The Gospel of God
A Sermon on Acts 5:20-29
Originally preached Feb. 20, 1966
Scripture
20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council …
Sermon Description
What is the message of the church and what gives the church any meaning in the modern world? This question arises because many say that Christianity and its message are irrelevant to modern humanity in this new age of science and enlightenment. In this sermon on Acts 5:20–29 titled “The Gospel of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the church is just as important as it has always been, for the church has one message: the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a timeless message that is for all people, in all places, and in all times. It is the one message that brings salvation from sins and true peace with God. The church is called to faithfully proclaim this message as it has received it from God Himself. It is not to change it by adding or taking away. God’s gospel calls all to flee from sin and find refuge in His Son, Jesus Christ. This sermon challenges each and every one to look at the gospel as God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, for Jesus alone saves.
Sermon Breakdown
- The church succeeded because it had a message from God.
- The message is unchanging because it comes from God. God does not change.
- The message is clearly defined. It is not vague or uncertain. It is contained in words.
- The message can be differentiated from false teachings. We know what the true message is.
- The message is comprehensive. It contains all the words of life, not just selected parts.
- No part of the message can be subtracted or added to. We must accept all of it.
- The message starts with creation and ends with final restoration. It explains man's need for salvation.
- The message was given in its completeness to the first apostles. There have been no additions since.
- The message is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of the message.
Sermon Q&A
What Was the Message of the Early Church According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What is the main focus of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on the character and nature of the gospel message that the early church proclaimed. He examines Acts 5:20 and 29, particularly the angel's command to the apostles to "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life" and Peter's response that "we ought to obey God rather than men." The sermon explores what this tells us about the message itself, its source, and its authority.
According to Lloyd-Jones, where does the gospel message come from?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the gospel is not a human invention or discovery, but comes directly from God. He states: "This is not a theory which has been worked out by men... This is not the discovery of men. This is not the result of human thought and meditation and discussion and dialogue." He contrasts this with modern approaches that view faith as a "quest" or "search for truth," insisting instead that the gospel is a divine revelation given to the apostles.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones characterize the nature of the gospel message?
He describes the gospel as: 1. Unchanging - because it comes from God who cannot change 2. Clearly defined - not vague or uncertain 3. Comprehensive - containing "all the words of this life" 4. Authoritative - requiring obedience over human opinions 5. Dogmatic - able to be distinguished from false teachings
What criticism does Lloyd-Jones make of modern approaches to Christianity?
Lloyd-Jones criticizes the modern emphasis on the "quest for faith" over faith itself. He specifically mentions an article by the Archbishop of Canterbury who suggested that "the quest for faith is even better than faith itself." Lloyd-Jones sees this as contrary to the apostolic understanding of the gospel as a definite, revealed message that must be proclaimed with certainty, not as an ongoing search for truth.
What does Lloyd-Jones mean by "all the words of this life"?
He argues that the gospel is comprehensive, covering the entire biblical narrative from creation to final judgment. It includes: - Creation and the origin of humanity - The fall of man and human sin - God's judgment upon sin - Redemption through Christ - The call of God and justification - Final judgment - The restoration of all things
He emphasizes that we cannot pick and choose parts of this message - it must be taken as a whole.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe the gospel message remains relevant today?
Lloyd-Jones argues that despite technological and scientific advances, human nature and human problems remain unchanged. He states: "Men were then victims of drink and sex and drugs. They still are. And they're in no better position to overcome these things now than they were then." The gospel that saved people in the first century is the same message that can save people today because the fundamental human condition hasn't changed.
What warning does Lloyd-Jones give about altering the gospel message?
He warns against both subtracting from the gospel (removing parts we find difficult) and adding to it (as he suggests the Roman Catholic Church has done). He states: "If you reject or subtract any part of it, you'll be in trouble with the whole of the rest of it" because "the whole of your gospel hangs together." He emphasizes that the complete message was delivered to the apostles once for all.
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.