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Sermon #2065

The God Who Reveals Himself

A Sermon on Acts 7:2

Originally preached Oct. 23, 1966

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Scripture

Acts 7:2 ESV KJV
And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, (ESV)

Sermon Description

How is God at work today? In this sermon on Acts 7:2 titled “The God Who Reveals Himself,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones begins by showing how throughout the Bible God revealed Himself through His actions and words. This begins in the Old Testament with the law and the prophets where God revealed His nature and will to the Jews. Now He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. The Messiah was sent into the world to accomplish the Father’s will and all that was foretold in the prophets and the book of the law. Jesus Christ came to pay the ransom for sin and provide the only way to be reconciled to God. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes, this is the outworking of God’s great plan of redemption proclaimed in the Old Testament. Not only does Jesus come to save the lost, but in His work God is seen more fully. This is how God is known, not through philosophical reflection but through his Son, God incarnate. Without God’s revelation, humanity would never be able to know Him as He is. God has come into His creation and He took a human nature upon Himself. He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life and died a horrific death, but then rose from the grave and is alive today. This is God in human flesh. He is the one who came into the world to save sinners and to reveal Himself to those who are blind.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. Stephen gives a review of Jewish history to show the Sanhedrin their error and misinterpretation.
  2. Stephen starts with Abraham to show God has always worked outside of Jerusalem and the temple.
  3. Stephen emphasizes God appeared to Abraham before he lived in Haran to show God is not confined to any place.
  4. Stephen shows the Sanhedrin have misunderstood the nature, intent and purpose of the law and temple worship.
  5. The gospel is not just Jesus’ teaching but God’s actions and work in history.
  6. The Bible is primarily a history book, recording events that literally happened.
  7. The early church incorporated the Old Testament to show the same God works in both.
  8. People reject the gospel today for the same reasons as in the Bible: prejudice, false ideas of religion and misunderstanding Christianity.
  9. People think they are alright without the gospel or already have it but are still unclear on vital matters.
  10. People trust in their own religion, practices and good works instead of realizing their need for Christ.
  11. We must start with a general view of the whole gospel before particulars to gain clarity.
  12. The gospel is not just for today but interested in all of history and life. We must consider the whole.
  13. The gospel addresses all of life: where we came from, the world, universe, time, history and final questions.
  14. The modern man thinks the world began with him but must realize he is part of history and all others.
  15. Western civilization comes from the Bible; we cannot understand it or the modern world without the gospel.
  16. The gospel starts with God, not man. Anthropology should not replace theology.
  17. God is personal, living, and unlike pagan gods. He is not an idea or creation of philosophy.
  18. God is incomprehensible, immortal, invisible, and unapproachable in his glory. No one has seen or can see him.
  19. Reason and understanding have limits. The world cannot know God through wisdom. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.
  20. Our only hope is for God to reveal himself. He has through creation, nature, history, acts, words, prophecy, chosen men, Jesus.
  21. God revealed himself to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, and others giving glimpses of his glory.
  22. God revealed himself as personal, the great “I Am,” righteous, just, the judge, and through providence and miracles.
  23. Have you met this God? There is an invariable reaction: fear, reverence, awe, repentance, realizing our unworthiness.
  24. Finally, God revealed himself in Jesus, the only begotten Son, the glory of God in the face of Christ. He is our only hope.
  25. We can hide in the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ, who was cleft for us. We must cry out to him in our despair.

Sermon Q&A

What Were the Main Charges Against Stephen in the Book of Acts?

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon, Stephen faced several specific charges when he appeared before the Sanhedrin:

  1. Speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God
  2. Speaking blasphemous words against the holy place (the temple)
  3. Speaking against the law
  4. Claiming that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the temple
  5. Claiming Jesus would change the customs which Moses delivered

Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes: "They subned men which said, 'We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.' And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes and came upon him and caught him and brought him to the council and set up false witnesses, which said, 'This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.'"

Why Did Stephen Focus on Jewish History in His Defense Speech?

Stephen's defense strategy focused on Jewish history for several important reasons:

  1. To correct misinterpretation: "He does it not because they didn't know the facts, but because they'd completely misunderstood them, because they'd entirely misinterpreted them."

  2. To provide context: "Stephen, you see, doesn't take up these particular points and answer them directly and immediately... Back he goes and paints on this big canvas, gives them a review of the whole of history, and then comes to his application."

  3. To show continuity of God's plan: Stephen demonstrated that the Old Testament history pointed toward and prepared for the coming of Christ.

  4. To demonstrate their pattern of resistance: He showed how throughout history, the people had resisted God's messengers, and they were now doing the same with Jesus.

  5. To establish God's transcendence: "The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Karen" - demonstrating God is not confined to temple or place.

What Does Lloyd-Jones Mean by "The God of Glory"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores the profound meaning behind Stephen's opening phrase "The God of glory":

  1. Transcendence: "What it means above everything else is this. That God is one who is all together above the world and above man."

  2. Unapproachable majesty: "The glory of the one who dwells in a light which is unapproachable, whom no man hath ever seen or can see."

  3. Beyond human comprehension: "The God of glory is one who is entirely beyond men's mind and reason, entirely beyond men's searching."

  4. Personal being: "He's a personal God. He's the God who said to Moses, 'I am, that I am'... Not the ground of the universe or the ground of being. Not love as an idea, but a personal God, a living God."

  5. Holy and righteous: "A God of holiness, a God of righteousness, a God of justice."

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that encountering this God of glory produces awe and reverence: "When you come anywhere near him, you feel, how dreadful is this place."

Why Does Lloyd-Jones Emphasize the Historical Nature of Christianity?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly emphasizes that Christianity is historical, not merely philosophical:

  1. Events, not just ideas: "This christian message is not just a teaching of ideas... The saving element in this gospel is not in our Lord's ethical, moral teaching, but it is very definitely in this history."

  2. Facts over philosophy: "This is a book of history. This is a book recording events, things that have literally taken place."

  3. Concrete reality: Regarding communion, he notes: "It's history, ordinary, if you like. Cutting bread, breaking bread, pouring out wine. Yes, but it happened, you see, he did it. This isn't an idea."

  4. Understanding the whole: "If you haven't started with this idea that it is what has happened, what has taken place, the events that make this message, you haven't begun to understand Christianity."

  5. Old and New Testament unity: "You cannot hope to understand your New Testament except in the light of the Old Testament... The God who acted in the old is the same God who acts in the new."

How Should Modern People Respond to the God of Glory According to Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that the proper response to encountering the God of glory includes:

  1. Humility and awe: "I am vile, I am unclean, I am undone. They repent in dust and ashes."

  2. Recognition of our limitations: "The first thing we have to realize is the limit to reason and the limit to our understanding."

  3. Acknowledging our need: "That's the thing for you to face. You've talked about God... Have you reached the point of putting your hand upon your mouth? Have you repented in dust and ashes?"

  4. Turning to Christ: "If you've had any glimpse of the God of glory, you will realize that your only hope is in the rock of ages. The Son of God crest for you."

  5. Seeking refuge in Christ: "Have you ever pled with him? 'Let me hide myself in thee.' He is ready and willing and waiting to receive all who cry out unto him in penitence and contrition, and in the depth of their human despair."

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.