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Sermon #2027

The Authentic Marks of Christianity

A Sermon on Acts 4:13

Originally preached Oct. 10, 1965

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Scripture

Acts 4:13 ESV KJV
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (ESV)

Sermon Description

Christianity is not based on human power or wisdom. It is not the result of clever and prudent people, but it is the result of the gospel of God. In this sermon on Acts 4:13, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. All are in need of Jesus Christ. There are no prerequisites to being saved but to believe in the name of Christ. In the gospel, God subverts the ways of the world as the world is about power and pomp, vain glory and empty praise. But the gospel is about Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, hung on a tree so that all those who believe would become a part of the new creation. This message humbles everyone because it leaves no place for boasting, human pride, or hubris. It tells that all are sinful and under the judgment of God. It says that all are slaves to sin and their twisted desires. But through the gospel there is true renewal and life by the blood of Christ. The church should take great comfort knowing that it proclaims the truth and power of God in His gospel.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. Christianity is a phenomenon, not just a teaching. It is something that happens and is based on events, not just ideas.
  2. The world does not understand Christianity. The world is perplexed by the true Christian message and always reacts negatively to it.
  3. The world hates the true Christian message and always tries to stop it. The world persecutes those who spread the true message of Christianity.
  4. The true Christian message is supernatural. It does not depend on human ability, understanding, or effort.
  5. Becoming a Christian is not something we do or achieve through our own power or intellect. It is something done to us by God. It is the result of God's power acting on us.
  6. The Christian message gives people a new understanding, even to the unlearned and ignorant. This understanding comes from God, not human intellect or study.
  7. The Christian message gives people peace, joy, rest, and contentment that the world cannot give.
  8. The Christian message gives people power to live, conquer sin, and stand up for truth. This power comes from God, not human ability.
  9. The Christian message gives people boldness to spread the truth, even in the face of opposition. This boldness comes from God, not human courage.
  10. The only explanation for the Christian message and for Christians themselves is that they have been with Jesus.

Sermon Q&A

What Impact Did Jesus Have on the Disciples According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Acts 4:13, Jesus had a transformative impact on his disciples. The verse states: "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus."

What was the key transformation observed in Peter and John?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the authorities were amazed by the boldness of Peter and John because they recognized them as "unlearned and ignorant men." The transformation was dramatic - these ordinary fishermen were now able to:

  1. Speak with extraordinary boldness before the religious authorities
  2. Perform miracles (healing the lame man)
  3. Articulate profound spiritual truths despite their lack of formal education
  4. Stand firm in the face of opposition from powerful people

As Lloyd-Jones points out: "Look at the way they can stand and reason before this great council. And they can confound them and confute them. What's happened to them? They were ignorant. They were fishermen."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain Peter's transformation from coward to bold witness?

Lloyd-Jones highlights Peter's dramatic personal transformation:

"You remember Peter. He was such a coward, such had such a craven spirit, that when his greatest friend and benefactor is in difficulties and on trial, Peter denies him to save his life. He's afraid to die. But look at him here, standing with boldness. What's happened? He's been changed. That's Christianity."

The preacher emphasizes that Peter went from being "the frightened rabbit who runs away to save his own skin" to someone "standing with boldness, defying the authorities." This change wasn't due to education or self-improvement but supernatural transformation.

What does it mean that the disciples "had been with Jesus"?

According to Lloyd-Jones, this phrase reveals the essential nature of Christianity - it's not about human ability but divine power working through people. He states:

"That's it. That's the mark of the Christian. That is the sole explanation of why a man is a Christian and how he's become a Christian. It isn't his intelligence, it isn't his understanding."

Being with Jesus means: - Receiving "a new understanding" through spiritual rebirth - Being given power that transcends natural human abilities - Being transformed from the inside out - Being filled with the Holy Spirit

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast true Christianity with false representations?

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that true Christianity is supernatural and transformative, which perplexes and even offends the world. He contrasts this with false representations that the world readily accepts:

  1. Christianity as merely political activism: "If the Christian church stands before the governors and the authorities and the powers in a political manner, it will receive a standing ovation from the world."

  2. Christianity as merely moral teaching: "If the church gives the impression that the Christian message is a purely moral, ethical teaching... the world will understand it perfectly well."

  3. Christianity as psychology: "If the church stands before the world and gives the impression that the Christian message is, after all, nothing but psychology... the world will be very ready to listen."

True Christianity, in contrast, is "a power acting upon us and in us and in spite of us" that transforms ordinary, imperfect people through divine intervention.

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.