The Divided Man
A Sermon on Acts 2:46-47
Originally preached April 11, 1965
Scripture
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be …
Sermon Description
What makes any person a Christian? Singleness of heart. Listen to the sermon “The Divided Man” as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones works from Acts 2:46–47 and explains how the early church manifested unity and singleness of heart because they each had been unified individually. The main effect of the gospel, when it is believed, is to simplify and unify the person. Only the Biblical view of humanity really explains the state of the world and the condition of humanity. The world is busy with its learning and understanding but there is one question all must face: “How can I stand before God and be just with Him?” The gospel simplifies the problem and the answer. All the problems in the universe have risen because humanity has lost the face of God. They are sinners under His condemnation. How does one face death? How do they stand with God? How are sins forgiven? The Christian is someone who sees the one problem that confronts everyone because they have been given the one answer. The Christian is no longer seeking; they are found. They are no longer swayed by different views, ideas, and schools of thought. They have found the answer to the one great question in this one blessed person. The answer is Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage under consideration is Acts 2:46-47. These verses describe the early church following Pentecost.
- The early church met daily in the temple and in homes, sharing meals together with gladness and singleness of heart.
- Singleness of heart refers to unity, shared purpose and devotion. The believers were of "one accord."
- This unity was possible because each believer had a single, devoted heart for Christ. Their lives were simplified and unified by the gospel.
- The gospel addresses the one great problem of the human soul and its relationship to God. It simplifies by showing that this relationship is the only thing that ultimately matters.
- The gospel answers this one great problem through Christ. He is the only way to be reconciled to God. Believers find rest in Christ, the end of restless seeking.
- In Christ, believers gain singleness of mind (a single guiding principle), singleness of heart (rest, peace, end of inner conflict) and singleness of will (the ambition to know and live for Christ).
- The world is characterized by distraction, restlessness and inner conflict due to divided allegiances and selfish ambition. The gospel offers unity, purpose and peace in Christ.
- We must examine ourselves to see if we have this singleness of mind, heart and will that comes from devotion to Christ. This is the one thing that is needed.
- We must stop rushing about in distraction and sit at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him, to gain this singleness of purpose and peace.
Sermon Q&A
What Does "Singleness of Heart" Mean in Christianity According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What does "singleness of heart" mean in the early church according to Acts 2:46-47?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the "singleness of heart" mentioned in Acts 2:46-47 refers to the remarkable unity among early Christians. These believers, despite their different backgrounds, temperaments, and upbringings, were "melted into one another." This unity wasn't merely organizational but represented a profound spiritual reality where people who would otherwise have nothing in common were bound together through their shared faith in Christ. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this unity was possible because "each one of them separately had got this single heart"—meaning their individual lives had been unified and simplified through Christ.
How does Christianity simplify life according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christianity simplifies life by introducing a unifying principle that brings order to our otherwise fragmented existence. Sin makes life complicated and divides it into sections, creating inner conflict. When a person believes the Gospel, this "element of singleness comes in" and life is made whole. Lloyd-Jones says: "The moment a man believes this Gospel, this element of singleness comes in... order is brought into the life. A principle is introduced which governs everything. Life is made a whole." This simplification occurs in the mind, heart, and will of the believer.
What is the "single eye" that Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount?
The "single eye" Jesus mentioned in Matthew 6 refers to having an undivided focus on what truly matters. Lloyd-Jones explains that it represents clarity of spiritual vision and purpose. He states: "If you want to know a single-eyed life, if you want this essential simplicity that characterizes Christianity, you start with the mind." When a person has a "single eye," they understand that nothing ultimately matters except their soul's relationship with God. This single focus eliminates distractions and complications, allowing the believer to see life clearly and pursue what truly matters.
How does Christianity unify a person's divided heart according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christianity unifies a person's divided heart by addressing the restlessness and inner conflict that sin creates. Without Christ, people are pulled in different directions by competing desires—wanting to serve God while also serving wealth (mammon). The Christian finds rest because Christ becomes the sole object of desire. Lloyd-Jones quotes Charles Wesley: "Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find." This single-hearted devotion to Christ ends the restless seeking after things that cannot satisfy. The believer finds complete satisfaction in Christ alone, regardless of external circumstances.
What happens to a person's will when they become a Christian?
When a person becomes a Christian, according to Lloyd-Jones, their will becomes simplified and focused on one supreme purpose. Before conversion, people have confused and competing motives and ambitions. After conversion, the believer has "one great desire"—to know Christ and live for His glory. Lloyd-Jones quotes Paul in Philippians 3:10: "That I might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings." This single ambition revolutionizes life by eliminating competing motivations. The Christian's prayer becomes "Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine," resulting in what Lloyd-Jones calls "singleness in the realm of the will."
Why does Lloyd-Jones say the world's problems stem from one fundamental issue?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones insists that all the world's problems stem from humanity's broken relationship with God. He states: "All the teeming problems in the universe tonight have arisen directly because man has lost the face of God and is a sinner in his sight and is under condemnation." While he acknowledges the necessity of political action and governance to maintain order, he argues these were "ordained by God to keep the problem within limits" but not to solve it. Only the Gospel addresses the root cause. Lloyd-Jones boldly claims: "If men was only right with God, you wouldn't need any one of them [social services]. All the problems would be solved."
How does Lloyd-Jones contrast the Christian and non-Christian approach to life's complexities?
Lloyd-Jones contrasts Christians and non-Christians by describing how they approach life's complexities. Non-Christians are like Martha in the Bible—"cumbered, distracted, rushing about, fussing and missing everything." They examine problems piecemeal, creating committees and subcommittees, "investigating, examining, and never arriving even at an understanding of the problem." In contrast, Christians have found the central issue (their relationship with God) and its solution (Christ). Lloyd-Jones says: "The Christian is a man who's no longer seeking. He's a man who's found." This discovery brings clarity, purpose, and rest in all circumstances of life.
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.