Jeremiah — Chapter 17

In "Thus Saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 17:5-8), Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines how the prophet Jeremiah stood alone to deliver God's message contrasting two fundamentally different attitudes toward life: those who trust in man and make flesh their arm versus those who trust in the Lord. He emphasizes that the question of authority is central—we either base our view of life on man's ideas or on "Thus saith the Lord," God's revealed word in Scripture. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against blurring the distinct edges of Christianity, insisting that being a Christian is definite and knowable, not vague. He stresses that the world's problems are fundamentally spiritual, rooted in humanity's sin and rebellion against God, and cannot be solved by human wisdom, moralism, or social programs. The only hope lies in submitting to God's authority and receiving salvation through repentance and faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice, which offers forgiveness, new life, and eternal security to all who trust in Him rather than in themselves.

Why has humanity strayed away from God? Many men and women go throughout their lives not caring about God, salvation, or eternity. They concern themselves with everything other than God and His ways, yet all were created by God and for God. In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:5–8 titled “God or Man?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims that the reason for humanity’s refusal to love and serve God is found in the fact that people are sinners and rebels against God. Adam and Eve listened to the voice of the serpent rather than that of God Himself and fell into sin. However, people are still unwilling to accept that they are sinners; they claim that they do not believe in Christianity because it is intellectually ridiculous. What then is one to make of humanity in sin? How can they be saved? The answer is found in God’s great plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. God saves sinful and rebellious people by sending His only Son to die in their place that they might live as children of God. It is God incarnate in Jesus Christ that overcomes human sin and hatred for all that is good by living and dying as a person. Jesus was then raised from the grave and now reigns and intercedes for all those that trust in His gospel of grace.

What does it take to change sinful people? This is a question that everyone must ask at one point or another in their life because all live in a world of sin. Why is the world and humankind the way that they are? The Bible not only tells why people are sinners, but it also tells how they can change. In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:5–8 titled “The Nature of Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks to the prophet Jeremiah to see what God says about sinful people. Humanity is set in its own ways and does not submit to God’s rule. In this state, people are unable to seek God and love Him rightly. How then can they be saved? The answer is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ who came into the world to save sinners. Jesus died in the place of sinners that they might be justified in God’s sight. Jesus moves His people out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of righteousness. While sinful people are evil and wicked, Jesus alone has the power to give them a new heart that not only loves God but seeks to serve Him.

How can sinful people be blessed by a Holy God? How can sinners come before the throne of God and claim God’s blessings as their own? To the natural person, this is impossible. Sinful people do not believe in a grace that can reconcile God and humanity, so they say one has to work to earn God’s favor. In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:5–8 titled “The Christian Life,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the great truth that blessings come by God’s grace. The ways of God and humanity are wholly opposed so that the Christian life stands in stark contrast to the life of the world. The Christian life is a life of favor with God because of God’s grace, while the life of the world is a life of always striving to earn God’s favor through works, but never attaining it. The gospel calls each and every one to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus for salvation. God’s grace is the only hope in this life because all have broken God’s commandment and sinned against Him, but God’s grace is more powerful than sin. The most amazing truth in the world is that God gives grace freely in Jesus Christ, and this is the gospel.

What is truly in the heart of people? What is the mind really like? In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:5–8 titled “A Life in Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that everyone is born in sin and darkness. This is found all throughout Scripture, beginning with the fall in Genesis and ending in the final judgment in Revelation. So much of the world’s suffering stems from humankind rejecting God and replacing His ways with their own. They scorn the very word of God that offers hope to those blinded by Satan. The wickedness of the human heart can only be overcome by the miracle of regeneration. This transformation turns a wicked enemy of God into a forgiven child of God. It is then that Christians can live as new creatures who seek what is holy, pure, and godly. They no longer walk the broad road of destruction, but now they follow the narrow path with all its hardships and struggle as children of God who faithfully await the return of Christ.

Sin darkens and deceives the mind, leading to all kinds of horrors that are found in this life. It causes distance and estrangement from God. People forget that God is holy, but all of creation proclaims God and His majesty. The heavens declare the glory of God. In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:10 titled “The Judgement of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes in wonder that humanity does not constantly live in light of the fact that God sits in the heavens and does whatever He pleases. Meanwhile humankind cannot even understand their own heart, but God discerns the hearts of people. This God who knows the heart and secret sins, as well as secret generosity and quiet prayers, will judge every person. Jesus said that each person would have to give account for every idle word that they speak. This is a sobering reality, namely, that everyone will have to stand before a just God and account for not only their actions, but also their idle words. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also elaborates on repentance and says that not all weeping is a sign of repentance. At times a person who has no intention of giving up their sin will weep because of the consequences of a wicked lifestyle.

