The Law and Modern Man
A Sermon on John 1:17
Originally preached Nov. 11, 1962
Scripture
17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Sermon Description
Why is the law of God so important? In this sermon on John 1:17 titled “The Law and Modern Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the centrality of God’s law for understanding the gospel, humanity, and Christ. The Bible teaches that all are under the condemnation of the law because they have all sinned and broken God’s law. This is why humanity, in its fallen state, is opposed to God’s law – it only condemns them and their sinful lifestyle. But this same law that condemns also shows the need for the gospel and for Jesus Christ. In this way, the law can lead to life. For it shows the Christian how inadequate they are and how much they need salvation in Christ Jesus. This convicting use of the law brings great opposition from many unbelievers who claim that the idea of sin and punishment is backwards and cruel. Yet the Bible tells that God is a holy God who requires righteousness from all. Jesus came to fulfill the law because humanity could not. This is the heart of the gospel: God sending His Son to redeem sinners who are unable to save themselves.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by introducing John 1:17 which states that the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. This verse provides the foundation for the sermon.
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The greatest problem in the world is a failure to understand what God has done through Jesus Christ. The Christian church exists to preach Christ, not man.
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The law was given through Moses to provide knowledge of sin, reveal God's standards, and show our need for grace. The law is essential for sanctification and understanding salvation.
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Neglecting the law leads to apostasy, pride, conflict, and a false view of life. Man begins to worship himself instead of God.
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Unrighteousness always follows ungodliness. There can be no morality without religion. Standards are lost without God and his law.
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Without law there is no discipline, punishment, or standards of good and evil. This leads to lawlessness and chaos.
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When law is abandoned, negatives and details are disliked. People prefer vague generalities over specific commands and prohibitions. But law deals with specifics.
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Law requires authority and sanctions to be effective. Without enforcement and consequences, law has no power. But authority and punishment are unpopular today.
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The world believes God is only love and man is essentially good. So moral example and appealing to man's reason is thought to be enough. But man is evil and needs law.
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It is wrong to expect Christian behavior from non-Christians. Only under grace can one live a Christian life. Until then, law is necessary to restrain evil.
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The sermon concludes by exhorting Christians to preach this message to others and not be misled by false idealism and sentimentality. True Christianity is based on law, justice, truth, and righteousness.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Key to Understanding Christian Gospel According to Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones delivers a powerful sermon on John 1:17, explaining how this verse provides a fundamental understanding of Christianity. Let me explore the essential teachings from his sermon.
What does John 1:17 reveal about the relationship between law and grace?
According to Lloyd-Jones, John 1:17 ("For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ") provides a key to understanding not only John's Gospel but the entire Christian message. This verse shows the essential relationship between law and grace - both are necessary components of Christian understanding. The law came first through Moses to reveal God's standards and humanity's sinfulness, while grace and truth came through Jesus Christ to provide salvation.
Why does Lloyd-Jones believe law is essential to Christianity?
Lloyd-Jones insists that law is essential to Christianity for several reasons:
- It reveals our need for grace - only those who see themselves condemned under the law can truly appreciate God's grace
- It shows the depth and "exceeding sinfulness of sin"
- It provides the necessary foundation for sanctification
- Without law work, our appreciation of grace remains defective
As he states: "Unless we know something about [our sinful nature], I say again, we cannot possibly appreciate, as we should, the glories and the wonders of the grace of God."
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the world's fundamental problem?
According to Lloyd-Jones, "the whole trouble in the world at this moment is due ultimately to neglect of the law of God." This neglect stems from either ignorance of God's law or arrogant rejection of it. The result is a general apostasy - the world no longer centers its life on God, leading to:
- People setting themselves up as gods
- Pride and self-worship
- Inevitable conflicts between individuals and nations
- False views of life, history, and human greatness
How does Lloyd-Jones view modern moral relativism?
Lloyd-Jones harshly criticizes modern moral relativism, arguing that once you abolish God's law, you're left with no absolute standard. He outlines several problematic approaches that emerge:
- Hedonism - pleasure becomes the standard
- Utilitarianism - whatever "works" becomes the standard
- Expediency - the end justifies the means
- Shifting standards across generations - morality determined by majority opinion
This leads to a "sliding scale" of morality where standards constantly change, punishment is viewed as cruel, and eventually all sense of sin and even crime disappears.
What is Lloyd-Jones' view on law and authority in society?
Lloyd-Jones argues that "until a man comes under grace, you have got to keep him under law." He explains:
- Human nature is fundamentally evil
- Law with sanctions is necessary to restrain evil
- Authority (governments, rulers) is ordained by God even in secular states
- Evil must be forcibly restrained to prevent chaos
He cites Romans 13, noting that even Paul recognized the necessity of secular authority to maintain order in a fallen world.
How does Lloyd-Jones respond to pacifism and idealism?
Lloyd-Jones calls pacifism "pure heresy" because it "expects Christian conduct and behavior from people who are not Christian." He criticizes idealistic approaches that:
- View God only as love without recognizing His holiness and justice
- See humans as fundamentally good rather than sinful
- Believe appeals and moral examples alone can transform society
- Think Christian principles can be applied to non-regenerate people
As he states: "A man who's not a Christian cannot be expected to live the Christian life. And to ask him to do so is a denial of the truth of the Bible."
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.