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Questions of humanity’s ultimate goal and how they will arrive at that goal are fundamental to every belief system or worldview. Perhaps no worldview stands in contrast to Christianity like the evolutionary worldview. It not only must reject the historical Adam and therefore the historical fall, but the evolutionary worldview understands the human race to be progressing. It has an inherent optimistic view of human nature – humanity is getting better. They are progressing and in the end all will be okay. As Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones comments on Romans 8:18–23 in this sermon titled “Creation Delivered,” this view of humanity could not be more opposed to the biblical view. Rather than progressing, humanity has plunged, not only itself, but all of creation into a cursed state. The creation, says the apostle Paul, waits for the final redemption of the children of God. Humanity and the rest of creation have no hope apart from God’s redemption in Christ. While fallen humanity places its optimism in itself, the Christian places their optimism in the second coming, when the glory of Christ and the redemption of God’s people is final. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds of the culture’s misplaced hope in Adam’s fallen race in contrast to the Christian’s final hope in Christ.
Christians are citizens of heaven yet remain in the world. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:4 titled “But God…,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones shares that the two powerful words that make this a reality are “but God.” Without God’s action in this world, there would be no hope for the future. Life, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds, cannot be understood unless one views it in light of God. How can this done? He suggests that expository preaching teaches what God says in His word. To be lights in this world, Christians are not simply to strive to solve social issues and wars, but to remind people of the true and only hope: salvation in Christ Jesus. That hope is not to be placed in governments, people, programs or systems, but in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His saving work on the cross. In addition, Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches the importance of not simply preaching morality and its benefits. Christians are not to preach at people to be civil. They are to share the gospel and beg people to repent as only then will they change. Christians can look forward to going to their true home in heaven.
Humanity is in a helpless state of sin and depravity as a result of the fall. People are fallen and wholly unable to save themselves. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Common and Special Grace,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims the grace of God is the answer to this great problem. For in God’s love He has not left the world alone in its wickedness and depravity. He has provided a means of salvation in Jesus Christ as the only escape from sin. He has also provided common grace to restrain the sinful actions of people and nations. One of the most prominent forms of common grace is the institution of government. While government does not save souls, it nevertheless restrains mankind’s sinful desires and actions. It is only by the saving power of the special grace of God that hearts and minds are renewed and turned to the light. Outward confirmation of the law of God can never bring salvation and true life. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones exposes the lie of false religions and teachers who replace the grace of God with human works. There is true life in Christ Jesus in the gospel. This is the only hope that God has given the world, and it is the only hope that the church can proclaim to sinners and fallen people.
In the midst of a prophecy of gloom, there is a good news. In this sermon on Matthew 24:14 titled “The Only Way,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the Messiah of the Old Testament. The world without God is under the wrath of God – where is the hope? It is a different message and perspective, giving the only light in the midst of all darkness. The history of the world and the kingdoms of humankind are competing with the history and kingdom of the eternal God. No one can earn entrance into this kingdom; Jesus Christ is the only door to the kingdom of God. Christ did not come to reform the world politically or socially; His kingdom is completely different. God’s kingdom remains in the spiritual realm until Christ returns. Learn not only what Christ has done and continues to do, but also discover what He will do. The Bible recounts the wonderful works of God. The eternally pure Christ looked into the face of sin and bore the punishment of death; He is the only door to salvation. No one can cleanse themselves – come to Him as He can wash, clothe, and receive His people into the kingdom of God.
What is the peace that God gives His people in Christ? Humanity is always searching for something to put their trust in, something to hope in in the face of life’s many hardships. In this sermon on John 4:28–30 titled “Peace I Give to You,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the great doctrine of peace in the Christian life. When sinners repent and believe in Jesus Christ, they are made new and are given new desires and loves. They then love God rather than the world and their hope is in God, not the world. This is very different from the life of the unregenerate. They must always look for something in this world to place their hope. Many look to the philosophy of stoicism, which says that one cannot change their life, so hardships should just be accepted. This is wholly contrary to the message of Christ. Through the gospel Christians can know that they have a Savior who is wholly for them and not against them. This sermon calls all to forsake themselves and run to God as the only stronghold in this life.
