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The Message for Today

Jeremiah 36:2-3

Turning away from God has terrible consequences. Look no further than the Old Testament to see how the Israelites turned away from God and suffered terrible disaster. In this sermon on Jeremiah 36:2-3, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the need for all men to turn to God, and the consequences of not doing so. The Israelites had been delivered out of bondage and were in a special relationship with God, yet they rebelled and turned away from Him. Because of this, God brought judgement upon them as punishment for their sins. You may ask: what does this have to do with me? The answer is that Israel was like all men, living in sin and rebellion against God. Fallen humans naturally love sin more than they love God. Yet God has provided salvation and true forgiveness through Jesus Christ! No one is beyond salvation and redemption from all sin and evil. God has made a way for all the wayward and lost to be found. Do you trust in this Gospel? Or are you like the ancient Israelites, lost and wandering away from God?

A True Belief

Hebrews 6:7-8

Attending church is not sufficient for salvation. The greatest sin of the modern person is that they live as if they own themselves, but they do not. In this sermon on Hebrews 6:7–8 titled “A True Belief,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones declares that no one is their own and He focuses on the illustration of two fields. The whole world was created by God and made for Him. Every life will go on to judgment in relation to their response to this gospel. The value of one soul is such that no one can put too much emphasis on listening. Those who reject this word are utterly hopeless. It is the reaction to the treatment of the gospel that distinguishes Christians from the rest of the world. Listeners are encouraged to contrast the dramatic difference between the two products that are produced and examine that which pleases the creator of this world. The natural life alone is useless before God. The marks of a true believer are repentance and belief in this message of God’s salvation in Christ. It is not enough to simply know the gospel. Everyone must deny themselves and take up their cross, following Him and leaving everything else.

But God... Part 1

Ephesians 2:1-10

Is it possible that the gospel can be summarized in just two words? In this sermon "But God", Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers in the affirmative. Given the context of Paul’s transition from sin to salvation in Ephesians 2:1-10, great hope shines forth with just two words: “But God.” These two words suggest hope for the sinner and is the only message that holds out hope for the individual and a world that is dead in trespasses and sins. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones contends in this sermon, these two great words tell that salvation is entirely a divine action and in contrast to the sin of humanity. “But God” shows He is unlike men, slow to anger and abounding with grace towards those who deserve wrath. In a world full of anxiety, stress, and difficulty, humanity’s great hope and joy is summarized in this brief statement. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds the listener that God has entered into this state of death by offering hope through Christ. The human condition is not hopeless but can be changed through the intervention of a merciful God.

What is Christianity About?

Acts 2:32

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.

Recovery of Sight to the Blind

Luke 4:18-19

In this sermon on Luke 4:18–19 titled “Recovery of Sight to the Blind,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones uncovers the biblical truth regarding the human heart that most do not want to consider. People are wholly corrupt and sinful as a result of the fall. They are blind and unable to see the light of God’s truth because they reject the grace of God and scorn the gospel of Jesus Christ as foolish and offensive. But it gets worse. God has appointed a day when He will come in judgment to condemn all those who will not repent and believe in the gospel. The Bible is clear that no one escapes this final judgment. There are no second chances. But as Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims, there is hope. By repenting and believing in the message of salvation given in God’s word, anyone may be made right with God. This powerful work is what the Holy Spirit does inside of people, giving the blind sight and the dead new life. This gospel of grace, repentance, and redemption in Christ Jesus by the work of the Holy Spirit is the only means of salvation that God has given this world.

Collecting the Evidence (1)

Romans 11:25-27

What is the future of the people of Israel? In this sermon on Romans 11:25–27 titled “Collecting the Evidence (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines this most important topic of Israel’s future. Paul is concerned that the Gentile believers may be arrogant towards the Israelites. No one must think they are saved because they are smarter or wiser than anyone else. The Gentiles did not believe in the gospel because they were smarter than the Israelites. They believed because God in His grace was pleased to give mercy to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. While some Israelites rejected the gospel, not all did. Paul gives himself as an example of a faithful Israelite who trusted in the promised Messiah. Furthermore, Paul speaks of the day when many of his fellow Jews will come to worship Jesus and be saved. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches on the great day of salvation for all Jewish people who come to know the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. God is faithful to His promises and He has provided salvation for all who believe in Him.

