Christ Committed to You?
A Sermon on John 2:23-25
Originally preached Dec. 12, 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
Has Christ committed himself to you? Do you have a relationship with Christ? In this sermon on John 2:23-25 titled “Christ committed to you,” Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers this question and explains what it means to have Christ committed to you and to have a relationship with Christ. He explains that salvation is not one sided, but it is a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Additionally, we cannot decide to take salvation or any part of it whenever we like. Salvation depends on Christ and is not simply our decision. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that the vital thing in salvation is whether Christ will commit Himself to us. So how do we know that He has committed Himself to us? None but his loved ones know. If we examine our relationship with him, then we can tell if he has received us. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that if you are resting on some experience in the past that you think may have given you salvation, and you are constantly questioning your faith, then Christ has likely not received you. If you have spiritual understanding, are amazed at yourself, have rest and peace, a sense that you have been ‘dealt with’, and have a hunger and thirst for Christ, then he has committed Himself to you and you have a relationship with Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- Salvation is a relationship with Jesus, not just accepting doctrine.
- We cannot decide to take salvation whenever we like. It is not something we can take, it is given by Jesus.
- The vital matter is whether Jesus commits himself to us, not just our belief in him. We are dependent on him.
- There is a secret element in salvation. Some receive it, some don't, for reasons not fully known. But those who receive it know they have received it.
- We can know if Jesus has committed himself to us. It is not just an external or surface level commitment.
- Those Jesus does not receive rest on their own decision, constantly reassure themselves, or look to a past experience. They do not have a present, vital relationship with Jesus.
- Those Jesus receives are surprised at themselves, amazed at God's grace to them. They feel unworthy and filled with gratitude.
- They gain spiritual understanding, perceiving spiritual truths. They think spiritually, not just intellectually.
- They have a sense of rest and peace. They are not striving or seeking to prove themselves. They have assurance of their salvation.
- They have a sense of being dealt with by God, of his active work in their lives. Their lives are guided and directed by him in an ongoing way.
- God surprises them with visitations, intimations of his love and care. Their walk with him is not stagnant but progressive.
- They have an increasing hunger for God, enjoyment of spiritual things, desire to please God, and love for other believers.
- The Holy Spirit bears witness with their spirit that they are God's children. This is the highest evidence of all.
Sermon Q&A
Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Jesus Committing Himself to Believers
What does it mean when John 2:23-25 says Jesus did not commit Himself to those who believed?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, this passage reveals a profound truth: "Though they appear to believe in him, he will not commit himself to them. He doesn't believe in them, if you like." This shows that not everyone who professes belief in Jesus is received by Him. The people at the Jerusalem feast believed in Jesus when they saw His miracles, but their belief was superficial and only based on signs, not a true recognition of who He was as Savior.
Why does Lloyd-Jones say salvation is fundamentally a relationship rather than a creed?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "salvation, after all, is a relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ himself." One of our greatest dangers is "to forget that after all, salvation is a matter of our personal relationship to him and not merely an acceptance of a creed or of correct teaching." While orthodoxy is essential, if we substitute "the belief in and the acceptance of a number of doctrines or dogma for a living relationship with him, in a sense we've lost everything." True salvation is always personal rather than merely intellectual.
Can we decide to take salvation whenever we like, according to the sermon?
No. Lloyd-Jones firmly rejects this notion: "We cannot decide to take salvation or any part of it whenever we like." He states that "all teaching, therefore, which says that we can decide for Christ is automatically wrong and false." The people at the feast decided for Christ, but it didn't save them. The vital matter is not our decision but "whether he commits himself to us and believes in us." Salvation depends on Christ's activity toward us, not merely our activity toward Him.
How can a person know if Jesus has committed Himself to them?
Lloyd-Jones provides several indicators: 1. They are "surprised at themselves" and amazed they're in the Christian life at all 2. They have a deep sense of gratitude toward Christ 3. They possess spiritual understanding beyond mere knowledge 4. They experience a sense of rest and peace in their soul 5. They feel they are "being dealt with" by God 6. They experience unexpected spiritual "surprises" from the Lord 7. They have an increasing hunger and thirst for God 8. They enjoy spiritual things more and more 9. They desire increasingly to please Christ 10. They experience the Holy Spirit's direct witness to their spirit
What does Lloyd-Jones say about the "secret element" in salvation?
Lloyd-Jones points out that there is "a very secret element" in salvation. Like the five wise and five foolish virgins who appeared identical externally, or the two houses built on rock and sand that looked similar, true believers possess something others don't: "The Love of Jesus. What it is, none but his loved ones know." He cites Revelation's reference to "hidden manna" and a "white stone" with "a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it." This personal, secret relationship is what distinguishes true believers from mere professors.
What is the danger of trying to "take things by faith" according to the sermon?
Lloyd-Jones warns against the teaching that suggests we can "take by faith" spiritual blessings like sanctification or the baptism of the Spirit: "You cannot take the baptism of the spirit by faith. You cannot take sanctification by faith. It's a sheer impossibility." He explains, "I know a number of people who have taken so much by faith that they've got nothing." True spiritual experiences are experimental and transformative, not merely claimed by mental assertion. Spiritual growth is progressive, not acquired in a single act.
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.