Captain of Our Salvation
A Sermon on John 2:23-25
Originally preached Dec. 26, 1965
Scripture
23¶ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25And needed not that any …
Sermon Description
What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian’s salvation? The theme of Jesus as God’s appointed Savior is found throughout the Gospel of John. In this sermon from John 2:23–25 titled “Captain of Our Salvation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on this great doctrine and its significance for all. The biblical message of salvation is the proclamation that God has acted in Jesus Christ to redeem His people from sin and bondage. It is wholly a work of grace that cannot be improved on or added to; it cannot be made more perfect than it is. Jesus alone saves. Any desire to add to the work of Christ distorts the gospel and denies Jesus as the sole savior of the world. What does this message mean for humanity? First and foremost, it is a call to repent and believe in Jesus. Sinners should not go another day without trusting in the compassion and love of God. For those that already believe, they must seek to live in the power of Christ and reject all efforts of self-justification. Jesus is the captain of their salvation because He is the only one that can save from sin, death, and the judgment of God.
Sermon Breakdown
- Jesus examines and inspects people as they come to him. He does not commit himself to everyone. He knows all men and what is in them.
- Jesus is the captain of our salvation. He examines us when we enlist and continues to inspect us as we serve. There are special times of inspection like the end of the year.
- The important thing is to realize the truth about Jesus as the inspector. He knows all and needs no one to testify about men. He sees and knows everything.
- Jesus has a discerning eye that cannot be misled. He did not commit himself to some who believed in him in Jerusalem. He will tell some "I never knew you" though they did works in his name. He saw the rich young ruler lacked one thing.
- Jesus has a searching eye. He sees the inward parts, not just the outward. He sees the thoughts and intents of the heart. Nothing can be hidden from him.
- Jesus has a chiding eye. He may chide us like he did Peter. He knows us and sees when we fail and deny him. But there is hope in his look like with Peter.
- Jesus has a piteous eye. He sees our affliction and has compassion. He sees us as sheep without a shepherd. He is moved by suffering and acts to relieve it. His piteous eye is why he came and went to the cross.
- Jesus' inspection can have surprising results. Some who think they will be accepted are not, and some who think they will be rejected are accepted. He will say to some "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you."
- We should ask how we feel under Jesus' inspection. If condemned, repent and abide in him. If poor and wretched, buy from him gold and white raiment. Always remember we walk under his eye.
- How do we feel anticipating the final inspection? Some will hide in fear. But for believers, we will see him face to face and be like him. We can say "I shall behold his face, I shall his power adore, and sing the wonders of his grace forevermore."
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on John 2:23-25
What is the significance of Jesus not committing Himself to those who believed in His name in John 2:23-25?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this passage reveals a foundational principle about salvation - what truly matters is whether Jesus commits Himself to us, not just our belief in Him. The text shows that though many people appeared to believe in Jesus when they saw His miracles, He "did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men." This demonstrates that our desire to follow Jesus alone is not sufficient; what matters is His acceptance of us. As Lloyd-Jones explains, "You can't just walk in and out whenever you like. This is such a tremendous thing that as you come to him, he looks at you, he inspects you and he examines you, and it is his prerogative and his right as the captain of salvation to accept or to reject according to his holy will."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe Jesus' role as the "Captain of our salvation"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes Jesus as the "Captain of our salvation" (referencing Hebrews 2) who inspects and examines His followers at different stages. He identifies three main aspects of this inspection: "He inspects us as we join. He continues to inspect us while we are serving and especially so on certain special occasions. And there is to be a final inspection." Lloyd-Jones compares this to a military captain reviewing his troops, suggesting that Jesus continually examines believers throughout their Christian life, with special moments of inspection (like the end of a year), and ultimately a final review.
What characteristics of Jesus' examining eye does Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlight in his sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several characteristics of Jesus' examining eye: 1. A discerning eye that cannot be misled - "He has a very discerning eye. He doesn't commit himself to them. He does commit himself to others. He knows. He sees." 2. A searching eye that sees beyond the surface - "God seeth the heart, doesn't merely see the external appearance." 3. A chiding eye that combines condemnation with pity - illustrated through Peter's denial. 4. A piteous eye full of compassion - "He hath with a piteous eye looked upon our misery." 5. A surprising eye that often reverses our own judgments of ourselves - demonstrated in the parable of the sheep and goats.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about self-examination versus Christ's examination of us?
Lloyd-Jones acknowledges that self-examination is important, saying "The scriptures exhort us to examine ourselves and it is very right and proper that we should do so, and we should be constantly doing so." However, he emphasizes that "much more important than our self examination is the realization that he inspects us and looks upon us and examines us and we have no choice in this matter." He categorizes Christians into "two main groups, those who never examine themselves at all and those who do nothing but examine themselves and keep themselves in a perpetual state of misery." Lloyd-Jones teaches that both need different aspects of Christ's examination - some need to be made aware of their spiritual condition, while others need comfort from their excessive self-scrutiny.
How should Christians respond to Christ's examination according to this sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Christians should: 1. Remember we're always under His gaze - "his eye is always upon us. Always. Wherever we are, whatever we do, whatever we think or say." 2. Acknowledge failings and repent - "Just to acknowledge it, and just to repent, if necessary. Weep as Peter wept of old." 3. Trust His compassionate understanding - "He knows your heart. He knows that though you may have failed him, you didn't want to." 4. Abide in Him - "Repent, acknowledge it all, confess it all. Then abide in him. Go on serving him truly." 5. Live in anticipation of the final inspection - "Walking in your captain's sight and watching unto prayer." 6. Look forward to seeing Him face to face - "We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is."
The Book of John
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.