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Sermon #2020

Return of Christ

A Sermon on Acts 3:19-21

Originally preached May 30, 1965

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Scripture

Acts 3:19-21 ESV KJV
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God …

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Sermon Description

When Christ healed the lame man, it was an example of the power God has over all of creation. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones offers this powerful sermon on Acts 3:19–21 titled “Return of Christ,” showing God's ability to completely make all things new. The message of Christianity is not that it is a reform movement to fix all things gone wrong now, but that all are headed toward a final event to reconstitute the whole universe. Modern humanity views this as “pie in the sky” and want something to correct the world now. Accordingly, a popular view has arisen that Christianity is just a view of life, a book of principles — if people are persuaded to practice them, everything will be better. But this is not what Jesus taught. He never claimed to come into the world to reform it for progressive improvement. In fact, he said the opposite. The social gospel is a complete denial of biblical teaching and the witness of history. The world is a place of disorder because it is cursed and partly governed by the devil. This explains the world: not a lack of education, but a lack of knowledge of God. The real message of Christianity is that there is only one hope: the return of Christ to reconstitute all things.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The apostle Peter preached this sermon after healing a lame man at the temple gate.
  2. Peter tells the crowd not to focus on the miracle itself but on Jesus Christ.
  3. Peter preaches about God's plan of salvation through Jesus.
  4. Jesus died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. He is now seated at the right hand of God.
  5. Jesus will remain in heaven until the restoration of all things.
  6. The restoration of all things refers to God's plan to restore the universe to its original perfect state.
  7. The world is currently in a fallen, sinful state under the influence of Satan.
  8. Jesus will return to judge the world, destroy Satan and sin, and restore the universe.
  9. Those who believe in Jesus will be restored and live with him in the new heavens and new earth.
  10. We must repent and believe in Jesus to be part of this restoration.

Sermon Q&A

What Does Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Second Coming of Christ?

According to the sermon transcript by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the second coming of Christ represents a central component of authentic Christian preaching. Here's what he teaches about this important doctrine:

What is the biblical message about Christ's return according to Lloyd-Jones?

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Jesus Christ will physically return to earth to restore all things. He states: "This same Jesus is seated there at the right hand of God's glory in the heavens. And he is ruling, he is reigning... But he's going to come back into this world... he will come visibly, he will come bodily."

In the sermon, he explains: "The heavens must receive him until the times of the restitution of all things. When God sends his Christ, his Son, again into the world he is going to send him back into it to put it right again."

Why does Lloyd-Jones reject the "social gospel" approach to Christianity?

Lloyd-Jones strongly rejects the idea that Christianity's primary purpose is social reform or world improvement. He argues:

"This modern idea that Christianity is just a movement for world reform and that it's mainly something political and social, is a complete denial of the teaching of the scripture. Complete."

He points out three reasons why this approach fails: 1. It contradicts biblical teaching 2. It's disproven by history ("Christianity has been in this world nearly 2000 years and it hasn't reformed the world") 3. It cannot explain the persistence of evil and suffering

How does Lloyd-Jones describe what will happen when Christ returns?

Lloyd-Jones describes Christ's return as involving several key elements:

  1. Judgment of evil: "He'll come back, and he'll judge the world in righteousness. And he'll not only condemn all who've died in evil and sin and who've rejected him..."

  2. Destruction of Satan: "Satan is going to be finally destroyed. He already defeated him while he was in this world, and he's already in chains. But he's going to be destroyed with an everlasting destruction."

  3. Complete restoration: "When he comes and reconstitutes the whole cosmos, not only this earth, but Mars and Jupiter and the sun and the moon and all the universe, it will all be restored to its original, absolute perfection."

  4. Glorification of believers: "We shall know him even as we are already known, and wonder of wonders, it will apply even to our very physical bodies... who shall change this, our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body."

What does Lloyd-Jones believe is the proper response to this teaching?

Lloyd-Jones concludes that the proper response to the teaching of Christ's return is:

  1. Repentance: "Repent, my dear friend, if you've never done so until this moment."

  2. Faith in Christ: "And believe on this crucified, risen, ascended, glorified Son of God, who died, that you might be forgiven."

  3. Holy living: "If you believe these things, says Peter, what sort of people should we be in all righteousness and holiness?"

  4. Hopeful waiting: "Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

This doctrine of Christ's return gives Christians hope in a troubled world and provides the true explanation for the past, present, and future of human history according to Lloyd-Jones.

The Book of Acts

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.