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The apostle Paul tells that all are in sin and ruled by sin. Apart from the gospel all are dead in their sins and trespasses. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:1–3 titled “The Wrath of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches that the judgement of God is the only answer for the children of wrath. It is vital to understand the wrath of God in order to understand both the grace and love of God. One can only understand Christ, His life, and His death if they see the great problem of their sin and God’s wrath. This wrath is the manifestation of God’s just indignation and this just judgment of sin can be seen from Genesis to Revelation as the plan and story of redemption unfolds. In God’s love He provided hope for sinful and fallen people. By sending His Son to die for sinners who deserved nothing but condemnation and judgement, He provides a way of salvation and justification for His enemies. This is the glory of the gospel: it is adoption and justification for those who deserve nothing but judgment. It is the adoption of God’s enemies as children and inheritors through the work of Christ.
The bold boast of every Christian is Jesus Christ. There is a terrible need for the gospel today and there is nothing but the good news of Jesus Christ that adequately meets the need. This is the reason that Paul worked day and night in all circumstances to boldly preach the gospel. In the sermon “The Wrath of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Paul’s preaching was never human-centered but was only God-centered. Romans 1:18 points out that one of the main reasons Paul preached with urgency is because the wrath of God has been revealed. The wrath and judgement of God is not something that everyone talks about in their daily lives and Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines three attitudes about the wrath of God. One of those attitudes comes from evangelicals who do not accept the teaching of God’s judgment and only choose to focus on the love and mercy of the Father. This is the mark of cults which highlight one doctrine and exclude others. Dr. Lloyd-Jones echoes the apostle Paul’s warning against those who hold to this teaching by reminding that the wrath of God is approaching. The Christian should never make light of the judgment of the Lord or avoid talking about it when evangelizing. The gates of heaven will be shut on some people and Paul urges all to repent.
Why is the world the way that it is? In this sermon on the wrath of God given on Armistice Sunday from Ephesians 5:6, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reflects on the world wars and proclaims the great reality that all are either in the kingdom of Christ, promised an inheritance of glory, or outside the kingdom and under the wrath of God. Since the time of the fall of mankind, humanity has been deceived by vain words about this reality. Modern humanity has gradually gotten rid of the concept of sin and wrong and replaced it with psychological explanations and treatments. Because of this, God reveals His wrath, His settled hatred of sin, in various ways from condemnation of conscience, to sufferings that come from sin, to giving people over to their sin (Romans 1). Yet His wrath is not only a present reality, but also a sure future reality. Though the world ridicules all who hold to and proclaim this truth, Jesus Christ will come back to judge the whole world, universally and individually, in righteousness, casting all who have rejected His gospel into eternal misery and reigning with all who believed in Him in eternal glory.
When one thinks of God’s wrath, they often think of unrelenting rage. There are times in Biblical history when the punishment for sin was met with God’s mighty fist and proves this. However, in the sermon “The Wrath of God Revealed,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones offers that God’s wrath is rather His complete hatred of sin. Romans 1:18 points out that God’s wrath against unrighteousness has been revealed with the full authority of God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several evidences to prove how and when that the wrath is revealed. One evidence is that all people have a sense of right and wrong, and it is found in the conscience which often gives remorse over wrongdoing. God’s wrath may be immediate physical consequence of sin or His wrath could be postponed until the appointed time. Regardless of when, God will punish sin. One thing is to be sure, God’s wrath will come. It is shown in God’s perfect example of sending His Son to the cross. The cross proves that the wrath of God is only satisfied when the wages of sin are paid. The Old Testament illustrates this with the sacrifices that picture what Christ did on the cross. Before the love of God on the cross can be seen, the wrath must first be seen. It is only by understanding the depths of the wrath that one can understand the depths of His love.
Why does the church seem to be so ineffective? In the sermon “The Wrath of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the church is ineffective because it has departed from the apostolic example seen in Acts 8:5–12. He says that the apostles boldly proclaimed the gospel of Christ to all. They spoke of Christ’s death and resurrection and of His spirit-empowered ministry. They never shied away from the hard truth of God’s wrath and humanity’s sin but preached the gospel as the only way to escape the wrath of God and be redeemed. It is this message on which the early church was founded. They did not shrink from declaring the gospel to all, both Jew and Gentile. If the church is to be a light in a dark world, it must look to the gospel of Jesus Christ as the basis for the transformation and redemption of the whole world. The church has been given no other message; it has no other power than the Spirit of God working through the proclamation of the gospel in the hearts of fallen men and women. The modern church must look like the apostles and the early church in order to imitate them. The church does not need anything new to engage the world; all that it needs has been given in God’s word.
