The Gift of Grace
A Sermon on John 1:17
Originally preached Dec. 9, 1962
Scripture
17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Sermon Description
Does the Christian rejoice in God’s grace? Does what they learn about the Creator really fill them with joy? In this encouraging sermon titled “The Gift of Grace,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains the contrast between the law of God and the grace of God. The law of God is designed to condemn. It brings conviction, correction, and ultimately serves as judge. Grace is God giving what is not deserved. It is His grace that forgives, supports, restrains, protects, and preserves. At salvation, the law of God becomes the guide by which to glorify God. The listener is encouraged to discover the riches of His glorious kindness, which puts the law inside hearts and minds, enabling the Christian to live the holy life God intends for His people. Enter into the joy of grace, to experience it as His children were meant to.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon examines John 1:17 which states that the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
- The sermon does not detract from the law but shows the superiority of grace. The law was preparatory and pointed to Christ.
- The sermon asks if we rejoice in grace as we should. Grace should fill us with joy and praise to God.
- The first contrast between grace and law is that grace gives while the law demands. Grace is not legalistic.
- Grace gives freely. We are justified freely by grace through faith in Christ.
- Grace gives richly. We have received grace upon grace from Christ's fullness. Grace is abundant and superabundant.
- The sermon gives many examples of how grace gives richly from Scripture including John 4:14, John 6:35, Romans 5, 2 Corinthians 8:9, and Ephesians 1:7.
- Grace gives in many varied and manifold ways. The sermon gives examples of restraining grace, supporting grace, enabling grace, and preserving grace.
- Grace reigns and has power. The law was weak but grace enables us to fulfill God's purpose and plan.
- Grace quickens us, regenerates us, and sanctifies us. It enables us to live according to God's law so His commandments are not grievous.
- The new covenant of grace excels the old covenant of law because grace puts God's law in our minds and writes it on our hearts.
- With grace, we now understand God's law, see its spirit and purpose, and rejoice in keeping it. We are made holy as God is holy.
- Grace gives us a new heart and new desires to keep God's law. We no longer resent God's law but love it.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Grace vs. Law
What is the main contrast between law and grace according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
The main contrast is that while the law demands, grace gives. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains: "The first great contrast between grace and law is this, of course, that grace gives. The law gives nothing. The law makes demands. The law presents a bill. The law says, here's the account. Are you ready to settle it? But grace is altogether different." He further elaborates with Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" - showing the contrast between wages (law) and gift (grace).
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the abundance of God's grace?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes God's grace as abundantly rich and overflowing. He refers to "grace upon grace" from John's prologue and quotes Paul's language in Romans 5, emphasizing the phrase "much more" and "superabounding grace." He states: "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." He describes grace as "unsearchable riches," "exceeding riches," and using terms like "liberally," indicating there is no end to God's grace. He describes it like "wave upon wave upon wave" and as "an endless stream" that "comes bubbling up" like a fountain.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "manifold grace of God"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones refers to 1 Peter 4:10 which speaks of the "manifold grace of God," explaining this means grace operates in varied and multiple ways in believers' lives. He gives several examples, including: - Restraining grace: God's grace that holds us back from sin - Supporting grace: God's grace that sustains us in trials and troubles - Enabling grace: God's grace that empowers us to live the Christian life - Keeping/preserving grace: God's grace that ensures believers persevere to the end - Prevenient grace: God's grace that goes ahead of us and prepares the way
How does grace relate to God's law according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones is careful to emphasize that grace doesn't abolish the law but transforms our relationship to it. He explains that under the new covenant, God puts "my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts." The difference is that "the law is now within us and not without us." While the law of Moses was external ("on tables of stone"), grace puts the law inside us, giving us both understanding of God's commands and a heart that desires to keep them. This internal transformation makes the commandments "not grievous" to believers.
What does it mean that "grace reigns" according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
When Dr. Lloyd-Jones says "grace reigns," he's emphasizing that grace has power and authority. Referencing Romans 5:21, he explains: "The whole trouble with the law is that it lacked power... it can't help us. It can't give us power." In contrast, grace "reigns" with power to transform. This power quickens (regenerates) those dead in sin, sanctifies believers, and enables Christians to live according to God's holy law. Grace doesn't just forgive; it empowers believers to live the life God intended.
How should Christians respond to the grace of God according to this sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Christians should respond to God's grace with overflowing joy and gratitude. He asks pointedly, "Do we rejoice in grace as we ought?" and notes that John wrote his gospel so believers would have "full joy" in understanding grace. He challenges his listeners: "Singing expresses the state of the soul. Where were the trumpets as we sang that last hymn? Where was the triumph?" The proper response to understanding grace should be rejoicing, praise to God, and living out the Christian life with gratitude, not grudgingly but with delight in God's commands.
What is the relationship between grace and sin in the life of a believer?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones, referencing 1 John 3:8-9, explains that grace transforms our relationship to sin: "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." He clarifies this doesn't mean Christians never sin, but rather that they cannot continue living in habitual sin because "his seed remaineth in him." Grace gives believers a new nature that cannot be comfortable in ongoing sin. He explains that the grace of God "enables us to live the life that God would have us live," giving not just forgiveness, but power to overcome sin and live righteously.
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.