God in Control

Romans 11:28-32

What is the status of the Jewish people now that Christ has come? In this sermon on Romans 11:28–32 titled “God in Control,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones speaks on this vital question with which the apostle Paul wrestles. Paul says that there is a current hardening of the Jewish people by God in order that the gospel would go to the Gentiles. All throughout Scripture, sin and evil are unable to change God’s good work. Paul makes clear that God has not finally rejected His people, for the hardening that has come upon the Jewish people is only temporary and there will be a day when a great revival comes upon the nation of Israel. What is the church’s response to this teaching? The church and Christians everywhere must not be arrogant towards the people of Israel, for all salvation is a gift from God. The church must also seek to bring the gospel to the people of Israel and the glorious truth that Jesus has come and died for sinners. All who believe, whether Jew or Gentile, will be saved and made inheritors with Jesus Christ in the age to come. Jesus is the only way of salvation for all, whether Jew or Gentile.

Good Works

Romans 2:6-10

Can good works save? Will one receive salvation just for being a ‘good’ person? In the sermon titled “…To…Man that Worketh Good,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones walks through these questions in Romans 2:6–10, a passage often taken out of context. While works are the proof of salvation, they are not the source of it. Paul proves that people cannot be justified by works alone and no matter the efforts of all of humanity, no one is righteous or exempt from judgement. In this message, Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that the day of condemnation will bring judgement upon those who relied on their efforts to impress God; those that say they know the Lord but do not keep His commands are liars. If one is truly a believer, they have the Holy Spirit who will act in them and change them, and that change will be manifested with outward expression. Christians should always aim to bring glory to God, seek His honor, and yearn for eternal life with Him. This should cause Christians to be mindful that what comes out of their mouths also is represented in the works that they do.

Glory Begun Below

Romans 5:1-2

The apostle Paul saw the glory of God when he was on his way to persecute Christ’s church. In this sermon titled “Glory Begun Below,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches this powerful sermon from Romans 5:1–2 which shows that it is the risen Christ who appeared to Paul and changed him from a Pharisee persecuting the church to a follower of Christ. When anyone sees the glory of God, they are transformed and made new, just as the apostle Paul. How does one see this glory? While today’s Christians do not have experiences as the apostles did, God still shows His glory in this life through many of His everyday graces. The glory of God is encountered while experiencing the grace of God at regeneration. But ultimately, the glory of God will be seen on the last day when the Christian’s salvation is brought to completion. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is emphatic that salvation is a process that ends when the Christian is made like Christ, purged of all sin and made pure by His glory. The question that all must all ask is this: “have we experienced this glory?” If the listener has not, this sermon brings the most important message for this life.

Justifying the Ungodly

Romans 4:4-8

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.

To Glorify Christ

Romans 8:28-30

The believer in Christ is caught up in a grand trinitarian story between the mutual glorification of the Father and the Son. This cosmic story of God’s glory bestows unbelievable benefits upon unworthy sinners. When the Christian is united with Christ, all God purposed is guaranteed and the Son will be glorified in the salvation of His people. In this sermon on Romans 8:28­–30 titled “To Glorify Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones connects God the Father’s grand purpose in the glorification of His Son to the ultimate grounds of assurance. Dr. Lloyd-Jones assures that based upon the apostle Paul’s words, every detail in the believer’s salvation – foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification – will be accomplished in perfect detail. Furthermore, Dr. Lloyd-Jones works through the biblical texts across the New Testament and comes to a clear definition for the controversial term “foreknowledge.” With consistency and care, he argues that the term means God setting His love upon His people. Moreover, there is very little difference between the biblical teaching of foreknowledge and the doctrine of predestination. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives believers unlimited grounds for assurance.