In this sermon on the manifestation of sin from Jeremiah 17:11, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the essential problem with humanity, namely, pride. Humanity is convinced that they are smart enough and can handle their own problems. They can understand their own issues and deal with them. They don’t need God to explain their predicament or give help. Moreover, humankind thinks that it can get away with sin. Why does someone look back and forth before stealing a cookie from a cookie jar? It is because they know it is wrong, and at the same time they think they can get away with it. However, no one will “get away” with sin. God sees every sinful act and covetous heart. Notice, too, that anyone who cheats or steals also measures success by dollars rather than by character. And so not only do they lose out on character and basic morality, but they also lose sight of what is important in life. At the end of the day, a thief trades in morality in order to gain material goods. Meanwhile, Jesus asks, “what good is it if you gain the whole world but lose your soul?”

Where does one find sanctuary? In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:12 titled “God, Our Sanctuary,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones urges the listener to turn away from the idolatrous notion that anyone can create glory for themselves completely separate from God, and to cling to the infinitely glorious reality that God is the sanctuary if anyone turns to Him. In the book of Jeremiah, the people of God find themselves in the pit of trouble and disaster as they sink themselves further into idolatry and away from God. Jeremiah the prophet is calling out to them to return in obedience to God, their sanctuary on high. Dr. Lloyd-Jones likens this to the current situation with people enthroning themselves on the idea and hope that they can seek and ascertain glory in their vain attempts to achieve monetary gain and societal approval. Dr. Lloyd-Jones beseeches the listener to lay down this foolish notion and find refuge instead in the glorious sanctuary on high. Where is this sanctuary and where can it be found? It is found in the cross of Christ where the Prince of Glory died that sins might be forgiven and where God’s holy, righteous justice was satisfied in the death of His Son.

In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:13 titled “Names Written in the Earth,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes a clear and bold statement: sin is deliberate. When sinning, a person knows that they are rebelling against a holy God. The first people lived with God in the garden and knew God personally. It was in this state, Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues, that humankind knowingly disobeyed God. Moreover, circumstances now remind people of God when they have put Him out their minds. Take for example those who are faced with death or suffering: how often do they hear the unbeliever praying out of last resort when they suffer greatly? When this happens, it shows the world that they knew all along that God is sovereign and still they rebel. Dr. Lloyd-Jones elaborates that not only does humanity rebel against God deliberately, they do so while God is providing breath to their lungs and sustenance to their bones. It was not in a desert and famine that people originally opposed God, but rather it was in paradise that they first rebelled against their Creator. Similarly, if one is able to rebel against and curse God right now, it is only because He has put air in their lungs and sustained them up to this very moment.

How does one know that they are a Christian? In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:14–15 titled “Healed From Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the topic of assurance and provides tests of faith for believers to examine themselves. He elaborates that a Christian understands themselves to be not, primarily, a good person but instead a forgiven person. Moreover, the Christian knows that they do not merely do wrong things, but that the root of the issue is that they are diseased to the core and need more than moral reform in order to be free. In fact, what everyone needs is not behavioral change, but heart surgery. Additionally, they knows that they cannot do this surgery themselves; they need God to do the work in their heart. The Christian confesses that they are a sinner in need of a Savior. Therefore if one is a believer, then their only hope and boast are in God. The one who can fix the heart is the only one who is worthy of worship.

What is one’s response to the word of the Lord? Do they believe it and does His word draw them to confession of sin and repentance? In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:14–15 titled “The Unbeliever,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones exhorts the Christian to examine how they respond to the word of God. He elaborates that everyone in the whole world is divided by whether or not they respond in faith to the word of God. The non-Christian does not believe the word, but instead mocks, scoffs, and denies what it says. Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows that this was the reality for Jeremiah’s audience; they mocked the prophecies spoken by Jeremiah. Moreover, the same is true of unbelievers today. Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds that people will scoff at the word of God until judgement day. However, the believer is cut to the heart by the word of God and confesses their sin. The Christian trusts the word of God and risks losing everything in obedience.