The Need of Man
A Sermon on John 4:13-14
Originally preached Dec. 11, 1966
Scripture
13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting …
Sermon Description
Do Christians truly rejoice in Jesus Christ? Do they rejoice in the salvation He has freely given? Listen to this sermon on John 4:13–14 titled “The Need of Man” as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones speaks on salvation and what it reveals. He begins by bringing up the saddening lack of rejoicing most Christians have towards salvation. He explains that this lack comes directly from a failure to see the utter and complete need of Jesus’ salvation. One cannot truly rejoice in the salvation Christ offers if they do not first see their need and realize their complete inadequacy in saving themselves. The whole Bible, especially the Old Testament, points directly to the fact that all need a Savior. People can only be moved by salvation if they see their need for it. Not only do they have to recognize their need, but they have to know their complete need. This is realizing that without Christ and His salvation they are spiritually dead and ignorant. But the good news is that as Christians, they have a Savior who came to earth, died, and rose again victorious over death. He is the deliverer. Let all run to Him, realizing the complete need, and rejoice in His salvation.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon opens by introducing the passage from John 4:13-14 which describes Jesus offering living water to the Samaritan woman.
- The sermon then provides context by reading John 4:19-25 which describes the dialogue between Jesus and the woman.
- The sermon establishes that the focus will be on understanding verses 13 and 14 which describe the "great offer of the Christian faith."
- The sermon poses the question of whether individuals personally know and experience the "living water" and "grace upon grace" offered by Jesus.
- The sermon argues that many stumble over the same things as the Samaritan woman in misunderstanding Jesus.
- The sermon states that the message of Advent and Christmas is understanding our need for a savior.
- The sermon argues that if our hearts are not moved by Jesus, we do not understand our true condition and need.
- The sermon claims that we must understand our precise need to appreciate the savior.
- The sermon argues that many have an incomplete understanding of "salvation" and "Messiah."
- The sermon claims the Old Testament shows our need for salvation through explicit statements, teaching, law, ceremony, ritual, and prophecy.
- The sermon argues that no one appreciates salvation without understanding their need.
- The sermon outlines false understandings of salvation as needing help to save ourselves or just needing ethical teaching and an example.
- The sermon claims the true view of salvation comes from understanding the Old Testament which shows we are spiritually dead, under God's wrath, living in the flesh, under Satan's dominion, with a polluted nature, and facing death.
- The sermon argues this is why Jesus came - to provide the only salvation from our predicament.
- The sermon outlines what Jesus' salvation is: He alone provides it, He provides it fully and completely, He is the fulfillment of prophecy, He finished the work of salvation, He provides spiritual blessings, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on John 4:13-14: Understanding True Christian Salvation
What is the main theme of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on John 4:13-14?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, John 4:13-14 presents "the great offer of the Christian faith." The main theme is understanding true Christian salvation - what it really means and why many people fail to grasp or experience it fully. He explains that Christianity is essentially about receiving Christ as "a well of water springing up into everlasting life," resulting in joy and abundant spiritual life. The sermon contrasts modern misunderstandings of salvation with the biblical understanding.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say people fail to rejoice in Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies the primary reason people fail to rejoice in Christ as "a failure to realize our true need." He explains that only those who have truly understood their desperate spiritual condition will genuinely rejoice in Christ's salvation. Many people have vague notions of needing help but don't grasp the depth of their spiritual deadness, their position under God's wrath, or their enslavement to sin, which prevents them from appreciating the magnificence of the salvation Christ offers.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the relationship between the Old and New Testaments?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that "the Old Testament is the preparation for the New Testament," and we "simply cannot understand the New Testament truly apart from the Old Testament." He emphasizes that the Old Testament reveals our spiritual need through its laws, prophets, ceremonies, and promises. It establishes the meaning of terms like "salvation," "prophet," and "Messiah" which appear in the New Testament. The two testaments belong together, with the Old Testament showing our condition and need while the New Testament reveals the fulfillment in Christ.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as common misunderstandings of salvation today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes modern misunderstandings where people use biblical terms but change their meanings. He identifies the prevalent view that salvation merely means "help in order to save ourselves" - that humans are essentially good but need assistance through ethical teaching and examples of love. He calls this "dishonest" because it uses biblical language while emptying it of its true meaning. True salvation, he insists, is not self-improvement with divine help, but a complete rescue from our spiritually dead condition.
What are the key aspects of man's spiritual condition according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, man's spiritual condition includes being: 1. Spiritually dead - ignorant of God and incapable of appreciating spiritual truth 2. Under God's wrath and condemnation 3. Facing eternal punishment 4. Living in the flesh under the dominion of sin and Satan 5. Possessing a polluted nature that prefers darkness to light 6. Under the power of death
He emphasizes that understanding this condition is essential before one can appreciate Christ's salvation.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the fullness of salvation that Christ provides?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes Christ's salvation as complete and perfect, requiring no additions or supplements. Using 1 Corinthians 1:30, he outlines that Christ provides: 1. Wisdom - spiritual light and understanding of God 2. Righteousness - forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God 3. Sanctification - deliverance from sin's power and transformation of nature 4. Redemption - final glorification and complete deliverance from death
He emphasizes that Christ's salvation is "finished completely" and addresses every aspect of our fallen condition.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize the exclusiveness of the Christian message?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes the "absolute exclusiveness" of the Christian message because it is God's historical action through Christ, not merely a teaching. He states that "there is no salvation in anyone, anywhere except in Jesus, the Son of God." He argues that the "supposed tolerance of this present age" is actually "sentimental flabbiness" that insults what God has done. He believes the exclusive nature of Christianity stems from its historical reality - that Christ actually came at a specific time, dividing history, to accomplish salvation in a unique way that cannot be replicated or supplemented.
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.