May 1957

What is the difference between the promise of God and the law of God? In the sermon “Salvation Guaranteed by Grace,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on the teaching of the apostle Paul in Romans 4:13–17. Here is the promise that Christ’s salvation given by God to Abraham and his descendants is a gift of grace. The law, on the other hand, says, “Do this and live!” These are two different things that are both explained in Jesus Christ. He died and fulfilled the law wholly, and it is by grace that all who believe become inheritors of His salvation. Does this mean that the law is evil? Paul gives an emphatic no to this question. The law's purpose was to point toward a gift of salvation, not provide salvation. What does the law and the promise have to do with today’s Christian? This is not an abstract theological question but it concerns the central question of salvation. It asks all to examine themselves to find out if they are truly resting in the promise of Jesus Christ or in themselves. This sermon on salvation by grace calls all to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation.

In this sermon on the body of Christ from Ephesians 4:4–6, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows four principles that prove the importance of every believer in the church. He begins by explaining the organic nature of the church; every member is a completely new creation in Christ. Just as a baby is formed by a single cell, so also the church is created new in a single man, Christ Jesus. Secondly, the church by its nature is diverse and unified. Just as a body is made up of many parts, so also is the church made up of many members with different roles. If it were not for the different parts of the body, then the body would be useless. Third, the body is interdependent. Each part of the body depends on the other. If one member suffers, the other members suffer. If one member is honored, the other members rejoice as well. Lastly, the body works toward the same end, and that is that the wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities of the heavenly places. This sermon will be an encouragement to all members of the body of Christ, for the simple fact that each Christian is in the body of Christ and they are a significant member.

The world is home to much sin. Sin has a way of turning people from Christ and perverting their hearts and minds. In this sermon on Numbers 11:4–6 titled “Despised and Rejected of Men,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on the topic of the most tragic cause of sin: failing to realize the beauty of God’s salvation, and having contempt towards God and His love. He goes on to express several different ways that people express this kind of contempt. First is through attitudes and actions. Second is by showing preference to other things rather than to God. Both of these expressions can be traced throughout history. The sinful nature of humanity has always shown contempt towards God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones goes through parts of history from the time of the Israelites to that of Jesus and traces the contempt humanity has expressed. He concludes by asking the listener to view themselves, their attitudes, and their preferences to see if they have been guilty of showing contempt. The good news, however, is that it is never too late to turn from the sin of contempt and leave all behind to run to Jesus.

Was Abraham, a prominent figure in the Old Testament, justified by works? Paul says no; he was justified by faith alone. Just as a teacher lectures and then makes time for possible questions, Paul presents his case on the true gospel and a message on salvation and then answers potential questions that might arise. The Jews may have suggested that since Abraham was not justified by works, it was because he was circumcised. Paul again says no. Abraham was the father to all, both circumcised and uncircumcised, because Scripture shows that he was justified before he was circumcised. In the sermon “Faith Alone” on Romans 4:9–16, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that Paul warns against those who merely held to their own circumcision as a means of salvation. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains how the Jews had not properly understood why the Lord gave them the sign of circumcision and how Paul refutes their wrong beliefs. When Abraham was credited as righteous, it is the first time in Scripture that salvation by faith alone was defined. The Lord promised that because of Abraham’s faithfulness, his seed would produce the Son of God.

Conflict is an ongoing part of life today, just as it was for the church at Ephesus. In this sermon on Ephesians 4:2–3, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones opens Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and addresses how believers can live in unity and peace. Rather than ignore sin or avoid confrontation, Christians must quickly exhort and forgive one another, guarding the unity of the Spirit, and guarding the fellowship of believers. This is supernatural unity that can only belong to those indwelt with the Spirit. Therefore, to not guard this unity is actually a grievance to the Holy Spirit. So how can one guard Holy Spirit’s unity? Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims that being humble, gentle, patient, and bearing with one another are critical characteristics of believing relationships. Christian brothers and sisters must do this because they love one another and desire to guard their unity. Just as parents humbly serve and instruct their children with patience and gentleness, Christians must do the same thing with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Why is it important to study history? In this sermon on Numbers 11:4–6 titled “The Lie,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows a powerful lesson from the Old Testament and the example of Israel in this passage. The Israelites were brought out of Egyptian slavery when God worked miracles by His sovereign hand. Not only this, but as they traveled through the desert, he provided food to sustain them and clothes that did not wear out. But they soon began to grumble against God and Moses because they were dissatisfied. They spoke of the many foods they had in Egypt, even though they were there as slaves. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that modern humanity is just like Israel. It refuses to see God’s work in the world and remains ungrateful for all the blessings He has given. In its sin, humanity is like the Prodigal Son, refusing to see his blessings or hold himself accountable. Sinful people will never see themselves for who they are until the gospel works in their hearts and minds to make them new. Jesus came and died so that ungrateful sinners could be freed from sin and death. Those that believe in Christ Jesus are given a new heart and mind so that they can live as new creatures who serve God in truth.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones asks, “Who is the man who can be justified?” He answers that it is anyone that produces no works and is ungodly. In accordance with Paul’s preaching throughout Romans that would be everyone. Paul says this because the act of justification is entirely a work of Christ and no work that we do could ever be part of that process. In this sermon titled “Justifying the Ungodly” from Romans 4:4–8, Dr. Lloyd-Jones also explains that because all are ungodly, justification does not make them righteous: it means that Christ has imputed His righteousness to their account. In this passage, Paul discusses both Abraham and David, both of whom were people of the Old Testament that received salvation by faith. Paul quotes David in this passage and Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that forgiveness is noted as the first step in the process of reconciliation. Christ covers sins, forgives iniquities, and does not impute the sins against the sinner. Instead, God imputed those sins on His Son Jesus, which were then taken to the cross. A Christian realizes that they play no part in this process and salvation is purely God’s work on the cross.

