The God of Glory Visits Abraham
A Sermon on Acts 7:1-2
Originally preached Oct. 16, 1966
Scripture
1Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 2And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
Sermon Description
What is God’s plan for the Christian’s life? To what extent will the Christian follow God’s leading? These are hard questions that Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers as he studies God’s call on Abraham and the covenant He made. In this sermon from Acts 7:1–2 titled “The God of Glory Visits Abraham,” the listener hears how God demonstrates His ability to act in the world to accomplish His purposes and bring about His will for the world. God brought Abraham out of a pagan land that does not worship or serve Him and through this He makes a new people, the descendants of Abraham and all who would believe in God. Christianity is a religion concerning what God has done in time and history and what He continues doing. He actively works to bring about redemption of the whole world through the work of Christ on the cross. He is not like an idle deity of the pagan gods, but He is both able and willing to call and lead His people. He does all this in the world so that sinners may be saved from the judgement they deserve. The world does not know this peace or plan of salvation. The world seeks to enact nothing more than moral reform but God is working to bring about redemption of every aspect of reality by his Son, Christ Jesus. The listener is encouraged to look to God as the great Savior who works all things together, according to His sovereign plan.
Sermon Breakdown
- The world of man is in a fallen state. Men have rebelled against God and are worshipping idols.
- The world is under the judgment of God. God is allowing men to reap the consequences of their sin.
- God's relationship to the world is one of redemptive purpose. God appeared to Abraham to reveal His plan of redemption.
- God's redemptive purpose is entirely His initiative. God seeks men, not men seeking God.
- God's redemptive purpose is for His own glory. God will not allow the devil to triumph.
- God's redemptive purpose is both individual and cosmic. There is personal salvation now and cosmic redemption to come.
- The cosmic redemption is the renovation of the heavens and the earth. All of creation will be purged of sin and its effects.
- The hope of the gospel is the return of Christ to destroy His enemies, banish Satan, and usher in the new heavens and new earth.
Sermon Q&A
What Does the Sermon of Stephen Teach Us About God's Relationship to the World?
What is the significance of "The God of glory appeared to Abraham" in Stephen's sermon?
The phrase "The God of glory appeared to Abraham" represents the very essence of the gospel message. Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this statement shows that God takes the initiative in seeking humanity. It demonstrates that the gospel doesn't start with man but with God - specifically with God revealing Himself to people who were not seeking Him. Abraham was a pagan moon-worshipper in Mesopotamia when God appeared to him, showing that salvation begins with God's sovereign action rather than human spiritual evolution or discovery.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the current state of the world?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the current state of the world with its suffering, calamities, and moral decay is a result of humanity's fall and rebellion against God. He refutes the evolutionary view that suggests things are gradually improving, instead asserting that the world was originally perfect but degenerated after man's sin. The whole creation was subjected to "vanity" and now "groans and travails in pain" as Paul says in Romans 8. Natural disasters, diseases, and death are all consequences of mankind's original rebellion, with the world existing under God's judgment while still being under His control.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about God's relationship to this fallen world?
According to Lloyd-Jones, God's relationship to this fallen world is threefold: 1. God remains the maker, owner, sustainer, governor, and judge of the world 2. God allows His permissive will to operate through secondary causes (providence) 3. God has an active redemptive purpose for the world
Though the world is under judgment, God has not abandoned it. He intervenes in history, puts limits on evil, and most importantly, has initiated a plan for complete redemption that began with His appearance to Abraham.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the idea that religion evolved from primitive to advanced forms?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly refutes the theory of religious evolution that suggests humans began with primitive animism and gradually developed more sophisticated monotheistic beliefs. He calls this theory "an absolute lie" and states that the biblical account presents the opposite progression: humans began with a knowledge of the true God but fell away into various forms of paganism and polytheism. He emphasizes that it was God who sought Abraham (and humanity), not Abraham who discovered God through philosophical reasoning. The Bible consistently shows God taking the initiative - with Adam, Abraham, Jacob, John the Baptist, and ultimately through Christ.
What is God's ultimate redemptive purpose according to the sermon?
God's redemptive purpose has both individual and cosmic dimensions:
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Individual salvation: God can save individuals personally from sin and give them new life, regardless of the state of the world around them.
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Cosmic redemption: God will ultimately restore and renew the entire cosmos. Christ will return to destroy all evil, cast Satan into "the lake of perdition," and create "a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." This restored creation will have no more sorrow, sin, death, hunger, thirst, or calamities.
God's purpose is motivated both by His own glory (He will not allow the devil to triumph) and by His grace, mercy, compassion, and love toward His creation.
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.