Why does God allow evil to exist? Many see the presence and reality of evil as something God should extinguish. In this sermon on Roman 9:19–24 titled “God’s Wrath,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that what fails to be seen is that evil is not an external force acting upon humanity, but an internal reality within people. To extinguish evil would be to extinguish humanity. The holiness of God will not tolerate anything sinful in His presence and His wrath is completely justified to protect His glory. That protection should immediately send every sinner to hell; however, it is God’s grace and mercy that restrains His wrath. As seen in the example of Pharaoh, God endures sinners for a time so that His kindness may be on display and people brought to salvation (Romans 2:4). However, His kindness is not to be abused and His patience and longsuffering are not to be ignored. Though for a time He may endure sinners as Christ did with Judas, that patience did not save him and it only prolonged the time until his punishment. That is the lesson of the Old Testament – that God waits, longing for people to repent. However He will not delay punishment forever and when it does arrive, it will be without recourse. The lesson to humanity today is to repent while there is time and while the longsuffering of God endures their sin. Be reconciled to God today and embrace the forgiveness only available through Jesus Christ.
While some popular streams of so-called Christianity claim that becoming a Christian means a care-free life, the New Testament is clear that Christians are likely to have more troubles. In this passage, the apostle Paul assumes Christians faithfully living in this fallen world will inevitably encounter evil against them. In this sermon on Romans 12:19–20 titled “God’s Wrath, Not Man’s,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds Paul’s teaching on the topic. Negatively, Christians are to respond to evil by not avenging. Positively, they are to give place to God’s wrath. But what do these things mean? Why should the Christian never seek personal vengeance and does this teaching support Christian pacifism? What about questions about the wrath of God and how are Christians to understand imprecatory prayers in light of this teaching regarding personal vengeance? In all these complex questions, Dr. Lloyd-Jones brings the Scriptures to bear in a cohesive manner by allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. Listen to this thought-provoking message as he challenges Christians to a distinct way of life in a world where they will encounter evil.
God has every right to immediately and eternally punish sin. Humanity has been warned for centuries to turn from sin and submit to Christ. While God restrains His wrath, He will not allow His voice to be ignored forever. In this sermon on Roman 9:19–24 titled “God’s Glory Revealed (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones lays out a four-fold case to explain God’s patience with sinful people. That case includes (1) the compassion of God that does not take pleasure in punishment; (2) the fact that humanity is utterly inexcusable because of the opportunities God has given; (3) the reality that when God’s wrath is revealed, it will be all the more striking; and (4) the patience and wrath of God reveal His character in ways nothing else can. The wrath of God protects His holiness, but it was His wrath that was poured out on Jesus Christ when He took humanity’s punishment for sin. That gift of salvation makes known the riches of His glory and is the most magnificent thing God does. Even the miracle of creation pales in comparison to the miracle of salvation. The fact that God would even choose to associate with humanity is staggering to Dr. Lloyd-Jones as he explains how the entire Trinity is involved in the salvation plan: it is the Father’s will to save, the Son who was executed and rose from the grave, and the Spirit who seals salvation and continues to apply the work of sanctification to the Christian’s life. This is the work God delights to do, yet it is also the work from which humanity runs. Today is the day of salvation, to stop running from God and turn to Him in humble confession of sin, believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Saying “God is love” is not controversial and likely receives nods of affirmation and hearty amens. It is a universal doctrine that receives little backlash. While many elevate the love of God above all other attributes, any mention of discipline or wrath is violently objected and attacked. In this sermon on Isaiah 5:25 titled “The Anger of the Lord,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones invites the listener to question this reaction with a few questions: Is it the sum of God’s character to describe Him as loving? Does Scripture attribute love as the highest and greatest attribute of God? Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically says no. He urges considering the whole counsel of God’s word, not merely picking out what is most appealing. He chastises those within the church who have rejected this doctrine in favor of a more palatable God. To embrace God’s love while rejecting His anger and wrath is a dishonest and inconsistent representation of God and the Bible. It also weakens the necessity of the incarnation of Christ and the understanding of the grace, mercy, and love demonstrated by Christ’s death on the cross. Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents a strong case for the embrace of God’s love and God’s wrath in balance as he turns to the revelation of God found in Scripture. Listen as he addresses the essential nature of the doctrine of wrath in this sermon.
