Caleb Hickman's sermon "One Thing Needful," based on Luke 10:38-42, addresses the essentiality of prioritizing Christ and His word above all else. The sermon contrasts Martha's busyness and anxiousness with Mary's attentive listening at Jesus' feet, illustrating the necessity for believers to focus on hearing God's truth. Hickman argues that genuine faith requires a recognition of one's spiritual poverty, urging that only through divine enablement can individuals acknowledge their need for Christ. Supporting Scripture includes the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18, which emphasizes humility and the need for mercy through Christ, thus highlighting the importance of being mercy beggars rather than self-reliant boastful individuals. The practical significance lies in the reminder that true rest and peace are found only in realizing that Jesus Christ is the one thing needful for salvation and spiritual life.
Key Quotes
“We have one thing needful when it comes to the truth of the Lord, and that is for him to cause us to be seated, to cause us to be listening, to cause us to hear.”
“Either we're made beggars or we're made braggers… Who maketh thee to differ? It's the Lord that does it.”
“Only desperate men and women are beggars. If we have… You're not completely desperate. If the Lord hasn't made us completely desperate, we'll never beg.”
“Christ is all. I've got to have him. Let's read this here in Luke chapter eight. … That was the conclusion. That is every believer's conclusion by grace through faith.”
Faith is trusting in Christ alone for salvation and recognizing Him as the one thing needful.
Faith is described as trusting what God has written in His Holy Word. In the context of the sermon, it is emphasized that true faith acknowledges Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation and rest for our souls. The preacher illustrates this through the story of Martha and Mary, where Mary, seated at Jesus' feet, recognized that hearing His word was the one thing needful. This indicates that faith is not just intellectual assent but is rooted in a deep reliance on Christ and His righteousness.
Luke 10:38-42, John 10:27
We are justified by God through faith in Jesus Christ, which is a gift of His grace.
Justification is the act of God declaring a sinner to be righteous on account of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the sermon, it is clearly stated that this justification is not based on what we do, but rather it is a gift given to us by God's grace. The preacher cites the contrast between the Pharisee and the publican, highlighting that the publican, acknowledging his sinfulness and begging for mercy, is justified before God. Therefore, our confidence in justification rests solely on Christ's righteousness applied to us, and this assurance comes through faith as a result of God's sovereign grace.
Luke 18:9-14, Romans 3:24
Humility is crucial because it recognizes our dependence on God and acknowledges our need for His mercy.
Humility is a vital attitude for Christians because it aligns our hearts with the truth of our sinful condition and our utter dependence on God's grace. The sermon emphasizes that true humility compels us to approach God as beggars before Him, recognizing that we have nothing to offer in our own strength or righteousness. The biblical reference to the publican's prayer, where he confessed, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner,' highlights that humility leads to justification. A humble heart is essential for receiving grace, as Scripture teaches us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Luke 18:14, James 4:6
Jesus’ invitation to 'Come' signifies the accessibility of salvation through Him.
The significance of Jesus saying 'Come' in the Gospel is rooted in His invitation for all who are weary and burdened to find rest in Him. In the sermon, this idea is reinforced, explaining that the call to come is an expression of God's grace that draws those He has made conscious of their need for salvation. Such an invitation is not merely a suggestion but a powerful command backed by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, which creates the thirst or hunger for the true bread and drink that only Christ can provide. When He says, 'Come,' it is an assurance that whoever responds to His call will find life and fulfillment in Him alone.
Revelation 22:17, Isaiah 55:1
God creates a need in our hearts through the work of His Holy Spirit, revealing our sin and our need for Christ.
In the sermon, it is noted that God, in His sovereign grace, creates a genuine sense of need within the hearts of His elect. This divine operation often begins with the realization of our own sinfulness and inability to save ourselves. The Holy Spirit brings us to a point of desperation, making us aware that we are beggars in need of mercy. The preacher illustrates this through various biblical accounts, such as the publican's plea for mercy and the woman with the issue of blood, both of whom recognized their need for Christ. It is this glorious work of the Spirit that leads us to ultimately come to Christ as the one thing needful.
John 16:8, Luke 18:13
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