The Christian's Way of Life
A Sermon on Romans 8:3-4
Scripture
3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not …
Sermon Description
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on Romans 8:3–4, the Christian life is about trusting in God. Salvation comes not through works, but as a free gift in Christ Jesus. All attempts to seek God on one’s own are doomed to fail for it is God that reveals Himself and gives the gospel. What is the gospel? It is the message that Christ has died for sinners in order that they would not have to suffer for their own sin. For under the law, there is condemnation but Jesus died in order to fulfil the law. Christians are to live now in the power of Christ and seek holiness and righteousness. Yet, the Bible never says that humanity will be completely free from sin in this life. Nevertheless, Christians are still free from the power of the flesh and sin. By trusting in Jesus, they are made right with God and though they sin, their hope remains in Christ and not themselves. Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches the most important message because it concerns the eternal destiny of everyone: “do you believe in Jesus?”
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is describing all Christians, not just some Christians who have chosen to go further in their faith. There is no indication in the passage of two types of Christians.
- To "walk after the flesh" means to have an outlook and attitude opposed to God's way of salvation through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It refers to trying to be righteous through one's own efforts.
- To "walk after the Spirit" means to be led and guided by the Holy Spirit. It refers to having a new life in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Paul adds this description to show how the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us through the work of the Spirit.
- Paul adds this description to show the certainty of salvation for those in Christ. Christians have assurance because they are no longer under condemnation but are made righteous through Christ and sanctified by the Spirit.
- This description provides a test for Christians to examine themselves. True belief in Christ results in a changed life as evidence that one is walking after the Spirit, not just an intellectual belief.
The Book of Romans
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.