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Sermon #1059

For Me to Live is Christ (1)

A Sermon on John 1:16

Originally preached May 24, 1964

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Scripture

John 1:16 ESV KJV
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (ESV)

Sermon Description

What does it mean for someone to say “to live is Christ”? In this sermon titled “For Me to Live is Christ (1),” regarding John 1:16, Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on where the Christian’s joy is found. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the futile unbelievers’ mindset is a pursuit of one’s own joy and happiness through selfish means that does not satisfy the soul. Living for Christ’s glory, however, is the deepest and most fulfilling of all pursuits. Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches that to be a Christian is not only to believe the truth about God, but also to receive Christ’s fullness. A person can receive of this fullness by repenting of sins and placing faith in Christ. Through this wonderful act, Christ imputes and imparts His righteousness to the Christian’s account, thereby declaring them justified before God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones tells that the secret of deep joy in Christian living is the mind of Christ. Referencing Paul’s writing in Philippians 2, Dr. Lloyd-Jones tells his listeners a marvelous truth, namely that Christ has given His mind upon the Christian’s salvation. With this Spirit-empowered perspective, the Christian can live for God’s glory with strength and fullness.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon text is John 1:16 - "And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace."
  2. Dr. Lloyd-Jones has been examining this verse in detail since last October. This verse summarizes what it means to be a Christian.
  3. Christians have received Christ's fullness through grace. Nothing less could save us.
  4. The incarnation and crucifixion were necessary for us to receive Christ's fullness.
  5. We must examine ourselves to see if we have truly received Christ's fullness.
  6. Paul's life provides a glimpse into receiving Christ's fullness. Philippians 1:21 - "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
  7. Paul says this to contrast himself with others preaching out of envy and strife.
  8. To Paul, living meant Christ and dying meant being with Christ. Either way, Christ was central.
  9. We must ask ourselves what life means to us and what keeps us going. For Paul, life was Christ.
  10. When Paul says "to me to live is Christ," he means Christ is everything to him. Christ is all in all.
  11. Paul was "Christ intoxicated." Christ dominated his entire life and being.
  12. We must examine if Christ dominates our lives like He did Paul's. This is the difference between true faith and empty religion.
  13. If Christ is our life, self is no longer our life. We no longer live for ourselves or the world.
  14. Our lives are not centered on our own activities but on Christ.
  15. To Paul, life with Christ meant thinking, feeling, desiring, and acting centered on Christ.

Sermon Q&A

Understanding Dr. Lloyd-Jones' Sermon: "Of His Fullness Have All We Received"

What does the phrase "Of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace" mean in John 1:16?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, John 1:16 is "one of the most perfect summaries, if not the most perfect summary of all, of what it means to be a Christian." The phrase speaks to the central purpose of Christ's coming to earth - that believers "might receive of his fullness." It means Christians don't just believe certain doctrines intellectually but have actually received and experienced the fullness of Christ. It is a "vital process" where "Christ is formed in us" and we are "engrafted into Christ." This receiving of Christ's fullness is what truly defines a Christian rather than merely adhering to an ethical code or having certain beliefs.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish between formal religion and living faith?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that true Christianity is not merely theoretical or intellectual. The difference between formal religion and living faith is that living faith involves actually receiving Christ's fullness. He states: "This is the difference between formal religion and a living faith. This is the thing that you find pulsating in the New Testament." While formal religion might involve knowing doctrine or adhering to certain practices, living faith is "experimental and vital" - something that transforms a person from within. He emphasizes that "belief alone is not enough" and that Christianity is "a living, a vital experience" where we actually "receive all his fullness."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use the Apostle Paul as an example of someone who received Christ's fullness?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to Paul's statement in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ," as a primary example of someone who had received Christ's fullness. He notes that Paul was "Christ intoxicated" and "Christ dominated." Despite being in prison and facing persecution, Paul could say that Christ was everything to him - "Christ is all and in all." Lloyd-Jones highlights that Paul's thinking, emotions, desires, and actions were all governed by Christ. He references other Pauline statements like "I have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20) to show how completely Paul had received Christ's fullness.

What are the signs that someone has truly received Christ's fullness according to this sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, someone who has received Christ's fullness will demonstrate several key signs:

  1. Their thinking is dominated by Christ - "We have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16)
  2. Their emotional life is governed by Christ - their happiness, joy, and peace come from Him
  3. Christ is the "object of their first desire" - their primary longing is to know Him better
  4. Their will and actions are directed toward pleasing Christ - they live to do His will
  5. They no longer live primarily for self or for the world
  6. They recognize they are "not their own" but have been "bought with a price"
  7. They experience a genuine communion with Christ that is "ineffable, inestimable"

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the Christian view of life with the worldly view?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents a stark contrast between the Christian and worldly views of life:

  1. The worldly person lives for self, while the Christian no longer lives for self but for Christ
  2. The world defines "life" as drinking, gambling, and indulging desires, while Christians find true life in Christ
  3. Many people are "kept going by their own activities" and "dare not stop," while Christians find their center in Christ
  4. The natural person cannot understand spiritual things ("foolishness unto him"), while Christians "have the mind of Christ"
  5. The worldly person finds happiness in temporary pleasures, while Christians find that Christ "drives away fears" and provides lasting joy
  6. The world offers a "machine kind of existence," while Christ offers "perfect bliss" and "real happiness"

Dr. Lloyd-Jones states there are "only two ultimate views" - "the godly view" and "the ungodly view, the worldly view."

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.