowledge that fails to produce love, joy, and obedience? Ultimately, the goal of salvation is not merely forgiveness or sanctification, but the eternal joy of knowing and enjoying God and being known by God, which should be the deepest longing of every believer.
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Study in Revelation #65
Revelation 12 presents a symbolic vision of a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars, symbolizing the faithful, visible church of Christ, exalted and honored yet enduring persecution. Though the passage alludes to Christ's life, the central message is not a retrospective account but a prophetic portrayal of the church's enduring struggle against Satan and the Beast he controls, represented as a great red dragon. The woman's travail and flight into the wilderness signify the church's trials and divine protection during times of persecution, particularly in the context of the Pagan Roman Empire's persecution of the Woman (the True Visible Church). The passage points forward to a future fulfillment in which the Woman brings forth a man-child that will rule over the nations and will deliver the Woman from her sorrow and persecution by the Satanic Roman Beast. This interpretation aligns with the book's overarching structure, where Revelation 4–22 reveals future events, not past history (as if the man-child in view in Revelation 12 is literally Jesus Christ). There is clearly an allusion to Christ in the man-child, but it is likely that the historical fulfillment of the Woman and the man-child is yet future to John.
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Galatians #21 Casting Off the Burden of Old Testament Ceremonies
The sermon draws a powerful theological contrast between the Old Testament era, where God's people were like children—bound by the ceremonial law as children under guardians—and the New Testament reality, where believers, through Christ's fulfillment of the law, have attained full adulthood in redemptive history. Paul's argument in Galatians 4:1–7 reveals that Christ's incarnation, obedience, and sacrificial death at the 'fullness of time' have abolished the ceremonial law, which was never meant to justify but to prepare for Christ's coming. Now, as adopted children of God, believers receive the Holy Spirit who testifies in their hearts with the intimate cry of 'Abba, Father,' signifying a personal, intimate relationship with God that transcends legalistic observance. The church in the New Testament having come of age is not a return to its Old Testament childhood in returning to its ceremonies but to enjoy a celebration of the complete inheritance already secured in Christ, where freedom is not license to sin but the joyful, Spirit-led obedience of a child to a loving Father. The sermon concludes with a call to embrace this identity, rejecting the deceptions of the enemy and the world's false notion of freedom, and instead walking in the liberating truth of sonship and divine intimacy.
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Study in Revelation #64
Revelation 11:14–19 presents a pivotal moment in God's redemptive timeline, where the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses symbolize the initial stage of a spiritual reformation and acknowledgment of Christ's kingship over the nations. Though not yet the full millennium, this event signals the collapse of the beast's kingdom and the restoration of faithful witness in church and state, mirroring Christ's own death, resurrection, and ascension. The heavenly chorus proclaims that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of the Lord and His Christ, affirming His eternal reign, while the 24 elders worship God for His sovereign power and the impending judgment on the wicked. The opening of the heavenly temple and the revelation of the Ark of the Covenant signify the triumph of the pure gospel, drawing nations to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. This spiritual awakening, marked by divine judgments and the turning of hearts, culminates in the destruction of the beast and false prophet, setting the stage for the final fulfillment of Christ's reign from heaven over all nations, which is both a present reality and a future hope, calling believers to live in joyful submission to His lordship in every area of life.
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62
For the Promise Is To You and Your Children
The sermon centers on the urgent call to faith and repentance in Christ, illustrated through Peter's Pentecost sermon, where the Holy Spirit convicts listeners of their sin in rejecting Jesus, prompting the cry, 'What shall we do?' This conviction is not a curse but a divine blessing, driving individuals to flee to Christ's mercy. The promise of salvation—forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit—is presented not as a reward for works, but as a free gift offered through faith in Christ alone. This promise extends to both believing adults and their children, affirming the continuity of God's covenantal grace from the Old to the New Testament. Baptism, as the visible sign and seal of this promise, is not a means of salvation but a sacred confirmation of God's covenantal faithfulness, to be received by faith and nurtured through prayer, instruction, and godly example, with the assurance that God alone brings the promise to fulfillment in the hearts of His children.
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Study in Revelation #63
The passage in Revelation 11:11–13 portrays a spiritual resurrection of faithful witnesses—representing a collective body of believers in church and state—whose testimony was silenced during a period of persecution, symbolized as a 'death' of their public influence, authority, and ecclesiastical/political presence. This resurrection is not physical but spiritual and symbolic, echoing the vision of Ezekiel 37, where dry bones represent an ecclesiastical/political death that is reversed by the Spirit of God, restoring life to a people once deemed hopeless. The witnesses rise to renewed public prominence through a reawakening of prophetic voice, ecclesiastical authority, and civil influence, ascending into a 'heaven' symbolizing the realm of leadership in church and state, where they are exalted in judgment and power. This moment is accompanied by a great earthquake, not literal, but metaphorical, signifying the collapse of corrupt systems and the downfall of those aligned with the beast, resulting in the fear and repentance of a remnant who then glorify the God of heaven. The passage thus points to the beginning of a divine reformation, a spiritual restoration that precedes the final triumph of Christ's kingdom, rooted in the resurrection power of God and the enduring truth of His word.
