Sin and the Modern Man
A Sermon on John 3:19-21
Originally preached April 7, 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. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that …
Sermon Description
What is the source of humanity’s hostility to the gospel? Many are offended at the message of Jesus and claim they have no need to be saved. In this sermon on John 3:19–21 titled “Sin and the Modern Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached that the rejection of the gospel is because people have an unbelieving nature. Jesus came into the world to save sinners and set them free because humankind is fallen and in sin they stumble over this message and reject it. This message of salvation can become a message of condemnation when people reject it. Humankind is hostile to those who call them to forsake their sins and turn to Christ in order to be saved. They are openly hostile to those who preach that Christ Jesus is the light of the world. Only the message of Christ that sinners reject and despise can save them. This is why God must show the light of Christ by opening the darkened hearts and minds of fallen men and women so that they can see and love Christ for who He is. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but in order to save it through His Son Jesus Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- Sin and evil are not negative, but are positive. They are active and grip men.
- Unbelief is not negative, neutral or passive. It is active and men hate the light.
- The Bible and Jesus' teaching show that men hate the light. They hated and killed Jesus.
- Men show hatred of the light in violent and non-violent ways e.g. contempt. Both are terrible.
- Hatred of the light is universal and in all men by nature.
- The hatred of light is strange given men love light in other areas e.g. knowledge, health.
- Men hate the light because it prohibits what they like, awakens their conscience, hurts their pride and reminds them of death and judgment.
- Men can't continue in sin when they think of death, judgment and hell. So they hate the light.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Jesus Mean When He Says "Men Love Darkness Rather Than Light"?
Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on John 3:19-21, here's an analysis of Jesus' statement about loving darkness rather than light.
What does it mean that "men love darkness rather than light"?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Jesus is revealing that humanity's fundamental problem is not intellectual but moral. People don't reject the gospel because they lack information, but because they actively prefer darkness. "Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil," as Jesus states. The word "love" used here indicates "the love of intelligence... a deliberate choice, an active choice." This means people aren't neutral or passive toward sin - they actively choose and embrace it.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say that sin is positive rather than negative?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that sin is not merely the absence of good, but an active force: "It isn't enough to say about us simply that we are not good. But that we have to recognize very clearly, indefinitely, that we are bad, positively evil." Modern psychology confirms this with their concept of inner "drives" that control people. The Bible portrays sin as lust, desire, and passion so powerful that it literally controls us. Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks, "Haven't we all felt this power? Haven't we all hated it? Haven't we all stood up to it and tried to fight it?"
How does unbelief manifest as hatred of the light?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several signs of humanity's hatred for spiritual light:
- The historical rejection of Jesus during His ministry
- The persecution of early Christians in Acts
- The opposition to revival movements throughout history
- The contempt modern people show toward genuine Christianity
Even "respectable" people who claim to accept religion often show hostility when someone takes Christianity too seriously. Dr. Lloyd-Jones shares examples of spouses threatening to leave partners who became serious Christians, saying: "When a man really believes the truth, she hates the thing."
Why do people hate spiritual light but welcome other forms of light?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out this strange contradiction: people welcome light in every other area of life. They appreciate: - Someone showing them the way when lost - Scientific knowledge and technological advances - A doctor's honest diagnosis about their health
Yet when it comes to spiritual matters, they reject the light. Why? Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives four reasons:
- "It prohibits what he likes" - Light condemns the dark things people enjoy
- "It awakens and disturbs their consciences" - Makes them feel condemned
- "It hurts our pride" - The gospel says we're so bad we need complete rebirth
- "It ever reminds us of death and the judgment" - Forces us to face ultimate accountability
What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' final plea to his listeners?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes with a heartfelt appeal: "Recognize it honestly. Listen to your own conscience at this moment. Admit to yourself that your nature is evil." He urges listeners to ask God for "this new life, this new nature, which will enable you to love the light and to hate the darkness." Only through this transformation can we "smile in the face of death" and live eternally in God's presence.
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.