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Freedom and Liberty in Christ

Isaiah 5:24

In this sermon on freedom in Christ from Isaiah 5:24, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses a culture that is driven by temporary happiness and is opposed to any kind of law or call to obedience. He explains that humanity is addicted to experience, but cannot be satisfied. Moreover, he says that the world tries to remove all restraints, but cannot shake off their consciences. Happiness, satisfaction, and freedom cannot be found without discipline. Who is more free to buy a house: one who has constrained themselves to work and save, or one who spends their savings? Think of a good law like a good fence on a mountaintop. The fence gives the peace of mind to walk, run, and jump on the mountaintop without a worry of falling. However, the world thinks that laws and discipline are opposed to happiness and love. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that love for God and for neighbor actually fulfills the law of God.

A Life in Christ

Jeremiah 17:5-8

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.

All Israel Shall be Saved

Romans 11:25-32

In Romans 11:25–32, the apostle Paul is showing a prophecy from the Old Testament. The nation of Israel has been regarded as enemies of the Lord. Through their fall, salvation has now come to the Gentiles. Now Paul is reminding that Israel will once again be reunited with Christ and points out that the gifts and calling of God should not be regretted. All the people of God have been called with an irresistible call. Just as the Gentiles received mercy as a result of their disobedience, the Jews will one day receive mercy because of their disobedience as well. In this sermon on “All Israel Shall be Saved,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds the listener that the Jews were hardened because the Lord wanted to show mercy on the Gentiles so that all could believe and have salvation. Paul is encouraging his listeners that this period will not last forever. The Lord will once again bring the nation of Israel back into His fold in His timing.

Ungodliness

Romans 1:18

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.

The Light Shines in the Darkness

John 1:5

What happens when the joy of salvation begins to fade? How does the joy of salvation deliver us from the darkness of life? The apostle John confronts this critical threat. In this sermon on light and darkness, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows us how this modern day problem exposes lethargy in the believer's heart, the failure to rely on the Holy Spirit, and the depths of darkness from which we are saved. It's not until we understand the depths of our sin that the church can fathom the greatness of the Word becoming flesh. The world is in a current state of darkness that has pervaded every aspect of human history since the Fall. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that this darkness is twofold; it is not only a state of ignorance that mankind is in, but that the darkness is also within man's heart, as manifested by his love of sin and hatred of Christian doctrine. However, God has sent believers the Holy Spirit, who through enlightening the believer's eyes to the truth about God and the glory of His salvation, enables them to be lights themselves in the persistent darkness.

The Evidence of Pentecost

Acts 2:12

What was the significance of the historical event known as Pentecost? According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on Acts 2:12, there would be no Church if not for what occurred in the Upper Room that day. The filling of the disciples with the Holy Spirit during the feast of Pentecost was a fulfillment of prophecy and reveals to us God’s plan for redemption. This event falls properly in line with other important events involving our salvation, specifically the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sending of the Holy Ghost is one of the mighty proofs that the Son of God carries out what He promises, and He is who He says He is. Salvation comes when one is face to face with the power of the Holy Spirit. He descends and He works to convict sin. Do you feel guilty in your sin before God? Perhaps the Holy Spirit is working in you for the purpose of salvation! Dr. Lloyd-Jones pleads with you to “call on the name of the Lord” as he explains what exactly that entails in this sermon covering the historical event of Pentecost.

The Vital Principle

Romans 11:18-22

The history of Christianity has witnessed the decline of many churches. In this sermon on Romans 11:18-22, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones attributes such declines to the drift away from true Christianity's vital principle, justification by faith alone. Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges listeners to learn the lessons from history and guard themselves and their churches against falling back into a system of justification by works. Regarding the churches that hold firm to the principle of justification by faith alone, be prepared to be persecuted by those who don’t. This tendency has been borne out in church history as evidenced by the persecution inflicted on the true church by the Jews and the also the apostate church. Please note that in a rare departure from customary practice, the original editor of the MLJ Trust recordings decided to include the tail end of the last hymn prior to the commencement of the sermon. This was presumably in order to make sense of Dr Lloyd-Jones's opening admonition to his congregation as to the quality of their singing on that particular Friday evening at Westminster chapel!