In his sermon to the Jewish leaders, the Apostle Peter, under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, proclaims Jesus as the risen Messiah and Savior of the world. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds in this sermon on Acts 3:19, showing that Jesus Christ has come, died, and was buried according to the words of the prophets. It is Jesus who is the breath of life and He gives His Spirit to those who repent and believe in His name as the only Son of God. This saving power that Jesus Christ brings is the only true hope for a world filled with sinners who are destined to die and suffer the righteous judgement of God Almighty. But Jesus brings redemption and restoration to all who will repent and believe in His name. This is the message of hope that the Apostles proclaimed, and it is this message that must be proclaimed today for there is no true life outside of the kingdom of God as is brought in Christ. The church today must be faithful in its proclamation to this fallen and sinful world. It has been entrusted with the great and magnificent message of salvation and should be bold in its proclamation, knowing that it is the power of God.
In this sermon of Psalm 1:5–6 titled “The Way of the Ungodly,” Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones diagnoses the way of the ungodly and then presents the prescription given by God for the ungodly to be remedied. Listen as he lays out the five aspects of God’s future judgment: the fact, the nature, the terms, the thoroughness, and the consequences. It is a dismal future for the ungodly person. They will not stand amidst the congregation of the righteous. Since God’s law sets the standard for humanity, how can anyone meet that standard? There is only one way and only one secret to happiness and blessedness. Only Christ can remove the fear of death and judgment. As the hymn states, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’s blood and righteousness… On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” A person can stand on nothing else in this world or on the Day of Judgment but on the rock of Jesus Christ.
What is the end result of salvation? Sadly, many Christians never look at the wealth of teaching that Scripture gives about the great scope of salvation, for Christ did not come simply to save people from punishment but Jesus Christ came to make all things new. He came to save bodies and souls from death. Glorification is the completion of all that Christ has begun in His people. This shows that Christianity is not only concerned with the spiritual realm of creation but also the physical, for God will not rest until He has made all things new through Christ Jesus and redeemed all His people fully. But only those who believe in Jesus will receive the gift of glorification. Only those who repent and forsake their sins will become inheritors in the new heavens and the new earth. The Bible is clear that there is no salvation outside of Christ and there is no hope apart from His work. This sermon on John 1:16 confronts all with the reality of their sin and the need to be made new in Christ Jesus.
What sets the Christian apart from everyone else? In this sermon on Philippians 3:12–17 titled “Apprehended by Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shares that it is the Christian’s knowledge and pursuit of Christ that separates them from all others. Christianity is not about external actions, nor is it about passionless religiosity, but Christianity is about Christ Jesus. It was the Apostle Paul who came to know Christ when Jesus appeared to him and transformed him. This was an immediate interaction with the risen Christ who called Paul to a life of service and suffering as a Christian. Jesus calls all believers to forsake their pride and arrogance, and to trust in Him. This sermon asks: “do you have a knowledge of Christ that transforms you? Are you trusting in Jesus or yourself?” In its fallen state, the world trusts in itself to solve all its problems, but the Christian is totally different. The Christian flees all vain worldly wisdom and trusts in God. Only Christianity shows all how they ought to live; only Christianity can provide true answers to life’s deepest questions. This is because only Christianity offers the true hope of the gospel and salvation from all sin and evil.
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.
All the turmoil and strife in the world has its root in humanity’s sinful rebellion against God the creator. When humanity rejects God as ruler and rebel, they lose any hope of true peace and happiness. As Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains in this sermon on Acts 4:31–35, all hope is lost because the world rejects the Creator who is the source of all blessings. When people reject God as ruler, they set themselves up as their own rulers. This leads to anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, and hatred. Because sin is the root of all the troubles, all plans to bring peace and harmony to the world that reject God and His view of the world are doomed to fail. This is the current state of the world. There is suffering and pain on a massive scale across the globe that people seek to fix. But Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that it is the fallen nature that produces these ills. And it is only the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings renewal and true change. It is only by the transformation of hearts and minds that the world will come to know peace and experience joy. This is the great promise of the gospel: the renewal and transformation of the whole world under the reign of Christ.
