The Need for Repentance
A Sermon on John 4:27-30
Originally preached Oct. 15, 1967
Scripture
27¶ And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, …
Sermon Description
What sets Christianity apart from all other religions in the world? What one characteristic marks the beginning of every great revival? What was the purpose of the Old Testament law, and what do these questions have to do with each other? The answer, as presented in this sermon on John 4:27–30 titled “The Need for Repentance,” is the conviction of sin. Using the woman at the well as an example, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that the beginning of Jesus’s message is to convict of sin and for all to agree with the woman who said, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.” Throughout the Bible, people who are brought into the presence of God are first convicted of their sin. Jacob feared and Isaiah confessed in their encounters with the most Holy God. This conviction is not hopeless, but is the mode in which the Christian is brought to the necessary hatred and repentance of sin. Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds that if one has not been brought to a place of repentance, then they are in a religion without Christ and one that ends in hellfire. For those who have repented, their conviction of sin is an assurance that they are God’s people.
Sermon Breakdown
- The woman of Samaria's first statement to the people of her city was "Come see a man who told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?" This shows that conviction of sin is essential to truly receiving Christ.
- Many today lack conviction of sin and true knowledge of Christ. They know little of the "well of water springing up into everlasting life" that Christ offers.
- Conviction of sin shows the difference between cults/mere religion and true Christianity. Cults never produce conviction of sin.
- Conviction of sin is emphasized throughout the Bible, from John the Baptist to Paul. The law shows our need for Christ by convicting us of sin.
- Christ's teaching and presence often convicted people of sin, even without words. Examples include Jacob, Isaiah, and Peter.
- The Holy Spirit's primary work is to convict the world of sin, as Jesus said. Examples include Pentecost, Paul, and the Philippian jailer.
- Conviction of sin has been key in church history, from Augustine to Luther to Wesley. Revivals are always marked by conviction of sin.
- There is no meaning in the word "salvation" apart from conviction of sin. Jesus saves us from our sin, as the angel told Joseph. The law shows our need for Christ.
- We must feel conviction of sin to truly know Christ. We must know we are saved from the guilt and condemnation of sin. "Come see a man who told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?" shows the proper order.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on John 4:27-30
What was the first thing the Samaritan woman said about Jesus when she went to tell others about Him?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the first thing the Samaritan woman mentioned was that Jesus "told me all things that ever I did." This was remarkable because instead of focusing on His personality or appearance, she emphasized how He had exposed the truth about her life, including her immoral past with five husbands and living with a man who wasn't her husband. This conviction of sin was what struck her most deeply about her encounter with Christ.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe that conviction of sin is essential to genuine Christian experience?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that conviction of sin is essential because it appears consistently throughout Scripture as the first step in a genuine encounter with God. He states it is "the thing that always comes first in the New Testament itself." Without this conviction, a person is merely taking up religion rather than being truly Christian. He believes this conviction is what distinguishes true Christianity from the cults, which "never produce conviction of sin," and from merely adopting religion as an intellectual exercise.
How did Jesus' presence affect people according to the sermon?
According to Lloyd-Jones, Jesus' mere presence often produced conviction of sin even without Him saying anything. He cites several examples: Peter falling down after the miraculous catch of fish saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man"; the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus falling backward when He said "I am He"; and John in Revelation falling "at His feet as dead" when seeing the glorified Christ. The presence of Jesus invariably caused people to feel their unworthiness and sinfulness.
What is the primary work of the Holy Spirit according to Jesus' own words?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to Jesus' words in John 16 that the primary work of the Holy Spirit is to "reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment." He emphasizes that this conviction of sin is the first essential work of the Spirit. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates this through examples like the response to Peter's Pentecost sermon where people were "pricked in their heart" and asked "What shall we do?", and the Philippian jailer who fell trembling before Paul and Silas asking "What must I do to be saved?"
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe the church today lacks vitality?
Lloyd-Jones suggests that the main explanation for the current state of the church is "an absence of conviction of sin." He says there is "an absence of humility" and "an absence of the fear of the Lord." He characterizes the modern church as being "too healthy," "too bright," and "self-contained," trusting in human efforts and organizations rather than experiencing the deep conviction of sin that characterized historical Christianity and revival movements throughout church history.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define the meaning of salvation?
According to Lloyd-Jones, salvation by definition means being saved from something - specifically from sin. He quotes the angel's message to Joseph that Jesus would "save his people from their sins." He emphasizes that "there is no meaning to the word salvation apart from this" understanding that we need to be saved from "the condemnation of the law" and "the guilt and the condemnation of our sin." Without this recognition of our need for deliverance from sin, the concept of salvation becomes meaningless.
What historical examples does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give of conviction of sin?
Lloyd-Jones provides numerous historical examples of conviction of sin, including Augustine's increasing conviction before his conversion, Martin Luther's "agony" that led to the Protestant Reformation, John Bunyan's 18-month "agony of repentance," and the experiences of Whitefield and the Wesleys who "felt such a conviction of sin that they became physically ill." He also mentions that all great revivals in church history began with "a terrifying conviction of sin" even among long-time church members.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones relate the law to conviction of sin?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "the law always comes before the gospel" because it serves as the "schoolmaster to bring us to Christ" (quoting Galatians). The law reveals our need, emptiness, and true condition before God. It shows us our guilt and condemnation, preparing us to understand and receive salvation. The purpose of the law is to convict us of sin and show us our need for a Savior, which is why Christ came "to redeem them that were under the law."
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.