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60
Benedictions #11
The sermon unfolds the threefold nature of salvation—past, present, and future—emphasizing that God's grace is not limited to justification but extends fully into sanctification and glorification, forming an unbroken chain of divine faithfulness. Central to this truth is the conviction that God, as the God of peace and wholeness, is actively sanctifying believers wholly—transforming their thoughts, desires, and actions to reflect Christ's moral likeness through the power of His grace. This ongoing work of sanctification, though marked by struggle and imperfection, is sustained by God's preservation, who guarantees that every believer, called by Him, will be kept blameless in Christ's righteousness until Christ's return. The sermon underscores God's unwavering faithfulness, rooted in His unchangeable character and divine promises, assuring believers that no trial, temptation, or failure can break His covenant, for He is both able and faithful to complete His work in every life He has effectually called.
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59
Study in Revelation #62
The sermon interprets Revelation 11:7–10 as a symbolic portrayal of the final phase of spiritual warfare during the 1,260-year period, in which the faithful witnesses—representing the true church in both spiritual and civil authority—are overcome, silenced, and publicly dishonored by the beast, identified as the ecclesiastical and civil powers of Rome. Their 'death' signifies not merely physical martyrdom, but the suppression of their public testimony through persecution, censorship, and removal from leadership, all while their influence remains spiritually potent. The unburied bodies in the great city—spiritually identified as Rome, not Jerusalem—symbolize the dishonor and rejection of God's truth, with Gentile nations, not Jews, rejoicing in their silencing, reflecting the world's hostility toward divine witness. The three and a half prophetic days of exposure, interpreted through the day-year principle as three and a half actual years, point to a final, intense period of tribulation preceding a spiritual resurrection, where the faithful are vindicated and the kingdom of God advances. Ultimately, the message calls believers to embrace suffering for Christ with joy, recognizing that persecution for righteousness is a mark of identification with Christ and His prophets, not shame, but a call to faithful endurance.
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58
Benedictions #10
The sermon centers on the infinite, sovereign power of God as revealed in Ephesians 3:20–21, emphasizing that God's ability surpasses all human request or imagination, working powerfully within believers through the Holy Spirit. It underscores that this omnipotent power is not merely theoretical but actively sustaining, enabling believers to endure trials, overcome sin, and persevere in faith, especially when they acknowledge their weakness and rely on God's strength. The passage also highlights that God's glory is most profoundly displayed in the unity and sacrificial love of the church, where Jew and Gentile are reconciled into one body through Christ, demonstrating God's eternal purpose. The sermon refutes skepticism about God's goodness by affirming that suffering is both a just consequence of sin and a means by which God's power is revealed in transformation and endurance, ultimately pointing to the greater miracle of spiritual rebirth and eternal life in Christ. Thus, the believer's response is one of worship, trust, and hope, rooted in the unshakable reality of God's infinite power working for good in and through His people.
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57
Study in Revelation #61
The sermon presents a historical and prophetic overview of the ongoing spiritual conflict between the faithful witnesses—those who uphold the pure gospel of Christ—and the combined forces of ecclesiastical and civil powers symbolized by the beast from the bottomless pit in Revelation 11. Centered on the 1,260-year period beginning with Charlemagne's coronation in 800 AD, it traces the persistent testimony of reform-minded individuals and groups—such as Claudius of Turin, the Waldensians, Albigensians, and pre-Reformation martyrs like Wycliffe and Hus—against the institutionalized corruption and persecution by the Roman Catholic Church, particularly through the Inquisition and state-sanctioned violence. Though the intensity of physical persecution has diminished in modern times, the sermon argues that the spiritual battle continues, now waged through deception and ideological seduction, warning that future intensification of opposition is prophesied. Ultimately, the message calls believers to spiritual preparedness through faithfulness, reliance on God's promises, and the daily renewal of spiritual armor, trusting in Christ's victory over evil and the assurance that God is faithful to strengthen His people through every trial, no matter how severe.
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56
Benedictions #9
This sermon presents a profound Trinitarian benediction from 2 Corinthians 13:14 as a lens through which to understand the nature and blessings of God, emphasizing that true spiritual blessing flows only from a proper knowledge of the one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It refutes key heresies—tritheism, modalism, and Unitarianism—by grounding the doctrine of the Trinity in Scripture, affirming the full divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit, and defending the biblical necessity of understanding God as three distinct persons in one essence. The sermon then unpacks the threefold blessing: the grace of Christ, which secures salvation and sustains believers daily; the love of God the Father, who adopts sinners into His family and disciplines them in holy love; and the communion of the Holy Spirit, the ultimate goal of salvation, where believers enjoy intimate, mutual fellowship with God, foreshadowing eternal communion in heaven. The message calls the hearer to respond in humility, gratitude, and longing for deeper fellowship with God, recognizing that the chief end of life is to glorify and enjoy Him forever.
