A Gospel for Sinners
A Sermon on Acts 8:25
Scripture
25And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Sermon Description
Preaching this Christmas sermon titled “A Gospel for Sinners” from Acts 8:25, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the greatest message the world can hear is the gospel. The gospel tells of what Christ has done for humanity. It tells that God loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die in the place of sinners who deserved judgment and condemnation. This is not a message of sentimentalism and shallow love, but it is one that proclaims the great power of God in salvation. Only by a direct act of God can sinful people be made righteous and holy before God their creator and king but humanity scorns and mocks this message. They think that the belief in a messiah who dies on a cross is utter foolishness and stupidity. They see it as backwards and barbaric; that it is not rational for anyone to believe. But the gospel is not according to the world’s wisdom, as God’s ways are not human ways. All human pride and arrogance are destroyed by the message that they are fallen sinners, dead and unable to save themselves from the wrath they so justly deserve. In Christ all the wisdom of God is made manifest.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostles Peter and John preached the gospel in Samaritan villages after returning from Jerusalem.
- The gospel is good news that fills people with joy and the desire to share it.
- The gospel is the opposite of human wisdom and expectations. Jesus came in a way opposite of what was expected.
- The gospel is for the poor and humble, not the rich and powerful. Jesus spent time with the poor and humble.
- The gospel changes people completely. Peter and John were changed from wanting to destroy the Samaritans to wanting to save them.
- The gospel is all of God, not man. It shows man's helplessness and need for God.
- The gospel cares for the soul, not outward circumstances. Both villagers and townspeople have souls.
- The gospel offers hope to all people equally. Both the ignorant and the sophisticated need the gospel.
- The gospel is believed, not understood. One must come to God as a child, not relying on human wisdom.
- The gospel reconciles man to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
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.