The Greatness and Power of God

Ephesians 3:20-21

God’s power is both one of the clearest doctrines taught in the Bible, as well as one of the most comforting for the believer. In this sermon on Ephesians 3:20–21 titled “The Greatness and Power of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims not only that God is good, but that He is able to work in and through lives to bring about His purposes. One sees His power very clearly in the act of salvation and in His sovereign grace that He exercises in Christian lives. The Bible consistently emphasizes the truth that it is God who has acted in His Son Christ Jesus to bring about redemption and new life in Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions Christians against thinking about God as a man with limitations and faults. The God of the Bible is able to do all He wills and desires. When the church loses sight of the power of God, it loses sight of its mission. God’s power is not an abstract doctrine, but it is at the heart of the life of the church and the individual Christian. This doctrine assures that Christ will bring the work of salvation to completion that He has begun in His people.

The Glory of the Gospel

Acts 20:24

What is the only hope for the world? What is the only light that can pierce the darkness of sin and evil? In this sermon on Acts 20:24, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives the one answer found in Holy Scripture: the gospel. There is no hope for this world apart from the electing grace of God in Jesus Christ. God sent His only Son into the world to die upon the cross in the place of sinners and the very enemies of God so that all who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus are saved. All who trust in Christ receive the grace of God. The Bible tells us that all salvation is wholly the result of God’s grace that He gives freely. There is nothing anyone can do to save themselves. God has given the ultimate gift of salvation to sinners who by nature hate God and all His ways. What grace! This sermon calls each and every man, woman, and child to repent of their sins and look to Jesus Christ as their only hope and comfort in this world. There is no other hope than Jesus Christ.

Miracle of the New Birth

John 2:7-10

Who is Jesus? As seen in the Scriptures, Jesus is no mere man and is much more than can be imagined. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches from John 2:7–10 where the question of the identity of Jesus is at the forefront. Jesus has power to perform great signs and miracles and performs them to show the world His divine power over all of creation. Jesus not only has power over the physical world, but also the spiritual world. Jesus not only turns water to wine, but also changes dead sinners into living children of God. Jesus as the Son of God gives new life because He is the water of life. To be a Christian is to believe in Jesus for salvation; it is to trust Him wholly and completely. The person of Jesus forces all to ask the question: “am I trusting in Him?” Christians cannot have a neutral attitude toward Him. Jesus is divisive because He is the true and better Adam that has come to redeem sinners and set them free from all sin. The sermon calls all to believe and hope in Jesus Christ for their salvation.

Jesus; the Cornerstone

Acts 4:11

God’s way of salvation is wholly opposed to humanistic and human-centered philosophy. The ancient Jews and Greeks rejected the gospel as it was taught by the apostles, and modern humanity rejects the gospel as it is proclaimed by the church. In this sermon titled “Jesus, the Cornerstone,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches how this is the devastating condition of the world. All unbelievers laugh and scoff at the ideas of the new birth, the resurrection, and the cross as a way of salvation. But as Acts 4:11 shows, the wisdom of God triumphs in the midst of the so-called wisdom of the world. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the new city that is being made. This new city is one that is made up of all who trust and believe in the work of Christ on the cross. This is in opposition to the city of humanity built upon the foundations of sinful and fallen human reason that is wholly corrupted by sinful nature. Christians have nothing to fear from the enemies of God and can rest in the truth of who Christ is and what he has done. The Christian can be assured that Christ will return to judge the living and the dead, and he will establish a new heaven and a new earth. Christ is victorious over all those who oppose His gospel.

The Power of Christ Within

John 1:16

Are Christians daunted by the phrase “work out your salvation with fear and trembling?” Is sanctification a topic that brings anxiety? This sermon on John 1:16 titled “The Power of Christ Within” addresses these questions. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows how and why the Christian should fearfully participate in their own sanctification. He explains that the Christian must embrace and pursue sanctification, but they are also given divine power to grow in holiness. Additionally, he explains that a Christian should have fear related to the understanding that God is the one who works in them, and that the world is opposed to God. The Christian life is filled with a heightened awareness of responsibility and realization that they answer to an all-knowing and just God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows how to walk in holy fear while simultaneously holding fast to the salvation bought by Christ the Lord. Finally, Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the first and primary need of all humanity is the fear of the Lord. He points out that the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord and therefore fearing God is of primary importance to all creatures that are made in His image.

