Spiritual Blindness
A Sermon on Acts 5:33-42
Originally preached May 15, 1966
Scripture
33¶ When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the …
Sermon Description
Can one reject the gospel and still be a good person? Many, even in the church, would say that one can reject the message of Jesus Christ as Savior and still be good and virtuous. However, in this sermon from Acts 5:33–42 titled “Spiritual Blindness,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows just how wrong this notion really is. The book of Acts shows that all those who rejected the apostles rejected God Himself. Even Gamaliel ultimately rejects the message that the apostles proclaimed. Because the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way anyone can be saved, all who reject it make themselves enemies of God. What does this mean today? It means that all must believe in the gospel to be saved. It means that each and every one that has been confronted with the person and work of Jesus can reject this message and die in their sins, or they can believe and become children of God. One must ask: “Do I trust in Jesus or am I like so many that rest only in what I have done and in my goodness?” Only by believing in Jesus can anyone be saved. This is the message of the apostles and it must also be the message today.
Sermon Breakdown
- The gospel is something which is to be obeyed.
- The essence of sin is disobedience to God. Sin is breaking God's law and not conforming to the mold in which God made man.
- The gospel is a command from God as much as the ten commandments. God commands men to believe the gospel.
- The first command is to repent. Repentance means stopping and thinking again about your life, realizing you've rebelled against God, and confessing your sins.
- The second command is to believe the gospel. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, died for your sins, and rose again. Believe that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.
- Proof of obeying the gospel is turning from sin to God, confessing Christ, joining the church, being baptized, and desiring to know God's word.
- Not obeying the gospel is calling God a liar and rejecting His offer of salvation.
- Obeying the gospel brings forgiveness, new life, losing fear of death, strength, becoming a child of God, and hope of heaven.
Sermon Q&A
What Does It Mean to Obey the Gospel According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the essence of the sermon passage from Acts 5:29-32?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Acts 5:29-32 provides a perfect summary of the gospel message and its function. The essence of this passage is that Christianity is not merely a teaching, theory, idea, or point of view, but rather the reporting of historical facts and their significance. The apostles were witnesses of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension, and the Holy Spirit also bears witness to these things through His work in believers' lives. The passage concludes with the crucial statement that God has given the Holy Spirit "to them that obey Him," which becomes the focal point of Lloyd-Jones' sermon.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean when he says the gospel must be "obeyed"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the gospel is something that must be obeyed, not merely listened to, admired, or intellectually accepted. When Scripture speaks of "obeying" the gospel, it doesn't mean earning salvation through good works, but rather responding appropriately to God's command to believe in Jesus Christ. He cites multiple passages (Romans 1, Romans 6:17, Romans 10) where belief in the gospel is described as an act of obedience. This obedience involves allowing the gospel to completely transform and mold one's life, like molten metal being poured into a mold and taking its shape.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say that the essence of sin is disobedience?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the essence of sin is disobedience and rebellion against God, not merely committing certain wrong actions. Sin is breaking God's law and not conforming to the "mold" in which God made humans. He points out that many people don't think they're sinners because they haven't committed obvious sins like murder or adultery, but they fail to realize that living self-contained, self-satisfied lives without acknowledging God is also rebellion. Even seemingly respectable people who never acknowledge or thank God are rebelling against their Creator and breaking the mold in which they were made.
What are the specific ways we are commanded to obey the gospel according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, obeying the gospel involves:
- Repenting - stopping to think about your life, realizing you've ignored God, acknowledging your rebellion, and confessing your sin without defense
- Believing in Jesus Christ as God's Son and the only way of salvation
- Accepting justification by faith alone - coming to Christ "just as you are" without trying to improve yourself first
- Showing proof of your faith through a changed life - turning to God with all your heart, confessing Christ publicly, and becoming an active member of the church
- Continuing steadfastly in learning more about Christ and living to glorify God
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones warn is the consequence of not obeying the gospel?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that not obeying the gospel means making God a liar. He quotes 1 John 5:10, which states that "he that believeth not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son." When a person refuses to believe in Jesus as God's way of salvation, they are essentially calling God a liar and rejecting His greatest manifestation of love. The consequence is remaining under God's judgment rather than receiving forgiveness, new life, and the Holy Spirit.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the relationship between the Holy Spirit and obedience to the gospel?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey the gospel. He emphasizes that this isn't a reward for good behavior, but rather the natural outcome of believing in Christ. When a person truly believes in Jesus as Savior and Lord, God gives them the Holy Spirit, who becomes another witness to the truth of the gospel in their lives. The presence of the Holy Spirit provides assurance of forgiveness, new life, freedom from fear of death, and power for Christian living. This gift is exclusively given to those who have responded in faith to the gospel message.
What illustration does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use to explain how the gospel transforms a person?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the illustration of molten metal being poured into a mold. He explains that when a person believes the gospel, they are like molten metal poured into the mold of Christian doctrine. As they cool and solidify, they take on the form, appearance, size, and shape of that mold. This means their entire life is molded by, controlled by, and determined by the gospel teaching. A true Christian is someone whose entire life has been shaped and transformed by the gospel, not merely someone who admires or intellectually accepts Christian teaching.
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.