Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Pentecost: Key Questions and Answers

What is the main difference between Christianity and religion according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the main difference is that true Christianity is God's action toward humanity, not human action toward God. He explains: "Anything controlled by us, whether it's lifeless or lively, is not Christianity. Christianity is that which controls us, which masters us, which happens to us." He contrasts this with religion, which he describes as human-centered, formal, traditional, and often dead. The essence of Christianity is captured in the Pentecost event where "suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing, mighty wind" - demonstrating God's initiative and power, not human effort.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the God of Christianity versus the God of religion?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the God of Christianity is a living, personal, and acting God who reveals Himself, while the God of religion is often an "unknown God" - abstract, distant, and impersonal. He says: "The God of religion is always an unknown God... some kind of superstition." In contrast, the God of Christianity is "not some God in the distance, in the vagueness of impersonal religion. No, he's living, he's active. He's looking down upon the world which he's made, and he's concerned about it." He powerfully illustrates this with biblical examples including Moses at the burning bush, Jacob at Bethel, and Elijah on Mount Carmel.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the greatest tragedy in the world?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies "the confusion about Christianity, the confusion about the christian church. Her nature, her task and her message" as "beyond any comparison, the greatest tragedy of all." He argues that this misunderstanding keeps people from embracing true Christianity, saying: "I'm more and more convinced that the masses of people are outside the christian church because they've got a totally wrong conception of what she is." He believes that if people understood the true nature of Christianity, they would respond to it, just as the people did at Pentecost.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say we should study the book of Acts?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that we should study the book of Acts because it is "the authoritative account, the only account that we have of the beginning, the origin of the christian church." He emphasizes that we must return to this source to understand the true nature of Christianity rather than accepting human opinions or traditions. He states: "You and I don't decide what it is. How can we decide what it is? I know I can give my opinion. Anybody can give an opinion. But what's the value of the opinion?" By returning to Acts, we discover Christianity as God intended it to be.

What is the ultimate purpose of God's action in the world according to the sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the ultimate purpose of God's action in the world is salvation. He quotes Acts 2:21: "It shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." He explains: "It isn't in order that we may have a nice formal service and have dignity on great national occasions. No, it's that we might be saved." God acts in history, particularly through sending His Son and the Holy Spirit, to provide salvation for humanity who "need to be delivered" from sin. This salvation is miraculous, supernatural, and available to anyone who calls on the Lord.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones characterize true Christian experience?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones characterizes true Christian experience as supernatural, miraculous, and transformative. He says it is "entirely beyond understanding" and should produce astonishment: "If you can understand your religion, it's a proof it's not Christianity." True Christian experience involves a personal encounter with God: "Have you ever met him in any shape or form as Moses met him in the burning bush? As Jacob met him at peniel, as Elijah met him on Mount Carmel? Have you ever felt the touch of God upon your soul?" It results in transformation, like the disciples who went from being "weak, frightened, alarmed, helpless, useless" to becoming "mighty men of God."

What misconceptions about Christianity does Dr. Lloyd-Jones address in his sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses several misconceptions about Christianity: 1. That it's a state or official religion tied to ceremonial occasions 2. That it's primarily about tradition or duty 3. That it's just entertainment or "gimmicks" to make services lively 4. That it's only for certain types of people (intellectuals or the uneducated) 5. That it's about abstract philosophical concepts (God as "the ground of all being") 6. That it's something people arrive at through their own reasoning 7. That it's a middle-class movement not relevant to working-class people

He rejects all these as false understandings that miss the supernatural, God-initiated nature of true Christianity.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones claim that Christianity is for all people, not just certain types?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones claims Christianity is for all people because its message is universal - "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." He points out that true Christianity crosses all social and intellectual barriers: "You don't need to be a very clever man to be a Christian. The common people heard him gladly." He contrasts this with philosophical religion that requires intellectual sophistication, noting that historically Christianity hasn't primarily attracted the elite: "Not many mighty, not many noble, not many wise are called." He argues that when Christianity becomes "a middle class movement" that doesn't reach working-class people, something is fundamentally wrong with how it's being presented.