Sanctification in Romans 6 to 8
A Sermon on Sanctification
Scripture
Sermon Description
What is the believer’s relationship to sin? In this sermon on sanctification, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this topic, saying “It is impossible for a Christian to remain in continual sin due to sanctification.” This is a freeing truth. From the moment of conversion, the Spirit of Life dwells in the believer, and they cannot be subject to the carnal. Moreover, this is a promise for all Christians, not just a blessing that some receive and others don’t. And yet, the struggle against sin is still a daily battle for followers of Christ. To help the listener better understand, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that from the moment of salvation, Christians are dead to sin since they have been united with Christ and His life. The Christian spirit is alive to Christ, yet their bodies are still under the bondage and dominion of sin. For those who are discouraged that they will not be able to fight sin, Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers some encouraging wisdom, imploring the believer to go to Scripture and remember the Lord’s promise to be with those who seek Him. Christians are called to fight sin, and with the help of the Holy Spirit living in each believer, they can overcome it.
Sermon Breakdown
- The method of sanctification is through the truth of God's word.
- The whole truth of scripture ministers to our sanctification.
- Key passages on sanctification are Romans 6-8.
- Paul wrote Romans 6-8 to refute the idea that salvation by grace means we can continue sinning.
- The theme of Romans 6-8 is that justification and sanctification cannot be separated.
- Romans 6 summarizes the argument, Romans 7-8 provide more detail.
- Romans 8 describes all Christians, not just some. All Christians have the Spirit.
- Our union with Christ means we are dead to sin and alive to God.
- We are not only dead to the law, but also dead to sin. Sin no longer rules over us.
- We have died and been buried with Christ, and risen with Him to new life.
- Christ's life is now our life. We are alive to God.
- This does not mean we are sinless now, but that our spirits are redeemed from sin. Our bodies still struggle with sin.
- Our bodies are still subject to sin and dominated by sin, though our spirits are redeemed.
- We are waiting for the redemption of our bodies. Our full salvation includes our bodies.
- We are not left struggling hopelessly against sin. Christ's Spirit is working in us.
- God works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose.
- The Spirit leads us into truth, which sanctifies us. The truth includes our position in Christ and the hope of bodily redemption.
- We are to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God, and not let sin rule our bodies.
- Sanctification is progressive, not complete in this life. We still battle sin in our bodies.
- The day is coming when we will be free from sin in body and spirit. We will be like Christ.
- While we wait, we purify ourselves in hope, keeping our bodies under control.
- We reject the ideas that we can be entirely free of sin in this life, or that we just need a "counteraction."
- All Christians are in Romans 8, with the Spirit, though our bodies still struggle with sin.
- Sanctification means growing in understanding and mastery of the sin in our bodies.
Great Biblical Doctrines
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.