The World that Wants Peace
A Sermon on Acts 4:31-35
Originally preached Dec. 19, 1965
Scripture
31¶ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: …
Sermon Description
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.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon opens by introducing Acts 4:31-35 which describes the early Christian church. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that this passage provides a picture of what true Christianity should look like.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones acknowledges that the world is currently in a state of trouble and confusion. He argues that the Bible provides the only solution and answers for the world's problems.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the events of Pentecost led to the apostles preaching the gospel with power. This preaching brought the early church into being. The church was formed as a result of the apostles' witness and testimony about Jesus.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlights that the early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer. They met in each other's homes, shared meals together, and praised God. This exemplifies what the true church should be.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws attention to Acts 4:32 which states that the believers were one in heart and soul. No one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but they shared everything in common. This demonstrates the unity, generosity, and fellowship that should characterize the church.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that this type of fellowship and community could only be produced by the gospel. Nothing else has the power to create such a state. This fellowship proves the truth of the gospel.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks why the world lacks peace and unity. He argues that the fundamental problem is mankind's broken relationship with God. As long as people are wicked and sinful, there can be no peace. Peace is impossible apart from righteousness.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the world's attempts at creating peace inevitably fail because they never address mankind's root problem - sin and separation from God. They adopt superficial solutions and believe peace can be achieved through human reasoning and effort alone.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that peace is never something that can be directly pursued or achieved. Rather, it is a byproduct of righteousness. Righteousness is the root that produces peace. The world is trying in vain to sow peace rather than righteousness.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims that only Christ can give true peace and fellowship. Christ came to bring peace through His death and resurrection. He reconciles us to God and gives us new hearts and natures that make peace possible. The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of peace in believers' lives.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that once people are born again, they are united in Christ. They see themselves, others, and the world differently. They recognize that any good in themselves or others is due solely to the grace of God. This removes pride and brings unity.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that believers see this world as temporary and passing. They are journeying to an eternal inheritance. This eternal perspective brings unity and generosity. They share a common purpose and destiny.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by urging the world to listen to the message of Christmas - the good news of peace and goodwill. This is the song the angels sang at Christ's birth. Believers should join in singing this song and spreading this message of hope.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Christian Fellowship
What is the fundamental cause of the world's lack of peace according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the fundamental cause of the world's lack of peace is man's wrong relationship with God. He states, "All men's troubles are due to his wrong relationship with God. That's the trouble and it's the whole of the trouble." He explains that man was created to be God-centered but has become self-centered instead, which has led to all the strife, war, and division in the world. The prophet Isaiah's words summarize this view: "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish between the early church community and communism?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes a clear distinction between the early church community described in Acts 4 and communism. He points out that the sharing of goods in the early church was "entirely voluntary," whereas communism operates through force and compulsion. He says, "Communism imposes an equality. Here there is a voluntary equality, a rejoicing in doing it not done in a spirit of fear and terror. Not because you've got secret police that are watching you and you have no choice in the matter." The early church's sharing came from joy and love, not from governmental force.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe world peace efforts inevitably fail?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones believes world peace efforts inevitably fail because they are "tragically superficial" and only treat the symptoms rather than the root cause. He argues that these efforts are based on the assumption that peace is merely a problem for the mind that can be solved through reason and education. However, he insists that "the whole trouble with men ultimately is in his heart," not in his mind. Peace efforts also fail because they approach peace directly rather than understanding it as a byproduct of righteousness.
What is the relationship between righteousness and peace in Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that peace is always a byproduct of righteousness. He quotes James to show that "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace." He explains, "Peace is always the result of righteousness. Purity, holiness, right relationship to God and obedience to his holy laws and commands." He also refers to the Psalms, saying "righteousness and peace have kissed each other" in the person of Jesus Christ, who is both the "Prince of Peace" and the "King of Righteousness."
How does Christ bring about peace according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Christ brings about peace not merely through His teaching but primarily through His death and resurrection. He states, "He makes peace through the blood of his cross." Christ reconciles people to God by dealing with their guilt and sin, which is the root cause of all strife. Additionally, Christ gives believers a new heart and nature through the new birth, and He gives the Holy Spirit who produces fruit such as "love, joy, peace, long suffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" - the very qualities needed for true peace.
What transformation occurs in individuals who become Christians according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when people become Christians, they experience a complete transformation in how they view themselves, others, and life itself. They see themselves with humility rather than pride, recognizing their sinfulness. They view others differently, seeing that "we're all fools together" rather than feeling superior. They understand that life is not about accumulating possessions but about being "pilgrims of eternity." This shared perspective creates unity: "The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the fruit of the Spirit, and why is it important?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the fruit of the Spirit by quoting Galatians 5, saying "the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." He emphasizes that this is what the world truly needs - not "instruction, not enlightenment, not education, not conferences" but a fundamental change of nature that produces these qualities. The fruit of the Spirit is important because it creates the very peace and fellowship that human efforts cannot achieve.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the proper Christian view of possessions and wealth?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that a proper Christian view sees possessions as temporary and not ultimately important. He points out that the early Christians "neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common." Christians understand that "this life is but a journey" and "we are all but strangers and pilgrims," so hoarding wealth makes no sense. He asks rhetorically, "Why should I hold up my wealth? Why should I have all and the other man nothing?" Christians see possessions in light of eternity.
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.