Power and the Resurrection
A Sermon on Acts 4:29-33
Originally preached Nov. 28, 1965
Scripture
29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31¶ And when they …
Sermon Description
There is so much confusion within and without the church today as to the message of Christianity. In the sermon “Power … and the Resurrection,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the account of the early church’s first experience of persecution in Acts 4:29–33. In the passage, a group of people were gripped by not a mere experience but historical fact – the fact of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This series of events that the early church witnessed completely changed their lives and everything about them. In their hour of trial, they simply asked for more power to continue telling others of these events. In this modern time, when personal experience is valued above all else and facts are disregarded, Christians must follow the early church’s example and hold to historical facts. The fact is the Son of God has come into the world. He died, was buried, and was raised from the dead to save His people from their enemies, provide complete redemption, and ultimately prove He is who He said He is. He is coming again to judge all humanity.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostles were witnesses to the facts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
- The resurrection proves Jesus is the Son of God.
- The resurrection proves Jesus' death accomplished our salvation.
- The resurrection proves Jesus defeated all our enemies, including death.
- The resurrection proves our redemption will be complete, including new bodies.
- The resurrection proves Jesus will judge the world.
- The apostles preached these facts to save people from God's wrath.
Sermon Q&A
What Did Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Resurrection of Jesus?
What is the main focus of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Acts 4:33?
The main focus of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon is the apostles' witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in Acts 4:33: "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus." He emphasizes that the resurrection is the central fact of Christianity and the foundation upon which all Christian faith rests. The sermon explores why the apostles were so committed to preaching this truth with boldness and what the resurrection means for believers today.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe the facts of Christianity are so important?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones believes the facts of Christianity are crucial because genuine Christianity is based on historical events, not merely religious ideas or philosophies. He strongly refutes the modern notion that "the facts don't matter" as long as one gets the "religious value." He states: "If your experience doesn't result from the facts, it is not a Christian experience." The apostles preached "nothing but the facts" because these historical events—particularly Christ's resurrection—provide the only foundation for authentic Christian faith and experience.
What evidence does Dr. Lloyd-Jones present for the resurrection being literal and physical?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents several pieces of evidence for Christ's physical resurrection: 1. The empty tomb witnessed by the disciples 2. Jesus showing his wounds to Thomas, inviting him to touch them 3. Jesus eating food (broiled fish and honeycomb) to prove he wasn't a ghost 4. His ability to be touched while also having a glorified body 5. The apostles' transformation from dejected followers to bold witnesses 6. The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies 7. The fulfillment of Jesus' own predictions about his resurrection
According to the sermon, why is the resurrection essential to Christian faith?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the resurrection is essential to Christian faith for several reasons: 1. It proves who Jesus truly is—the Son of God 2. It confirms that his death accomplished everything he claimed (our justification) 3. It demonstrates his power to save us from all our enemies, including death 4. It guarantees the future redemption of our bodies 5. It establishes Jesus as the appointed judge of all mankind 6. Without it, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, "our preaching is vain and your faith is vain. You are yet in your sins."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the transformation of the apostles after the resurrection?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the apostles as utterly transformed by the resurrection. Before it, they were dejected, fearful, and without hope—like the two on the road to Emmaus who said, "We had hoped that it had been he which would have again restored the kingdom to Israel," or Peter who said "I go fishing" out of disappointment. After witnessing the resurrected Christ, they became bold, joyful witnesses willing to face threats and death rather than stop proclaiming what they had "seen and heard." This transformation is itself evidence for the truth of the resurrection.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the modern confusion regarding Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones laments the "great confusion" in his time regarding what Christianity truly is. He states that this confusion exists not just outside the church but "at its very worst, inside the Christian church." He criticizes those who reduce Christianity to merely a way of living or a philosophy while denying its supernatural elements. He particularly condemns scholars who claim "you can't believe" the biblical records but that "it doesn't matter" as long as you get the "religious value" of Jesus' teaching—calling such views dangerous and dishonest.
How does the resurrection relate to our bodies according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the resurrection proves that our redemption will be complete and entire—including our bodies. He explains that when man fell, his whole being fell, including his physical body (which he calls "the body of our humiliation" or "vile body" with "corruption in it"). Christ's bodily resurrection demonstrates that He will "change this, our vile body, that he may fashion it like unto his glorious body." Believers can look forward to "glorified bodies" that will be immortal and free from sin, allowing us to "spend our eternity with him in those glorified bodies."
What is the ultimate significance of the resurrection according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
The ultimate significance of the resurrection, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is that it reveals God's provision for our salvation and eternal destiny. It demonstrates that Jesus has conquered sin and death, providing the only way for humans to be reconciled to God and escape judgment. As he concludes: "The thing that he does that makes everything else pale into insignificance is this, that he saves my soul, that he is the way of my being reconciled to God. He is the answer to the wrath of God upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. That's why this is good news."
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.