There is no difference between the Jews and Gentiles. No one is saved based on heritage or works. But with this sermon on Romans 2:17-24 about wrath and condemnation, the Jews were hypocritically stirring up excuses of why they were not subject to the judgement Paul was preaching. Paul carefully eliminated any excuse and showed how no one is righteous and all will be subject to wrath. Preaching on hypocrisy, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones exposes the conduct of a hypocrite: complacent, never examining themselves, preaching to others but not themselves, and criticizing others but not themselves. It is not enough to hear God’s word; one must also apply the truth and be humbled by it. This will produce an inward change. In the second half of the message, Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses the Jews’ last resort excuse of circumcision. Paul carefully outlined that those who rely on this outward sign are missing the point that God only cares about the inward sign of true change and repentance. Circumcision is pointless unless it also comes with a changed heart. Let the Christian not rely on nationality, outward signs, or misguided truths but always be in humble adoration of a Lord that provided a way for salvation from wrath.
Modern people reject the truth of the Christian faith often on the basis of the supposed superiority of science over faith. The claim is that no rational person can believe the gospel and the Christian faith in light of what is known about the world. In this sermon from Acts 5:1–11 titled “Christ: The Answer to Our Needs,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that while people may affirm the need for moral improvement, and therefore like the moral teachings of Jesus, they reject the two natures in Christ and the need for salvation from sin and the wrath to come. They reject the supernatural religion of Christianity for the moralistic teachings of godless humanism but moralistic religion cannot save people from their inevitable death. Humanity needs a new nature that will grant a true desire for righteousness. They must be delivered from the wrath of God and the power of Satan. Only through the supernatural work of Christianity can His children be transferred from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones powerfully says, those who reject the gospel of Christ have no hope. Moralistic teachings cannot save anyone from death, Satan, and the wrath of God against all unrighteousness. Salvation is only through the supernatural work of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The wrath of God explained in Romans 1:18 is aimed at everyone who continues in sin. In this sermon titled “Ungodliness,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd- Jones outlines two key descriptions of sin from this verse: ungodliness and unrighteousness. One should be careful that these descriptions are always associated in this order and never mentioned apart. Ungodliness convicts all humans of sin because it shows how far they fall from the measure of God. Unrighteousness furthers guilt, showing how even in relationship with God and others, all have failed immensely and stand condemned. Paul warns that all will one day be judged on their response and relationship with God. The social gospel has no answer to God’s wrath and nothing apart from Christ can reconcile sinners to God. Only hell awaits those who continue in transgressions, broken in their relationship with God, and awaiting His punishment. Yet because of Jesus Christ, there is hope for all who surrender and repent of sin.
What is repentance? In the sermon from Romans 2:4-5 titled “The Heart and Mind of Man”, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains what it means to think again or changing one’s mind, both of which involve a direct action. Paul is preaching to a people who have completely forgotten the goodness of God that should lead to repentance. The first step to repent involves a completely changed attitude about God in submission of the heart and mind. The heart is the wellspring of sin that must be changed on the inside first and then the outside actions will follow. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that sin completely blinds and hearts are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. This passage also warns that those who have a hardened and impenetrable heart are storing up wrath for themselves. But once they are saved, they can rest that the Lord who started a good work in them will continue to do so until the day He returns. That day will reveal who was repentant and who was pretending and storing up wrath.
The goodness of God leads to repentance, but God’s goodness does not erase His wrath. While that may sound severe, in this sermon on Romans 2:2-4 titled “Repentance and God’s Goodness” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones brings the proof. By His unchanging character, God is good and just. Though He is longsuffering, He never ignores sin. His justice requires that He have wrath against sin. It would be like a parent threatening a disobedient child but never following through with a punishment. That child loses respect for the parent since the punishment does not occur. In the same manner, all should be in awe of God and His mercy, and sin should cause active repentance. Christians should never use an attribute of God or Scripture for their own selfish purposes. Paul preaches to the Romans that the kindness of the Lord leads both the believer and the unbeliever to repentance. The fact that the Lord is actively leading His people is a great hope and proof of His goodness and mercy.
Jesus saves sinners, but how are they redeemed in Christ and why did it have to happen in that way? In Romans 3:25, Paul says that God was a “propitiation” for our sins in order to declare His righteousness to the sinner. In the sermon titled “Propitiation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that this word means to appease and avert anger or wrath. The cross of Jesus Christ was needed to appease God’s wrath. Propitiation implies four things: an offense to be taken away, an offended person who needs to be pacified, a guilty person, and a sacrifice of atonement for the offense. Also in this message, Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns about various translations of the Bible. Many who have translated this specific passage have misplaced the word “propitiation” with “expiation,” giving the verse a completely different context. This happens because personal prejudices can sway the translations. In either case, it is to be clear that without propitiation, the Lord cannot have a personal relationship with a person when there is sin present. This is the reason that Christ had to be the ultimate sacrifice to pay the atonement for sins.
