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Sermon #2101

A New Life

A Sermon on Acts 8:5-12

Originally preached Nov. 5, 1967

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Scripture

Acts 8:5-12 ESV KJV
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came …

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Sermon Description

Will this world ever get better? In the sermon “A New Life,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones brings the hard reality from God’s word in Acts 8:5–12 that the entire world lies in darkness and under the control of the evil one. This is because the original man, Adam, was deceived and fell into sin. This fall has poured throughout every aspect of creation. This is why the world of today is as it is, filled with sin and suffering. As a result of this sin, humanity is blinded and spiritually dead. It is unable to hear and believe the good news of the gospel. This is why the only way one can be saved is through the regenerating grace of God in the Holy Spirit. This is a miraculous work by which God gives new life to dead sinners who hate and reject Him. This is the greatness of the gospel; it is something God does for those who are not even able to hear the good news without grace. By their very nature, all people know of the need for salvation. They know that they will continue to live once this life has ended. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that while eternal life is offered to all who believe, all who reject Jesus Christ have no hope in eternity.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins by establishing the importance and seriousness of understanding the true Christian message due to the confusion surrounding it.
  2. The message of Christianity is the only message that provides hope and deals with eternity.
  3. The sermon will examine the spread of the early Christian message by looking at Acts 8:4-5, 12.
  4. The message being preached was about the kingdom of God, God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
  5. Philip preached Christ, meaning the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  6. The world hates the truth and crucified Jesus, showing its evil nature.
  7. Man's sinful nature is described, being spiritually dead, with a darkened mind and heart filled with evil desires.
  8. Forgiveness of sins is essential but Christianity does not stop there. It also changes human nature.
  9. Regeneration, being born again, gives one a new nature, mind, heart, will, and desires. It is a miracle of God.
  10. The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers believers, and Jesus sympathizes with and helps them.
  11. Christians have access to God through faith in Christ.
  12. The message Philip preached brought joy. The gospel is the power of God for salvation for all who believe.

Sermon Q&A

What Were the Key Elements of the Early Christian Message According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines the true message of Christianity through the lens of Acts 8:4-5,12. His sermon addresses the confusion about the Christian gospel in modern times and explains what was preached by the early church.

What was the context of the early Christian message as described in Acts 8?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the message of Christianity started in Jerusalem but began to spread when persecution arose. He notes, "A great persecution arose. The authorities hated it. They hated Christ and they hated its followers. And they began persecuting them in the most desperately cruel manner." This persecution led to believers being "scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria," and as they scattered, "these people went everywhere preaching the word." Philip, specifically, "went down to Samaria and there we are told that he preached Christ to them."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the background problem that necessitates the Christian message?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the background problem is the fallen state of the world: "This old world in which you and I are living is a world that has always hated the truth. It crucified the very son of God." He describes how God made the world perfect but "certain angels that had been created by God also rebelled against him... And their one object is to ruin God's creation." This rebellion led to humanity's fall, and all the problems we experience today stem from this ancient reality.

What are the two essential components of the Christian message according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Christian message has two essential components:

  1. Forgiveness of sins: "Our first need, you see, is the need of forgiveness of sins. That is our first need. Every one of us, we've all sinned and come short of the glory of God." This forgiveness comes through Christ's death on the cross.

  2. Regeneration/new nature: "But if this message stopped only at forgiveness and pardon of sins, it would leave us as we are, as regards our natures... A salvation that only gives me pardon and forgiveness and leaves me at debt is an incomplete salvation." The Christian message includes being "born again" and receiving a new nature.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the natural state of humanity?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides a stark assessment of humanity's natural condition:

  • "As regards our very spirits, we are dead in trespasses and in sin"
  • "The natural mind is enmity against God"
  • "Understanding darkened. What understanding has men got of himself and of life in this world?"
  • "Disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures"
  • "Untruthful, dishonest, ready to steal, filthy communications"
  • "All bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking and all malice"

He emphasizes that this is the honest truth about all humanity: "We are born rebels. We are born hatred. We are born vile."

What is regeneration and how does it work according to the sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains regeneration as "the act of God" where He "makes us anew." It is:

  • A new creation: "The God who made the world and made men at the beginning in Christ makes us anew."
  • The work of the Holy Spirit: "He operates in the soul by the Holy Spirit."
  • A miraculous transformation: "It's a miracle. It's the original creator taking hold of me, making me anew, putting a new principle of life into me."

The results include: - "A new mind" that understands spiritual things - "A new heart" that loves God instead of having enmity toward Him - "A new will" with new desires and hopes - The indwelling of the Holy Spirit: "Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost that dwelleth in you."

Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes that true Christianity is not just about forgiveness but about this transformative power: "A man is not a Christian unless he knows the truth of this and knows something about the power of this."

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.