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Sermon #5428

Sent From God

A Sermon on John 5:31-35

Originally preached March 2, 1958

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Scripture

John 5:31-35 ESV KJV
If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that …

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Sermon Description

In part one of his sermon series on John 5:31–35 titled “Sent From God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd turns to the message of the gospel and the witness to that message. Why do people need salvation? Since the fall, all are born into sin. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None are righteous, not even one. All who are in sin are under the judgment of God. However, there was One sent from God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was sent to save and bore the penalty of sin on the cross as a substitute for sinners. He made a sacrifice for sin that if one applies to his or her life by belief and faith, they shall not perish but have everlasting life. This was Jesus’s message of the gospel. Jesus says that this is true because He testifies to it. He also reminds that God sent another to witness and testify that Jesus’s message was true, the great prophet John the Baptist.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins by introducing the passage from John 5:31-35 which talks about Jesus not needing the testimony of men but saying these things so that people may be saved.
  2. The sermon then establishes that everyone is born guilty before God and under His wrath, needing to be saved from guilt, power and pollution of sin.
  3. Jesus alone can save as stated in John 3:16. The sermon emphasizes believing in Jesus as the means of salvation.
  4. The sermon then introduces John the Baptist as the first witness to testify about Jesus. John makes it clear he is not the Christ but just the forerunner.
  5. John testifies that Jesus is the Son of God, the bridegroom, the one who comes from above and is above all. Jesus testifies to what He has seen and heard.
  6. The sermon asks why the world does not listen to and believe in Jesus. The answer is because they do not believe Jesus is the Son of God.
  7. The sermon states that Jesus' coming does not save ipso facto. John says Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.
  8. The sermon concludes by appealing to the listeners to believe the testimony of John about Jesus, to believe in Jesus and be saved.

Sermon Q&A

How Did John the Baptist Testify About Jesus Christ According to Lloyd-Jones?

What is the central message of this sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the central message of this sermon is found in John 5:34, where Jesus says, "I receive not testimony from men, but these things I say that ye might be saved." The sermon focuses on Jesus' desire to save people despite their opposition and antagonism toward Him. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Jesus' persistent teaching was motivated by His love and desire for people's salvation, even when they rejected Him.

What does it mean to be "saved" according to this sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being saved means:

  1. Being delivered from the guilt of sin - freedom from condemnation before God
  2. Being rescued from the power of sin - freedom from sin's dominion over us
  3. Being cleansed from the pollution of sin - having our nature purified from its corruption
  4. Being delivered from God's wrath - no longer under divine judgment
  5. Being restored to fellowship with God - returning to the relationship we were made for

As Lloyd-Jones states: "You need to be saved. You're guilty in the sight of God. You're under his wrath. You need to be saved from the guilt of your sin, from the power of sin and from the pollution of sin."

How did John the Baptist testify about Jesus according to this sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several key aspects of John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus:

  1. John denied being the Christ and pointed to Jesus instead: "I am not the Christ"
  2. John declared Jesus was greater than himself: "I'm not worthy to stoop down and undo the very latchet of his shoes"
  3. John testified to Jesus' pre-existence: "He was before me" (though John was born first)
  4. John witnessed the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus: "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove"
  5. John called Jesus "the Son of God" directly: "I bear record that this is the Son of God"
  6. John referred to Jesus as "the Bridegroom" while describing himself as merely "the friend of the bridegroom"
  7. John declared Jesus came from heaven: "He that cometh from above is above all"
  8. John identified Jesus as "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world"
  9. John said Jesus would "baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire"

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize John's testimony in this sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes John's testimony because:

  1. Jesus Himself pointed to John's witness as evidence of His identity
  2. The Jews had sent their own delegation to question John, yet ignored his clear testimony
  3. John was recognized as a prophet and "a burning and shining light"
  4. John's testimony establishes Jesus as more than a teacher or prophet - as the divine Son of God
  5. Understanding Jesus' true identity is essential for salvation

As Lloyd-Jones states: "Why do I preach Jesus Christ here Sunday by Sunday? Here's my answer. I'm not preaching a man. I'm not preaching my own ideas... I'm here because I know that all human philosophy has failed... But here is one that cometh from above and he's above all."

What is the relationship between believing who Jesus is and salvation?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, salvation depends entirely on recognizing and believing who Jesus truly is. He explains:

  1. If we don't understand Jesus' divine identity, we won't trust Him for salvation
  2. Salvation requires recognizing Jesus as the Son of God who came from heaven
  3. We must believe Jesus is "the Lamb of God" who takes away sin
  4. We must accept His authority to baptize with the Holy Spirit and transform us
  5. Salvation comes through personal commitment to Christ: "Have you bowed your knee before him?"

Lloyd-Jones concludes with this challenge: "Do you believe the witness? Do you accept the testimony? Have you bowed your knee before him? Have you taken your position with Thomas? And have you looked at him and have said, my lord and my God?"

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.