Governed By Darkness
A Sermon on John 3:19
Originally preached March 31, 1957
Scripture
19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Sermon Description
What is the source of humanity’s objections to Christianity? Many in modern times claim that Christianity has been refuted by modern science and learning. They believe that while it may have been acceptable to believe in things such as miracles, the deity of Christ, and the bodily resurrection in more ignorant times, people are now enlightened. In this sermon on John 3:19 titled “Governed by Darkness,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that the word of God gives a different answer. According to Scripture, people reject Christianity not because of intellectual objections, but because of their sinful nature. Scripture teaches that all are fallen and blinded by sinful desires. What is the answer to this great dilemma? People can only see the world, themselves, and God when God reveals Himself to them in His grace. There is no other way to know God truly. This act of grace is not based on human intellectual capabilities, but on God’s grace. In the gospel Jesus is the answer to humanity’s fallen and sinful state. Only Christ can heal the spiritual blindness and give true life.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by introducing John 3:19 which states that light has come into the world but men loved darkness instead because their deeds were evil.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says this verse shows that Jesus is continuing a statement he was making to Nicodemus about condemnation and judgment.
- Jesus emphasizes God's love in sending his Son to save the world, not condemn it. However, by rejecting Jesus, people condemn themselves.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says this message is still relevant today. Many people claim to want solutions to the world's problems but reject the only solution: Jesus.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the reason people reject Jesus is because they are deluded about themselves. They think the issue is primarily intellectual but it is really moral.
- People think they have intellectual difficulties with Christianity but God is incomprehensible so no one can fully understand him intellectually.
- If the issue was intellectual, Christianity would only be for intelligent people. But people of all intellects can become Christians.
- The fact that the same person can go from rejecting to accepting Christianity shows the issue is not intellectual.
- If only unintelligent people were Christians, Dr. Lloyd-Jones's argument would be wrong. But many intelligent people are Christians.
- The real issue is man's relationship to God, not intellectual beliefs. But man is deluded about himself and thinks the issue is intellectual.
- Man believes he needs more knowledge and information but the real knowledge - Jesus - has already come. Man is still looking for what has already been revealed.
- There has been no advance in knowledge about God, man, morality, or life's biggest questions in the last 2000 years. Modern man is not more advanced or developed in these areas.
- If progress was the answer, modern man would be hopeless since he would have to wait for future generations to find the truth.
- Claims of modern knowledge and progress are relative and constantly changing. What was claimed as truth 50 years ago is now seen as false.
- The real issue is not intellectual or about needing more knowledge. The light - Jesus - has already come. The issue is moral - man loves darkness instead of light because his deeds are evil.
- All people, regardless of intellect, share the same moral condition. All people by nature love darkness rather than light.
- The problem with man is that his mind is not free but is blinded by darkness. Man is depraved and loves evil, rejecting the light to protect his sin.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges the listener to realize the only reason for rejecting Jesus is slavery to sin, not intellectual reasons. If the listener confesses this and asks for mercy, Jesus will free them from darkness.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on John 3:19 - Questions and Answers
What does John 3:19 mean according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, John 3:19 ("This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil") reveals that people reject Christ not primarily because of intellectual difficulties but because of moral reasons. The verse shows that the judgment upon those who don't believe occurs because they prefer darkness over light due to their evil deeds. This verse demonstrates why people reject Christ despite His coming to save rather than condemn.
Why do people reject Jesus Christ according to this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that people reject Jesus Christ not because of intellectual barriers but because of moral ones. They "love darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil." People are in a state of delusion about themselves, claiming to have intellectual problems with Christianity when actually they are morally compromised and prefer their sinful ways. They reject Christ because accepting Him would require them to give up evil deeds they enjoy and cherish.
What is the modern person's usual explanation for not believing in Christ?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the modern person typically claims their unbelief is due to intellectual difficulties. They present themselves as open-minded, scientific, objective thinkers who simply need more evidence or logical arguments. They say they cannot accept Christianity because it doesn't satisfy their rational criteria or scientific mindset. They position themselves as seekers of truth who just need more knowledge or light.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe the intellectual explanation for unbelief is false?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several arguments against the intellectual explanation: 1. God is by nature incomprehensible, so claiming intellectual mastery is absurd 2. People have unequal intellectual capacities, which would make salvation unfair if it depended on intellect 3. Human behavior proves we are governed by passions and desires, not just intellect 4. Many great intellects have been Christians, disproving the theory 5. The same person with the same mind can reject Christ one day and believe the next after conversion
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by saying "the light has come into the world"?
By "the light has come into the world," Lloyd-Jones means that Jesus Christ has already come and revealed God's truth. The knowledge humanity needs is not something waiting to be discovered in the future; it has already been given in the person of Christ who lived the perfect life and embodied everything people claim to long for. The problem is not the absence of light but people's resistance to the light that has already come.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain mankind's moral condition?
Lloyd-Jones explains that all humans share the same moral condition regardless of intellectual or educational differences. All humans "love darkness" by nature and are governed by their sinful desires. He states that people are "depraved," loving evil and delighting in it while rejecting light to protect their ability to continue in preferred sins. This moral condition affects the mind, making it not truly free but blinded, prejudiced, and governed by darkness.
What is the application of this sermon for unbelievers?
The application for unbelievers is to recognize that their resistance to Christianity is not intellectual but moral. Lloyd-Jones urges them to stop deluding themselves with claims of intellectual problems and instead acknowledge their slavery to "the world, the flesh, and the devil." He encourages them to cry out to Christ for deliverance, to confess their blindness, pride, and arrogance, and to ask Christ to have mercy and shine His light into their hearts, promising that Christ will transform them if they do.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect this message to the timing of his sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones connects this message to the approaching Good Friday, noting that this is particularly relevant as Christians remember how the world rejected its Savior and put the Son of God to death. He notes that the passage helps explain why men crucified Christ then and why they still reject Him today. The timing provides an opportunity to understand the deeper moral reasons behind Christ's rejection.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about scientific advancement in relation to spiritual knowledge?
Lloyd-Jones acknowledges scientific advancements but argues they are irrelevant to spiritual matters. He points out that while there has been tremendous development in scientific knowledge over 2,000 years, there has been "not the slightest fraction of advance or development in knowledge" regarding God, the human soul, morality, or eternity. He states that science deals with what can be "seen and measured and assessed," while spiritual truths exist in a completely different realm that science cannot access.
What hope does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer to those who realize their moral predicament?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers the hope that if people recognize their moral blindness and cry out to Christ for deliverance, confessing their pride and asking for mercy, Christ will shine His light into their minds and hearts. He promises that through Christ, they can "bask in" and "walk in" His glorious light throughout this life and even through death, ultimately entering eternal life with Christ where "the lamb is the light thereof."
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.