The Christian life is not to be lived in a purely intellectual way, nor is it to be lived in a way that forgets about doctrine. The Christian life is to be lived worthy of the calling to which the Christian has been called. In this sermon on Ephesians 4:1–3 titled “Worthy of Our Calling,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives clarity to how to walk worthily and the calling to which the Christian has been called. Dr. Lloyd-Jones begins by giving two definitions for the word worthy. First is simply to have equal weight. The way Christians walk in a worthy manner is by placing equal emphasis on both doctrine and practice. The second definition is becoming or proper. It is proper to wear matching clothes. In the same way, it is proper for lives to match doctrine. Doctrine must come first as the foundational garment, and the life comes second as the adorning garment. The second word Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on is calling. God has called His people with an effectual call, and through this call He has saved them to Himself. He has called them to be holy, a royal priesthood, His sons and daughters, co-heirs of Christ’s inheritance, and so much more. Because of this calling Christians are to walk in a manner that is worthy and pleasing to God.

How has sin affected humanity and their reasoning? Many scorn the ideas of God, Jesus, and the need for salvation and say that no rational person can possibly be a Christian. In this sermon on Numbers 11:4–6 titled “The Mind of Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that Scripture has a very different idea of what it means to be reasonable. After the people of Israel are set free from bondage in Egypt, they quickly begin complaining that they do not have the food and comfort that they had while they were slaves. This is wholly irrational, but it serves to show that humans are fallen, and sin has affected minds and hearts. It is rational to believe that God has sent Jesus into the world and He died, but people are blinded to this truth until God graciously opens the eyes to see Him and believe Him. Humanity’s essential problem is that they are fallen and blinded by sin and immorality. Fallen people are slaves to sin until Jesus Christ overcomes the sinful heart and makes them new.

The overwhelming message of Romans is that the righteous will live by faith. In the sermon “Abraham Justified By Faith” from Romans 4:1–3, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones believes that this is for the sake of the Jews who may not understand their Old Testament and are now rejecting this “new” message. There is only one covenant of grace and it was the same in the Old Testament as it was in the New. God’s way of dealing with humanity has always been the same. In this sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones also discusses how Abraham and David were justified in the Old Testament dispensation. By what was Abraham justified? By faith, as the Scripture states that Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. This is the first time in the Bible that the doctrine of justification by faith has been presented this clearly. When Abraham believed, it meant that he trusted and committed to what God said and this was established as a covenant. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that even though Paul continues to review the same points, the Christian must never skip over a Scripture that seems less applicable and appealing. This chapter provides a great explanation for justification by faith and it is essential to grasp and understand these arguments.

There are often two types of people within Christianity. There are those who focus primarily on intellect and right doctrine and they forget about right living. And there are those who focus primarily on mystical experiences concerning God and they forget about right doctrine. In this sermon on Ephesians 4:1 titled “Practical Application of Doctrine,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones introduces the second half of Ephesians by giving a clear connection between both right doctrine and right living. Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the listener to read the Bible rightly within its context because it is the doctrine and the truths of Scripture that should inform their living. These two truths should not be separated; rather they are connected in a way that motivates sanctification. Learning doctrine and experiencing the blessings of God is not sanctification, but instead they stimulate sanctification just as the sun and the rain stimulates the growth of a plant. Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the listener by asking if they truly believe the glorious truths covered in the previous three chapters of Ephesians. If they do, then the logical conclusion is that they must act upon those truths with the practical application that Paul gives in the last three chapters. Be encouraged by this exhortation to work out salvation by both learning right doctrine and living obediently to the word of God.

Why is the Bible relevant to modern humanity? In this sermon from Numbers 11:4–6 titled “The Condition of Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers this very question by reminding the listener that the moral problems of society are nothing new and are really problems of humanity in general. The many efforts of humanity to fix and diagnose their own problems are all in vain and misplaced. Scripture not only tells what the problem is, but also the answer. Humanity is fundamentally fallen and therefore evil. According to the Bible, people have rebelled against God and rejected His law and rule. The answer is not more moralizing, but it is the gospel. The answer to the deepest moral dilemmas is in the fact that God has sent His own Son to die for sins. God made a way for sinners to be redeemed and reconciled to Him. This new life changes hearts and minds so that men and women now desire what is true and godly. What does this sermon mean for humanity? It is the declaration that sin and depravity can only be overcome by the gospel. This sermon also tells of Jesus Christ who is the only Savior that God granted to the world.

The law of God condemns but the grace of God saves. So what room is there to boast? There are three deductions that Paul is drawing with his description of salvation: there can no longer be any boasting, the gospel is for all people without distinction, and the gospel establishes the law. Some Jews may feel that with this new message about receiving salvation through faith means that their law is void, but Paul says that is unthinkable. This salvation is a justification whereby God has declared His people as righteous in His sight. In this sermon titled “The Law Established” from Romans 3:31, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that Paul is repeating what the Lord said in the Sermon on the Mount. The Lord honored the law in His active obedience and nothing that He would do would prove the law void. Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides seven points of how the cross and salvation honors the law and discusses reasons why people would reject this teaching.