In this sermon on Acts 17:1–4 titled “It was necessary for the Christ to suffer,” from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, he preaches about Christ being the pivot point of history. More specifically, Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection are the turning point and only hope for humankind. The only way to be saved, Dr. Lloyd-Jones beckons, is through the sacrifice of God made flesh. The greatest offense in the history of humankind is the murder of Jesus Christ. Yet through this horrid event, the curtain was torn and humankind is given access to the Holy of Holies. Dr. Lloyd-Jones thoroughly repeats how Christ must have suffered. This means that the Messiah had to suffer and lose His life in order for anyone to receive life. It is only through faith that people have access to the blessings Jesus Christ has accomplished for humanity. Dr. Lloyd-Jones exhorts that there is no other way to be saved than through the Son of God. He begs his listeners to show their gratitude to Jesus Christ by giving their lives to Him in repentance and praise. The significance of the crucifixion is difficult to comprehend and will not be completely understood on the earthly side of heaven. Repent and put trust in Him and be saved from death.
Is Jesus is all He claims to be? Is He is God? Did He die for sinners? Is He the true and better Adam? Is He the Savior? In this sermon on John 4:13-14, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on Jesus Christ as the personal Savior, and how this truth applies to guilty consciences. For the Law tells of guilt, and hearts confirm this judgment – it is a matter of conscience. The only hope is not to quell the conscience, but to believe and receive total forgiveness. Jesus Christ came and died in order that the Law would be fulfilled. What does this mean for the human conscience? A conscience convicting a sinner of sin must not be ignored, but they also should not turn to self-justification. The answer is in Christ. He has freed his people from desires to vindicate themselves and appease guilty consciences by works. Jesus himself said that He is humanity’s righteousness and hope. For all who believe in Jesus can have full assurance that they have been saved and are now children of God.
What is sin? There are many answers given to this question in the modern world, but the Bible gives one: sin is the breaking of God’s law. Sin is saying no to God, and yes to one’s own desire. This rebellious spirit is nothing new in the world. It came about when the first humans, Adam and Eve, rejected God’s wisdom in place of their own. The presence of sin, as described in the Bible, is the only thing that can explain why the world is full of pain and suffering. Only God’s word explains why all sin against God and against one another. The world cannot repair the damage of sin; it cannot make right what humanity has done. The only true hope for this sinful world is found in God’s gracious sending of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible looks forward to the time when God will make everything right again in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. In this sermon on Isaiah 1:4 titled “The Effect of Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones forces all to ask the questions: “do I believe in what God has done? Have I turned from my sin and trusted in Christ?” Christ is the only one who can redeem from sin and the wrath of God.
The only hope for this world is that it is God’s world. In this sermon titled “A Christian Looks at the Moon,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the claim that Christians forsake thinking and reasoning. It is the Christian alone who thinks and Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks if one’s thoughts are controlled and governed by the teaching of the Bible, or the news and the media? Learn how to think deeply, examine truth, and draw conclusions that are not superficial. The Christian considers things, reasons, and then comes to profound conclusions concerning such. Stand amazed at God’s marvelous creation and understand the uniqueness of humanity. Learn of the problem and tragedy of humanity; in this marvelous universe, humanity is the greatest contradiction. How can people be such a brilliant success, yet the greatest failure? Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the modern person as a technological success and moral failure. This modern person is governed more by lust and passion than truth and understanding. Come to the only hope that there is for the world today—a spiritual understanding of God’s great plan of redemption and salvation. Recount the one launching that came from heaven to earth by God Himself. The wise person is encapsulated in Christ. Christ alone will present His people holy and faultless before God.
