Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 8 Article 8

Is it a good thing or a bad thing when those outside the church reject us?

The sermon centers on the sovereign and effective work of Christ in applying salvation to His elect, emphasizing that God's redemptive purposes are certain, powerful, and ultimately victorious, as seen in both the doctrine of the Westminster Confession and the narrative of David's exile among the Philistines. Through David's story, the preacher illustrates the tension between worldly acceptance and faithful allegiance—how David, though trusted by the foreign king Achish, was ultimately rejected by the Philistine commanders due to his unshakable loyalty to Yahweh, revealing that true discipleship requires a clear, non-negotiable identity in Christ. The message calls believers to live with both grace and conviction, seeking to honor God in all things while remaining ready to be rejected for their faith, not as failure but as a badge of honor, reflecting the reality that genuine discipleship inevitably provokes both admiration and opposition. The sermon concludes with a call to faithful witness, rooted in the Holy Spirit's work, where believers are to be both loving and unambiguous in their allegiance to Jesus, knowing that their ultimate victory is secured in His triumph over all enemies.