The World (2)

Romans 12:1-2

Avoiding the world is not an option for Christians. Some still try it anyway by setting up rules and regulations because fear of conforming to the world drives their choices. A great distance is then placed between the Christian and the world. History has shown the various extremes which men and women will go and all of it is contrary to the gospel. In this sermon on Romans 12:1–2 titled “The World (2),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is concerned that Christians who seek to live a life of holiness may fall into this sort of trap of legalism or Pharisaism. All of it is governed by fear and this is not what the apostle Paul had in mind. Listen in as Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses this grave misstep. The Christian is not to be so focused on the world that their pursuit of holiness becomes driven by it. What God has given the Christian is His word and they must not be concerned about the additional regulations that some say the Christian should follow. On the contrary, what one must be concerned about is simply the expression of their new character in Christ. This is what drives the believer: the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thou Art Inexcusable. O Man

Romans 2:1

Does sin really condemn all people? In this sermon titled “Thou Art Inexcusable, O Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones introduces Romans 2 by connecting the theme from Romans 1 which tells of how God has provided a righteousness by faith for humanity. The Jews listened to Paul preach, but thought he was only condemning the Gentiles to which Paul declared that they were missing the whole point. The Jews thought they were already saved based on their works and today’s humanity can fall into that same trap. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that sin can lead to many consequences when interpreting the Scripture. Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines the various ways sin skews the view of Scripture and ends with a warning to all. The Christian should never be so wrapped up with knowledge and the studying of theology that they miss the repentance at the heart of the gospel. Learning the Scriptures draws the Christian closer to Christ so that their daily practice matches their position as a child of God

Complete Salvation

Romans 8:8-11

Will a Christian’s mortal body be raised from the dead when Christ returns? Based on Paul’s teaching in this passage, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says it will. In this sermon on Romans 8:8–11 titled “Complete Salvation,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that Paul is painting a picture of the Christian in today’s world by showing what the future will look like. While a Christian is still in this world, their body remains dead because of sin, but it will be raised from the dead when Christ returns. The two phases of the Spirit dwelling within the Christian points to the physical body as a temple of the Holy Ghost. Just as Christ was filled with the Spirit, so is a Christian and He serves as the seal and assurance that Christians’ bodies will be resurrected. They can be certain of this because Christ will always finish His work in their lives. Christ will redeem them and their mortal bodies from the fall and anyone who says otherwise is denying Scripture. Christians can look with great anticipation to the day when their salvation will be complete and that their mortal bodies will be free from disease and decay, worthy of the Holy Spirit that dwells within.

God's Great Plan of Salvation

Romans 1:16-17

What is salvation? Christians may use this word out of context and Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses what the Bible means by the terms “being saved” and “salvation.” Romans 1:16–17 is filled with meaning regarding what happened as a result of the fall of humanity. In the sermon “God’s Great Plan for Salvation,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones conveys that the Christian has a three-fold deliverance from sin through the power of salvation: deliverance from the guilt of sin, the power of sin, and the pollution of sin. Dr. Lloyd-Jones goes on to explain that salvation also has an implication of time: the Christian has been saved, is being saved, and will be saved. Paul glories in this because it emphasizes his point that he is not ashamed to preach this message of reconciliation and deliverance. This gospel applies to both the Jews and the Gentiles, those who followed the law and those who did not, and it shows that all have hope in Christ by grace through faith. Christians were previously under the wrath and destruction of God, but salvation restores them again in the hope of glory.

Daniel 9 and the Secret Rapture

Is the secret rapture of the church a true biblical teaching? In this sermon, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on Daniel 9 as a passage frequently used in the discussion of the end-times, yet the language it employs is often mysterious and open to debate over its meaning. At the center of the debates are verses 24–27 which refer to various weeks that the events will fall on. Some interpret these events as still awaiting fulfillment, but Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes his case for why he believes the events to have been fulfilled with the life of Jesus Christ, the destruction of the temple, and defeat of the Jewish people in 70 A.D. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also provides a commentary on a topic that has been steadily gaining traction in evangelical circles: the rapture of Christians. He posits that many people are surprised to learn that this theological idea is not commonly found until after the 1800s. How should Christians approach this topic? Listen to this sermon as Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides an alternative view of Daniel 9, and a biblical foundation for understanding the idea of an end-times rapture of the global church.

The Wrath of God

Ephesians 5:6

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.

Son of God; Son of Man

Acts 4:12

All are in dire need of salvation because all are under the judgment of God. Because of the fall, all are born in sin and in guilt. They must get rid of their polluted nature and their guilt before a holy God. How can a sinful person be reconciled with God? In this sermon titled “Son of God, Son of Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones joyfully and powerfully states that the great truth of the gospel is the forgiveness of sins and a new nature in Christ. By the gospel, the whole world is made new but in their pride and arrogance, people reject the gospel and its God. They believe that they can make the world a better place by their own endeavors. They do not believe that they are fallen sinners in need of a savior and a new life. They reject the idea that only through Christ can anyone be saved. But the message of Christ and Christ alone is the means of salvation is the gospel. This is the message of salvation from Genesis to Revelation. It is the God-man who came to save His people and bring about the kingdom of God.

