He that Believeth Not
A Sermon on John 3:18
Originally preached March 17, 1957
Scripture
18¶ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Sermon Description
What is the great need of humanity? It is nothing less than salvation from sin. In this sermon on John 3:18 titled “He That Believeth Not,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the only hope is proclaimed by the accomplished work of Jesus Christ who came into this world by being born under the law in the likeness of sinful flesh in order to redeem those who were slaves of sin. Jesus is God’s appointed means of salvation for all who believe. God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but in order that sinners would be saved and brought to a knowledge of the truth. Many people misunderstand this, supposing that God is only a cruel judge who takes delight in destroying the wicked for their sins. Others make the opposite mistake and think He is so loving that He will not require any recompense for evil deeds. So, they suppose that there is no need to be saved and no need for a Savior. These are both terrible misunderstandings of the gospel that is given in Holy Scripture. In Scripture is found God who sent His Son to die in the place of sinners so that all who believe would be inheritors of eternal life and all blessings in Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- Our Lord does not pronounce a universal salvation. There is a division of mankind into two groups: the not condemned and the condemned.
- While God did not send His Son to judge the world, His coming into the world is nevertheless a judgment of the world. Our response to Him reveals the truth about us.
- If we hold any view of Him except the true one He taught, we turn the Savior into the source of our condemnation. Regarding Him as just a moral teacher or example condemns us.
- We must believe in His name, meaning His person as the Son of God, and His work of dying to save us from our sins. Anything less turns Him into our condemnation.
- Our relationship to Him in this life determines our eternal destiny. We are either condemned already or saved already. There is no second chance after death.
- If we die unbelieving, our fate is already settled. At the judgment, the sentence is just pronounced. If we believe, we can know we are saved already.
- We can enjoy the fruits of heaven now by faith. We do not have to wait until death to be saved or know we are saved. It can be done now.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding John 3:18: Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Exposition
What is the context of John 3:18 according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, to properly understand John 3:18, we must consider its context starting from John 3:11, or even from the beginning of the chapter. The immediate context includes verses 14-17, particularly the famous John 3:16. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this verse is a continuation of Christ's conversation with Nicodemus and that we must not isolate John 3:16 from its surrounding verses. The passage reveals how Jesus knew mankind's tendency to misunderstand God's message, so He provided additional clarification to explain the position plainly to Nicodemus.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the two common misunderstandings of God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies two opposite misunderstandings of God that people hold:
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The first misunderstanding is that God is "some kind of horrible monster that is waiting to damn us and to condemn us all." This is the view that the Messiah's main function is to judge and condemn.
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The second misunderstanding is the opposite extreme: "Ah yes, I see it. Now then you say God is love. Very well, all is well. God is love. And because God is love we've got nothing to worry about at all." This is the view that everyone will be saved because God loves everyone.
Lloyd-Jones explains that Jesus addresses the first misunderstanding in John 3:17 and the second in verse 18.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about universal salvation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones firmly states that "Our Lord does not pronounce a universal salvation." He refutes the idea of universalism (the belief that everyone will ultimately be saved) by pointing to the clear division in John 3:18: "He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already."
Lloyd-Jones argues that many people misunderstand God's love to mean that everyone will be saved, but this text shows that humanity is divided into two groups - those who believe and those who don't. He emphasizes that God deals with people individually, not collectively: "We are not saved as a race. We are not saved as a nation. We are not saved as a company. We are not saved as a family. One by one."
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, how does Christ's coming result in judgment?
While God did not send His Son to condemn the world (John 3:17), Lloyd-Jones explains that Christ's coming nevertheless results in judgment. He elaborates this principle with several key points:
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Our response to Christ reveals the truth about ourselves: "My response to the Lord Jesus Christ and his message reveals perfectly plainly tonight and pronounces what is my view of God, of myself, of sin, of my eternal destiny."
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Christ's coming presents God's only way of salvation, making rejection of it a self-imposed judgment: "If we reject the only way of escape, there is nothing left for us but perdition."
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Lloyd-Jones uses the analogy of a fire escape offered to someone in a burning building - if they refuse to use it, they seal their own fate.
He quotes Jesus' own words from John 9 and 12 to reinforce this teaching that while Christ came to save, His coming inevitably results in judgment for those who reject Him.
How can people turn Christ into a source of condemnation according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that people turn Christ into a source of condemnation when they hold any view of Him except the true one. He identifies two specific ways this happens:
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Viewing Christ as merely a moral teacher: Those who see Jesus only as a great moral teacher but reject His saving work make Him a source of condemnation because no one can live up to His moral teachings (like the Sermon on the Mount).
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Viewing Christ as just a great example: Those who try to imitate Christ without accepting His saving work will inevitably fail and be condemned by their inability to follow His example.
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that we must believe in "the name of the only begotten Son of God" - meaning we must believe in His full person and work: that He is God incarnate who came to die for our sins as our only means of salvation.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about when our eternal destiny is determined?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that our eternal destiny is determined in this life, not postponed until the day of judgment. He points to the word "already" in John 3:18: "He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already."
He states firmly: "Our judgment is not going to be postponed until the great day of judgment. Our judgment is decided and determined already in this world." The day of judgment, he explains, is merely "the pronouncement of the sentence, the promulgation of the verdict."
Lloyd-Jones rejects any notion of a "second chance" after death, saying there is "not a single verse or a single statement that indicates it." But he also emphasizes the positive side: believers are "saved already" in this life and can begin experiencing the joy of salvation immediately.
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.