None Should Boast
A Sermon on Romans 11:18-22
Scripture
18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be …
Sermon Description
Now that Christ has come, what is the relationship between Jews and Gentiles? This is the question Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones seeks to answer in this sermon on Romans 11:18–22 titled “None Should Boast.” Christ Jesus has come and instituted the new covenant – the fulfilment of all of God’s Old Testament covenants. In the new covenant, there is no longer a distinction between Jew and Gentile, for all are made one by believing in Christ and in His death, burial, and resurrection. Paul makes it clear that the Jews have not been rejected in total, but only those Jews who do not believe in Jesus Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that it is a mistake to think that the Gentiles are part of the new covenant because of anything they have done. Paul goes on to make it perfectly clear that salvation is always by grace and grace alone. Nothing either Jews or Gentiles can do can ever make them part of the people of God. It is by the grace of God given in His Son Jesus Christ that anyone can know God and love Him. Gentiles have no ground for boasting because it is all the grace of God and not human works or merit.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is addressing Gentile Christians in Rome. He is warning them against boasting and despising the Jews.
- Paul reminds the Gentiles that they do not support the root, but the root supports them. They were grafted into the olive tree.
- Paul addresses the false argument that the Jews were broken off so the Gentiles could be grafted in, proving the Gentiles are superior. Paul says the Jews were broken off because of unbelief, not inferiority. The Gentiles stand by faith alone.
- Paul warns the Gentiles against becoming arrogant, saying "Be not highminded, but fear."
- Paul argues that if God did not spare the natural branches (the Jews), He will not spare the grafted in branches (the Gentiles) either.
- Paul says we must understand both the goodness and severity of God. God showed severity to the Jews who fell, but goodness to the Gentiles. But the Gentiles must continue in His goodness or be cut off.
- The root issue is failing to understand the truth about God - His nature, character, and attributes. People construct their own ideas of God instead of relying on His revelation.
- Paul is addressing those who think they are Christians because of their own superiority or merit. He says this denies salvation by faith alone.
- Paul warns against boasting in anything except faith in Christ.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.