The Children of God

John 1:12-13

Can Christians know that they are the children of God? Can they know that they have been forgiven of all sins and made new in Christ? The answer given by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on John 1:12–13 is a resounding yes. Part of the gospel hope is the peace in the full assurance that God is for His children. The Bible gives a number of different ways that Christians can test themselves to see if they are truly in the faith. Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents these tests to see if Christians are truly in a relationship with God or if they are self-deceived. He asks “how do you respond to your sin? Is it to fall back in legalism?” If so, this might be a sign of resting in works rather than in what Christ has done. Another sign is questioning if there is interest in the church and the things of God. Just as a natural child is interested in what their parents find interesting, so also spiritual children are interested in the things of God. This sermon calls all to believe in Jesus, and that those that do can know that they have been truly saved by Him!

The Christian and the World

John 1:16

How does the Christian respond to political turmoil? What is the wisdom of God? How is it different from the wisdom of the world? In this sermon from John 1:16, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones elaborates on the difference between the Christian and the world. The Christian, he proclaims, has a fundamentally different worldview than the unbeliever. They approach the same situations with different understanding. They are capable of sorrow and empathy, but are not limited to a surface understanding of evil. The Christian understands the doctrine of depravity, that humanity apart from Christ is left to wickedness. They are aware that since the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, the world itself is under the just curse of God. The Christian is not overly optimistic about the political leaders that arise, nor are they too pessimistic. The Christian knows that these leaders will not save, and also knows that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church of God. The Christian has a steadfast hope in the face of wars and rumors of wars: Jesus Christ, the Anointed One of God, is the King and He will not fail, forsake, or ultimately disappoint those who hope in Him.

The Law given by Moses

John 1:17

What is the balance between the law and grace? How should a Christian approach the law of Moses? Do they live as though they are under the law? In this sermon on John 1:17, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones elaborates on the right perspective on the law. The law that came through Moses is something to be studied and appreciated. Without the law, there is no need for grace and no one would feel the full weight of sin. However, the Christian is no longer under the law. This is the balance that must be struck. The Christian must look at the law and study it ravenously, not to gain righteousness by it, but instead to know the depth of the grace and mercy that is received through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Christian’s confidence is not in what they can do to obey the law, but in the one who perfectly fulfilled the law on their behalf. If the Christian finds themself constantly trying to measure up and falling short of their own conscience, the solution is not merely to try harder, but instead to trust in Christ who forgives and who gives His Spirit for sanctification and empowerment.

Given by God

John 7:16

There is a prevalent modern myth that great minds don’t believe in Christianity. While intellectuals look back and patronize Christianity, scholars ridicule Christian teaching as passé. But how does one judge the knowledge of the Christian faith? Can knowledge about God be attained in the same manner as secular knowledge? Is knowledge about God a matter of intellect or ability? In this sermon on John 7:16 titled “Given by God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these kinds of question by showing how the vast majority of intellectuals today fall into the same position as the Pharisees. In other words, both judge the teaching about Christ from a mere human perspective. However, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows, Jesus Christ’s teaching is entirely different from every other teaching because it belongs to a different realm. His teaching is given by God. Christ claims to give revelation from above. In order to understand this revelation, the listener needs to discern things spiritually. Natural minds that are unaided by the Spirit cannot comprehend this type of knowledge.

Love Thy Neighbour

Mark 12:28-31

Chaos, conflict, and crisis are a regular part of the world. All of humanity’s attempts to bring peace and reconciliation fall short. In this sermon on Mark 21:28–31 titled “Love Thy Neighbour,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shares that humanity’s priorities are misplaced. Humankind tries to appease their own desires with their own answers. This human-centered approach is unbiblical because it does not start with God in order to understand the nature of humanity. Only when people see themselves as created by God and in need of redemption and reconciliation with God can they properly diagnose themselves and their problems. Until a person recognizes their sin and rebellion before God, they will never understand the depth of their alienation from one another and God. It is only the gospel that can free anyone from their guilt and sin before a holy God, and it is only by believing in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that they can truly live in fellowship and communion with one another. It is only by divine aid that anyone can flee from themselves and turn to God so that they may be freed from their sin.

Love So Amazing

Colossians 1:21-22

Why is God’s love amazing? It is not only because it is redemptive and transforming, but according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, God’s love is amazing because of what it cost Him. God only forgives through His Son, Jesus Christ. It was by Jesus dying upon the cross of Calvary that God brought about redemption and forgiveness for His people. Salvation comes to all freely, but it cost God His Son upon the cross. Now all who believe in Jesus are freed from sin’s power, wrath, and the condemnation of God. It is only the gospel of a crucified King that can overcome a sinful person’s natural hatred of God. It is only Jesus’s death on the cross that brings true peace and reconciliation with God. In this sermon on Colossians 1:21-22 titled “Love So Amazing,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that by sending Jesus to the cross, God not only saves individuals but brings about the redemption of the whole world. Jesus’s death reverses all the effects of the fall and transforms this current evil world to the new heavens and the new earth.