Prisoners of Sin

Psalms 107:10-16

God and God alone is to be praised. Salvation is found only in God. In this sermon on Psalm 107:10–16 titled “Prisoners of Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at the God who delivers every type of person, a God worthy of all the praise of humanity. This psalm is a great picture of both sin and salvation. Sin can take many forms, but is still sin. This is the common root to all the varied problems and ills of humanity. Learn that while there are many symptoms, there is just one essential disease. Be warned of the devil’s subtlety in working, along with the ignorance and arrogance of sin. A common idea is that religion is what makes people slaves, and to become a humanist is to liberate yourself, but this is far from the truth. Sin is what binds. This picture of a prison is a message of sin and its consequences. Sin is rebellion against God and against God’s words—sinners are the rebels. “The life of sin is a hard life.” Complications arise in the life of sin, not a freedom unto sin. First, one chooses sin, then in their persistence, they become victim to it. Be delivered from this power of sin today.

A Small Life

Psalms 118:5

What does it mean to have a broad perspective on life? Many criticize Christianity for being closed-minded and leading to a narrow life, but in this sermon on Psalm 118:5 titled “A Small Life,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that Scripture has a different view of the Christian life. Rather than being narrow and closed-minded, the Christian is the one who truly understands the world and who has true and lasting joy because they know God. The Christian trusts in Jesus Christ for the salvation from sin. The Christian has received joy and lives in this joy because God has given a great gift of grace. The narrow life is the life that has no hope after death and no joy in life’s Creator. This sermon is a call to obey the gospel of God by believing in Jesus Christ and to find true and lasting peace as a child of God. Anyone who has not renounced the old life of sin, come to Christ and forsaken themselves to come to God is on the path to destruction apart from God and His goodness. There is no salvation and true peace part from faith in Jesus Christ.

Blinded by Sin

Psalms 8:3-4

Why does humanity not see creation as God’s own handiwork? In this sermon on Psalm 8:3–4 titled “Blinded by Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this important theological question and shows its significance for the Christian life. The reason that humanity can look at creation and believe it is anything other than the creation of God is because they are blinded by sin. All are born in sin and naturally opposed to God. So they reject God, not because of reason, but because of sinful prejudice. The psalmists teach this, but it is also seen in the New Testament through the life and ministry of Jesus when He performs great signs and wonders to the people. But in the end, the people still cry out for Him to be crucified, for they still did not believe that He was God’s Son. This is because of the sinful principle in all hearts. What is the answer to humanity’s blindness and hard-heartedness? The answer is only found in the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Only by God giving His Son and opening the eyes of sinners can anyone be saved. Salvation is wholly a gift of God wherein He gives salvation freely as a gift.

No Hope For This World

1 Peter 1:13

How are Christians to view this world? In this sermon on 1 Peter 1:13 titled “No Hope For This World,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the Bible shows that the world is passing and temporary. Christians are to seek not to transform this world, but to bring the gospel that alone can transform the hearts and minds of people. The Bible never promises that this world will be made inevitably better as many people believe, but it teaches that salvation comes to take people out of the world. True peace does not come when war ends, or poverty is removed, but when sinful people are reconciled with God and forgiven of their sins. For this reason, the church is to look not to politics to bring about transformation and renewal, but to the gospel. What then is the Christian’s duties in this world? Christians are to seek the kingdom of God by preaching the gospel to the whole world. They are to preach the gospel as the only means of true peace and salvation from sins and the final judgement of God. Christians must put their hope in God above, not this passing world with its sinful ways. The church is on a pilgrimage, looking towards the day when it will arrive fully and finally in the kingdom of God.