What is the ultimate experience in this life? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains in this sermon from John 4:13–14 titled “The Spirit of Your Mind” that to know and love God is the highest end in life, and it is the only way of salvation from sin and condemnation. However, the presence of sin keeps humanity from knowing God and his gospel. It stops all from believing in Jesus Christ. It is only by regeneration that fallen men and women can be granted eyes of faith that are able to properly see God, and only by receiving a new nature can they truly know God. This creates an antithesis between fallen sinners who remain slaves to their sinful nature, and those who have been given a new nature by their union with Christ. In brief, Christians seek what is good, holy, and pure as a pattern of life. This desire for righteousness is not dead religion, but new life in Jesus Christ. Those in Christ can fight against sin and temptation, not because they are holy in themselves, but because they are empowered by the Holy Spirit to have victory over sin’s power and influence. Christians can have hope in eventual glorification because Christ has risen from the dead and given them the gift of salvation.
People reject the gospel of Christ because of their unbelief and hardened heart. In this sermon on Acts 4:8–10 titled “The Tragedy of Unbelief,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that this is the universal problem. Sinful people have always rejected the message of the gospel and those that bring the message, as was the case with the apostles. They were persecuted, some to death, and they suffered because they refused to be silent. This persecution and rejection of the gospel has been present throughout church history. Lloyd-Jones says that the tragedy of this rejection of the gospel is that when people reject the gospel, they lose any hope of salvation. Apart from the gospel that is persecuted and hated, no one can be saved. There is no peace, hope, or joy without the redeeming power of the gospel of God. Ancient and modern humanity are no different for their foolish and blind unbelief. Apart from the light of God’s grace in Christ, both are lost and live in darkness. The root of this is sin, but in their darkest sorrows, people reject the only hope that the world has ever known. This rejection of the message of salvation is the great tragedy of unbelief and the very remedy to the world’s greatest problems is what the world despises the most.
How should Christians react to suffering? This is a difficult question, but it is also an important question. All who live in this world suffer from the effects of sin and death. Even Jesus Himself suffered while He was on earth. In this sermon on Romans 8:18 titled “Reactions to Suffering,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns against the wrong reactions to suffering in life. Whether one is angry at God or doubts His goodness, the Christian is prone to lose their trust in the face of suffering. But the Bible tells that suffering is never purposeless, nor is suffering the ultimate fate of those who trust in Christ. The greatest hope is not in worldly social reform or in political campaigns, but it is in the reality that Christ has died for His people and is making all things new. Rather than looking to themselves in times of suffering, the Christian must look to Christ who has died in their place so that they might be redeemed from sin and its curse. This hope is only possible for those who believe in the gospel.
What is the place of tribulation in the life of the Christian? Often times, people see hardships as nothing more than obstacles to their happiness and joy. They see no deeper purpose in the hardships. But in this sermon titled “Glory in Tribulation” on Romans 5:5, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows how Scripture paints a different picture of what hardships are about. For those that trust in God and who have His Holy Spirit, suffering is a means of becoming more like Jesus Christ. It is a means of deepening and strengthening one’s faith in God and to grow in holiness. As Christians go through these trials, they come to a greater assurance of who they are in Christ. So then, there is great hope for those that suffer as followers of Christ. This sermon holds out a great hope for all who are in the midst of trials and tribulations because it displays how Christ is working in His people in and through life’s hardships. This sermon is a call for all to repent of their sins and come to Jesus. It is a call to return to God the Creator and seek His glory. This is the only life of true and lasting joy.
There is no higher goal in life than to know God. But how can sinful humans ever hope of having a true relationship with the Creator of all things? In this sermon on John 8:19 titled “Do You Know God?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says the answer is found in Jesus alone. Fallen sinners can only come to God through His Son. Only by believing in Him as their Savior and Lord can they be freed from sin and adopted into the family of God as heirs. Knowledge of God is exclusive, for it comes only through knowing Jesus Christ and becoming His disciple. The Bible is clear that God has only made salvation possible through Jesus Christ. He is the only one who has suffered and died for sinners, and He is the only one who has been resurrected for the salvation of sinners. This sermon proclaims the timeless truth that all are in need of a Savior and that God has provided a Savior in His Son. This message is a call to all to believe and repent of their sins. It is a call to come to Jesus so that they might know God.
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