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55
Study in Revelation #60
The sermon centers on Revelation 11:7, revealing the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit as the satanic adversary of God's faithful witnesses, symbolizing the combined power of ecclesiastical and civil forces that have opposed the witnesses of Christ in history. These two witnesses, representing faithful witnesses as prophets and leaders in both religious and governmental spheres, proclaim divine judgment for 1,260 years while enduring persecution from the beast. The beast is identified as a two-fold entity in Revelation 13—civil and ecclesiastical—its origin in the abyss underscores its demonic nature, and its war against the saints is not a sudden event but a sustained, parallel conflict that reaches a climax when the witnesses' testimony concludes. The sermon proposes that this period may have begun around 800 AD with Charlemagne's coronation as Emperor of the Revived Roman Empire by Pope Leo III, suggesting a future end around 2060, though it warns against placing faith in specific dates, emphasizing instead that ultimate confidence rests in Christ's sovereign victory over evil. The resurrection of the witnesses and the subsequent millennial reign of Christ signify the final triumph of God's kingdom, where all nations will be drawn to Him through the enduring power of the Spirit and the gospel.
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54
Christ's Resurrection Removes Our Doubts
The resurrection of Jesus Christ, as revealed in Luke 24, is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, confirmed through His bodily appearance to the disciples, His visible wounds, and His consumption of food—demonstrating that He is not a spirit but the risen Lord with a glorified, tangible body. This physical reality of His resurrection not only dispelled the disciples' fear and doubt but also validated the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, which Jesus Himself opened their understanding to grasp, showing that His suffering, death, and resurrection were divinely ordained. The sermon emphasizes that Christ's resurrection is not merely a historical event but the foundation of hope, assuring believers of their own future bodily resurrection and the complete redemption of both soul and body. It calls the church to live in the power of that resurrection, rejecting sin and embracing the gospel with boldness, knowing that Christ's victory over death guarantees eternal life and that His Spirit empowers faithful witness to all nations. Ultimately, the resurrection is the definitive proof of Christ's divinity, the assurance of salvation, and the source of unshakable hope in the face of suffering and death.
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53
Study in Revelation #59
The passage in Revelation 11:4–6 presents the two witnesses as symbolic figures representing a continuous succession of faithful believers—both in civil authority and gospel ministry—throughout a 1,260-year period of spiritual trial and opposition. Drawing from Zechariah 4, they are likened to the two olive trees, signifying God's anointed offices of civil and ecclesiastical leadership through which His Spirit flows to sustain and reform His people. Their prophetic role is not foretelling future events but declaring God's truth with divine authority, bringing spiritual judgment through the proclamation of Scripture, which functions like fire, drought, and plagues in a figurative sense. These judgments are not literal but represent the spiritual consequences of rejecting God's word—famine of truth, corrupted worship, and divine condemnation—echoing the plagues of Egypt and the ministry of Elijah and Moses. Ultimately, the passage calls for a renewed commitment to biblical reformation, where godly magistrates and faithful ministers work in unity, guided by historic confessions and the Holy Spirit, to restore truth, worship, and national covenantal faithfulness in anticipation of Christ's millennial restoration of all nations/churches.
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52
Benedictions #8
The sermon centers on the divine source and purpose of comfort, rooted in God's nature as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, as revealed in 2 Corinthians 1:3–4. It emphasizes that true comfort begins not in circumstances but in sincere praise and worship of God for who He is, even amid suffering, and that His mercy and grace are freely given through Christ's atonement. The message unfolds the transformative role of trials: not as punishment, but as divine instruments that cultivate spiritual maturity, enabling believers to empathize with and comfort others through the very comfort they have received. This ministry of encouragement is not reserved for the gifted or ordained but is the shared spiritual DNA of Jesus Christ for all Christians, calling them to bear one another's burdens with humility, truth, and grace, reflecting the gospel's outworking in practical love and service.
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51
Study in Revelation #58
The sermon centers on Revelation 11:3, interpreting the two witnesses as symbolic of faithful believers throughout history who, during a 1,260-year period of persecution, bear prophetic testimony against the spiritual tyranny of the papal antichrist and the civil beast. Drawing from the historicist interpretation, it argues that the 1,260 days represent a literal span of years, not a future event, and that the witnesses symbolize the church's enduring witness through suffering, clothed in sackcloth to signify repentance and the gravity of sin. The passage emphasizes that true prophecy is not about foretelling the future but forthtelling God's truth—declaring the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone—against false religion and human traditions. The sermon warns against a modern cultural shift that prioritizes feel-good messages over the sobering reality of sin, divine judgment, and the necessity of repentance, affirming that the gospel's power begins with the 'bad news' of human brokenness before the 'good news' of Christ's atoning sacrifice. Ultimately, the message calls for a return to biblical holiness, where the law reveals God's righteousness and the gospel offers redemption through Christ's perfect obedience.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The newest sermons from Reformed Presbytery in North America on SermonAudio.
HOSTED BY
Pastor Greg Price
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