The Message Calls for a Decision
A Sermon on Acts 4:13-22
Originally preached Oct. 31, 1965
Scripture
13¶ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing …
Sermon Description
Those who reject Christianity do not do so on the basis of rational thought. This is seen in the actions of the Jewish leaders, who do not deny the miracles done by the Apostles in the name of Jesus Christ, but nevertheless sought to stop their ministry and silence their preaching. In this sermon on Acts 4:13–22, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims that the reason for this opposition to the truth of God’s gospel is found in fallen and sin-bound minds. Because of the fall, all have been enslaved to sin and the devil. Their every faculty is thoroughly and wholly dominated by sin, and it is this sin that produces unbelief. For this reason, no one should be surprised when the gospel is rejected, for the Bible tells that without the work of God in their hearts, no one will believe. This is because belief is not a matter of reason, facts, or compelling argumentation, but it is about the state of one’s heart. The church should not fear the many so-called intellectual assaults against Christianity, for all these arguments are really a matter of one’s relationship to God and His gospel. Only the heart that has been regenerated can truly think rightly about God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon examines Acts 4:13-22 which details the first persecution of the early church.
- The passage shows what Christianity is, what the church is, and what the church's role is. There is confusion today about the role of the church, so we must look to Scripture.
- The sermon looks at the passage from different angles: the general nature of the early church, the essential message, the effect on believers, and how it calls for a decision.
- The early church cut across the world's ideas. The leaders were uneducated, showing God uses whomever He wills.
- The essential message is about Christ's acts and words, not philosophy. It produces joy and a desire to share the gospel.
- The message calls for a decision and produces a division between those for and against it. We see this in the Sanhedrin, the crowd, and today.
- The Sanhedrin's spirit was prejudiced, biased, and determined to stop the gospel despite the evidence. Unbelief is often like this.
- The message is about facts, not opinions. The Sanhedrin couldn't deny the healed man but still opposed the gospel. Unbelief rejects facts.
- There are no reasonable objections to Christ, His teaching, His followers, or the church. Unbelief is unreasonable.
- Unbelief is negative, unable to provide answers but still opposing the truth. The Sanhedrin had no solution but resisted the gospel.
- Unbelief defies God, not just men. Peter said they were opposing God, not just himself and John.
- The only explanation for unbelief is that sin has blinded minds and enslaved wills. The god of this world blinds unbelievers.
- There is hope in the gospel that unbelievers have rejected. Christ can still save despite unbelief and arrogance.
- Peter calls the Sanhedrin to judge for themselves and face the consequences. Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls listeners to do the same.
Sermon Q&A
What Does the Bible Say About the Unreasonableness of Unbelief?
In his sermon on Acts 4:13-22, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the unreasonable nature of unbelief. Let's explore the key aspects of his message through questions and answers that illuminate this important topic.
What was the main focus of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Acts 4:13-22?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focused on two key phrases from the passage: "They could say nothing against it" (verse 14) and "Judge ye" (Peter's challenge to the Sanhedrin). His sermon explored how the Christian message invariably demands a decision, and how unbelief in the face of clear evidence is fundamentally unreasonable. He demonstrated how the Sanhedrin's rejection of the clear miracle they witnessed reveals the true nature of unbelief throughout history.
According to Lloyd-Jones, why does the Christian message always require a decision?
The Christian message, by its very nature, forces everyone to a position either for or against it. As Lloyd-Jones explains: "This message, this truth, this thing committed by the Lord to the Christian church... is something we are reminded here that always calls for a decision." He emphasizes that "to do nothing about it is a decision" and that "passive resistance is resistance." The gospel divides humanity into two groups—those who accept it and those who reject it—with no middle ground possible.
What evidence did Lloyd-Jones present for the unreasonableness of unbelief?
Lloyd-Jones presented several compelling arguments:
- The Sanhedrin could see the healed man standing before them but still rejected the message
- The perfection of Christ's character offers no reasonable grounds for rejection
- The ethical teachings of Jesus (Sermon on the Mount) and Scripture (Ten Commandments) are morally unassailable
- The transformative power of the gospel in changed lives throughout history cannot be explained away
- The persistence of the church despite persecution testifies to divine involvement
- The positive social impact of Christianity through education, healthcare, and social welfare
As he put it: "What can you say against this blessed person, against what he's done, against his teaching, against the people he's produced, against the institution he's founded? What can you say against it? There's nothing to be said against it."
How did Lloyd-Jones characterize the spirit behind unbelief?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identified several key characteristics of the spirit behind unbelief:
- Prejudice and bias against the gospel without rational grounds
- Vehemence and bitterness in opposing it
- A determination to stop the message at all costs
- The use of power and authority to persecute believers
- A blindness that prevents honest evaluation of evidence
He illustrated this by showing how the Sanhedrin admitted they "could say nothing against" the miracle but still opposed it, revealing that their rejection was based on prejudice rather than reason.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the root cause of unbelief?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the ultimate explanation for such irrational rejection is spiritual: "When men disobeyed God and rebelled against him and fell, all his faculties were affected. They all became twisted... And the supreme tragedy of man is that he can no longer think straightly." He cites 2 Corinthians 4:4, explaining that "a man who rejects the gospel is rejecting it because the devil will not allow him to believe it. He won't allow him to think straightly. He is held in bondage and captivity by the God of this world who blinds the mind and the understanding."
How does Lloyd-Jones address those who claim their unbelief is based on reason or science?
Lloyd-Jones directly challenges the notion that unbelief is rational or scientific. He quotes a scientific author who criticizes dogmatic assertions about evolution, noting that many reject Christianity in the name of science while making dogmatic claims they cannot prove. He argues that such rejection is not based on evidence but on "negative dogmatism" and a refusal to honestly consider the facts. True rationality, he suggests, would lead to faith when confronted with the evidence for Christianity.
What does Lloyd-Jones say is at stake in our decision about the gospel?
The stakes couldn't be higher, according to Lloyd-Jones. This is not merely a decision about a philosophy or lifestyle choice but about our eternal destiny: "It is not only something that will affect you while you're in this world, it'll affect you in the next." He emphasizes that in rejecting the gospel, one is not merely rejecting human ideas but "pitting yourself against the Lord of heaven" and "rejecting the one before whom you'll have to stand at the eternal bar of judgment."
What final challenge does Lloyd-Jones leave with his listeners?
Lloyd-Jones concludes with Peter's challenge: "Judge ye." He explains this as: "Judge for yourselves and take the consequences of your decision." He urges his listeners to consider honestly the evidence before them—the transformed lives, the character of Christ, the teachings of Scripture—and make a decision, remembering they will answer to God for that choice. The decision carries eternal consequences: rejection leads to judgment, while acceptance means becoming "a child of God and an heir of eternal bliss."
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.