The message that the apostle Peter preached on the day of Pentecost was the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, the crucified Messiah. He did not try to preach what he thought his audience wanted to hear, but he proclaimed Christ Jesus as Savior who died for the sins of the world. In this sermon on Acts 2:32 titled “What is Christianity About?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows how Peter, like the other apostles, preached the need of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus as the only way of salvation and reconciliation with God. The message was authenticated by the facts of the resurrection. The very same Jesus who rose from the dead commissioned the disciples to take the gospel to every corner of the earth. This is the message that all are faced with because to reject it is to reject God’s only Son and the only Savior of the world. To reject this message is to be damned forever under the wrath of God. This is why it is so necessary to believe and be saved from the great day of God’s wrath. It is this message that is the only hope for sinners, and that is why it is so important that the church take the gospel to all people.
In this sermon on Noah from John 1:12-13 and Hebrews 11 titled “Noah Believed God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives the example of Noah and teaches that the Christian life is supposed to be markedly different than the rest of the world. Noah’s life was marked by faith and radical obedience. The rest of the world was consumed by ungodliness but Noah believed God when God warned him of coming wrath. He obeyed the word of God to build an ark and Noah’s faith contrasted the whole world. The Christian life is meant to be in contrast with the world. If the Christian has faith, they will not look like the world because that faith will change what they do with their speech, body, and mind. The Christian who is out of place because of righteousness is right where they should be. Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the righteousness of the believer by saying that they are not perfect or sinless, but thoroughly upright and sincere. Even when a Christian sins, they strive toward righteousness. Like Noah, the Christian does not merely hear the warnings of wrath, but heeds them and hides in Christ.
When the Christian is forgiven by God, reconciled to him, and intimately know Him through His Word and Spirit, it is because of Jesus. If the Christian has received anything good from the Lord, it is always and only because of Jesus the Messiah. In this sermon on His fullness from John 1:16, Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses the idea of the fullness of Christ. He also says in order to understand that we receive anything from Christ, we ought to understand how and why. From His incarnation to His ascension, Jesus is sufficient to reconcile, save, justify, and make propitiation for His people. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that Jesus must be man in order to fulfill the law and be the federal head. This sermon points out that Christ must be the mighty one who can bear the full weight of God’s wrath on the cross and conquer even death. Furthermore His death had to be enough to outweigh the sin of His people now and forever. Christians are able to receive the full benefits of Christ because their mighty Lord, who knew no sin, bore the wrath of God in their stead.
Listen to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones as he preaches this sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:20 and the ease with which humanity drifts from the primary principles and why are they here on earth. Look at the picture of an ambassador – someone appointed and called by God to bring the news of the gospel. This is a person who has been given a brief and important message; they are not bringing their own opinion or ideas. What does the gospel say about this great responsibility? Learn of humanity’s exceeding need to be reconciled to God: “If One died for all, then all are dead.” All are in need of this reconciliation because of who humanity is and who God is. Learn that all humanity is spiritually dead under the wrath of God, and unless this is changed, they will not reap the blessings of God. There is hope and God offers this needed reconciliation through His only Son. The Lord’s Supper displays this incomprehensible sacrifice God made to satisfy His own wrath. Today is the day of salvation; nothing else is needed but to believe and accept. Sin is put on Christ and His righteousness imputed to those He calls, giving hope for reconciliation with God.
How can one be sure of the meaning of Scripture? In this sermon from Romans 5:12 “The Mechanics of Interpretation”, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones begins this message by giving a few tips on how to read and study the Bible. Since Paul began this verse with the word “therefore,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws attention back to the previous messages and shows how Paul is going to tie things together. In the chapters leading up to this passage, Paul emphasized that all fall under the wrath of God because all have sinned. Why is this? It is because all are united as one in Adam. Because of what happened in the Garden of Eden, all are guilty of sin and born into sin. In the same exact manner, because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, Christians are not only saved by Christ but also saved in Christ. There have been two great heads to the human race: Adam and Jesus Christ. In Adam, all sinned, and in Christ, all can be saved. Christians should be so thankful that they have not only been saved from the impending wrath but are also engrafted into Christ’s body. While they were once enemies, they are now safe and secure in Christ.
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