Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers: Light of the World

What does Jesus mean when He says "I am the light of the world"?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Jesus makes an exclusive claim in John 8:12 that He alone is the light of the world. This means He is not just one of many lights or possibilities, but the only true light. It's an exclusive claim that there is no light apart from Him. Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes, "I, and I alone, am the light of the world. That's his claim. Not only that he has the light to give us but that there is no light apart from him." Christianity is not one religion among many but the only true path to God.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as humanity's fundamental need?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies that humanity's fundamental need is to know God: "You see, our fundamental need is the need to know God. This is God's world. It was made by God and God made everything in the world in such a way that it rarely cannot function truly and properly apart from him." He explains that humans were designed to live in relationship with God, and like the psalmist observed, everything in nature follows its proper order except humanity, which contradicts the law of its own being when living apart from God.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the "darkness" that Jesus speaks of?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that darkness exists both outside and inside us. The external darkness is "the way of the world, the kind of life that is being lived by men and women apart from God." It's an atmosphere controlled by evil spiritual forces - "the prince of the power of the air." This darkness leads to a life of shame, ugliness, and unfruitfulness. The internal darkness is the evil bias within human nature that inclines us toward sin: "There is that in everybody born into this world which loves the darkness and hates the light instead of loving the light and hating the darkness." This internal darkness creates a chaos within us where our minds may know what's right but our desires pull us toward what's wrong.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say education and moral codes cannot solve humanity's problem?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that education, moral codes, and social improvements cannot solve humanity's fundamental problem because they don't address the darkness within. He states: "Education is an excellent thing, but it doesn't help you here. You can be the most educated men in the country and be dissolute and immoral and the creature of your own lusts and passions." The problem isn't lack of knowledge - people already know when they're doing wrong but lack the power to stop. Social improvements like better housing can't change human nature: "You can put a man into a new house, but you won't make a new men of him." These external solutions can't change the internal problem of darkness within the human heart.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "the light of life"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "the light of life" means Jesus doesn't merely shine light outside us but puts light inside us by giving us new life. It's not about following a moral code or imitating Christ's example in our own strength. Rather, it's about God's regenerating work in us: "It is something that God does to you. It is something that God does in your soul in the very depths of your being." This new life gives us a new disposition, new desires, and new power. "This new principle of life that is put within us gives us a new disposition and that's our fundamental need. It gives us a new attitude to everything." Unlike external solutions that try to change environment to change people, the gospel changes people from within, who then change their environment.