Christianity or Religion?
A Sermon on John 4:28-39
Originally preached Jan. 7, 1968
Scripture
28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. …
Sermon Description
In this sermon from John 4:28–30 titled “Christianity or Religion?”, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the centrality of a relationship to Christ and how it should change every part of one’s life. Christianity is not just another helpful life teaching that can be added to a daily routine, but it is the message of salvation from God. It is the truth that all who believe in Christ are made children of God and forgiven from all sins. This means that now they view all of this life and the future in light of this hope. It means that the Christian tests themselves to see if they are truly in Christ. The Bible is clear that there are many who say they believe but are self-deceived. This is why the Bible exhorts all Christians to test themselves to see whether they are in the faith. This vital message for all to hear and obey is that Jesus died and saved those that believe.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon examines what Jesus means to us personally based on the story of the Samaritan woman at the well.
- The sermon suggests examining ourselves to see if Jesus is the biggest factor and influence in our lives.
- The sermon examines our lives by looking at the past and seeing if Jesus has been the biggest thing to happen to us.
- The sermon asks if we are prouder of our association with Jesus than anything else.
- The sermon asks if we know our sins are forgiven and if we have peace with God.
- The sermon asks if we see ourselves as children of God and call out "Abba, Father."
- The sermon asks if we have known Jesus' nearness, help, and working in our lives.
- The sermon asks if our knowledge of Jesus has increased over the past year.
- The sermon says we should look to the future and see if Jesus is the dominating factor as we consider the unknown.
- The sermon asks what our greatest desire is for the new year - to know Jesus better?
- The sermon asks if we desire to please Jesus more and see the success of His kingdom.
- The sermon distinguishes between a morbid anxiety about the future and facing it triumphantly in Christ.
- The sermon says we should consider the possibilities of life like ill health, failure, and death but face them in Christ.
- The sermon asks if we rely on Jesus' promises and find Him sufficient no matter what happens.
- The sermon presents the hymn "Jesus, My All in All" as an example of finding Jesus sufficient in all circumstances.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on the Woman of Samaria
What is the significance of the Samaritan woman leaving her water pot to tell others about Jesus?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the woman leaving her water pot represents the typical response of all who truly believe in Christ. It shows how meeting Jesus became the most important thing in her life, superseding all other concerns. She was so captivated by Him that she rushed back to the city to invite others to "come see a man" who told her everything she ever did. This action demonstrates how an encounter with Christ completely reorients one's priorities.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggest Christians should examine themselves?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that Christians should examine themselves in terms of their relationship to the person of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that self-examination is necessary because Scripture exhorts us to do so (citing 2 Corinthians 13:5), because it's possible to be a church member without being a Christian, and because there is always a danger of "drifting" away from faith. The core question for this examination is: "What does He mean to us? Is He Himself everything to us?"
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the greatest danger facing the Christian church?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that "the greatest danger of all in the Christian church at the present time is to put a wedge, as it were, between the New Testament and ourselves, and to say that all that only belonged to that time and is impossible now." He calls this "the greatest fallacy of all" and "nothing is so responsible for the quenching of the Spirit as just that attitude." He believes Christians should expect to experience the same kind of relationship with Christ as seen in the New Testament.
What are the key indicators that one is truly a Christian according to this sermon?
According to the sermon, key indicators include: - When knowledge of Christ is the greatest thing that has ever happened to you - When Christ is the biggest controlling influence in your life - When you're more proud of your association with Him than anything else - When your greatest rejoicing is based on what He has done for you - When you know your sins are forgiven and have peace with God - When you have a sense of sonship and belonging to God - When you've experienced His nearness and help in times of trouble - When you're conscious of His working in you and dealing with you
How should Christians view the future according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christians should face the future in terms of their relationship to Christ. Unlike the world that tries to escape through entertainment or substances, Christians can honestly face all possibilities—including aging, illness, and death—because they know Christ will be sufficient. The Christian's greatest desire should be to know Christ better, to please Him more, and to see the success of His kingdom. Christians shouldn't worry morbidly about the future but should be able to say with Paul that nothing can separate them from God's love in Christ.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about Christian growth and experience?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects the notion that Christianity is merely about making a decision for Christ and then trying to maintain that experience. He calls this an "utter travesty of the New Testament teaching." Instead, he teaches that knowledge of Christ should be continually increasing. Christians should know Christ better as time passes, finding Him more real and more vital. He asks, "Are you more amazed at Him than you've ever been?" and "Is your knowledge of Him increasing?" suggesting that growth is essential to genuine Christian experience.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish between wrong and right ways of facing the future?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguishes between a wrong, morbid anxiety about the future (which Christ condemned in Matthew 6) and the right way of honestly facing future possibilities while trusting Christ. He explains that Christianity doesn't mean never looking to the future, but rather facing it with confidence in Christ. The right approach is exemplified by Paul in Romans 8, where he acknowledges all possibilities but remains persuaded that nothing can separate believers from God's love in Christ.
What resources does Dr. Lloyd-Jones recommend for testing our relationship with Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones recommends several resources: 1. The Gospels - seeing how people responded to Jesus in His earthly ministry 2. The Book of Acts - observing how early Christians related to Christ after His ascension 3. The Epistles - which constantly remind readers of their true relationship to Christ 4. Church history - showing great movements of the Spirit through the centuries 5. Biographies of saints and believers throughout history 6. Hymn books (especially 18th century hymns) - which express experiential relationship with Christ
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.