The Way of Sanctification
A Sermon on John 1:12-13
Originally preached March 10, 1963
Scripture
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Sermon Description
How does a Christian walk by the Spirit? How do they destroy sin by the power of the Spirit? In this sermon on John 1:12-13 titled “The Way of Sanctification,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones identifies the hatred of sin as a primary characteristic of sanctification. It is vital and essential for a Christian to mortify - to put to death - the sin continuing to reside in their bodies. The Spirit leads them to put sin to death and also provides the power to do it. It is only through his enabling power that the Christian can avoid sin and recognize its foul and utter darkness. In fact, if a Christian puts themself in the way of sin, admonishes the Doctor, they should not be surprised when they are caught in sin. Three truths help the believe walk practically by the Spirit in the way of sanctification. First, realize and acknowledge the foulness of sin and God’s hatred for it. The works of darkness are unprofitable and unfruitful. Second, the believer must frequently preach to themselves the truth of the gospel. And third, they must reject sin in total when it first appears.
Sermon Breakdown
- The main object of Jesus coming into the world was to make us children of God.
- Nothing is more important than being assured that we are children of God.
- The epistles were written to reassure people of their position in Christ.
- Any doubt about Christ or our position removes assurance. Assurance is essential to living the Christian life and manifesting God's glory.
- We are examining how we can be sure we are led by the Spirit. One way is by mortifying sin and the deeds of the body.
- We must mortify sin and not be passive. The Spirit enables us but we must act.
- We must realize the true nature of sin. Sin and God are opposites. We must hate sin.
- Have no fellowship with sin or unfruitful works of darkness. Avoid even the appearance of evil.
- Put off the old self and old way of living. We must preach to ourselves about the old self and put it away.
- Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul. This includes lusts of the mind and body.
- Keep under the body and bring it into subjection. The body can negatively influence the soul so we must control it.
- Make no provision for the flesh. Don't give sin any encouragement or opportunity. Starve the flesh.
- Nip sin in the bud. Reject it immediately at its first appearance.
Sermon Q&A
Questions from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Mortification of Sin
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the main object of Christ's coming into the world?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the main object of Christ's coming into the world was "that we might be made the children or the sons of God." He states, "The word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and that was why the eternal Son became a man, in order that we, the sinful sons of men, might be, might be made and become the sons of God."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize the importance of assurance for Christians?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that assurance is essential for two primary reasons: first, for the Christian's own happiness, and second, for their usefulness in witnessing to others. He states, "Assurance is essential not only for our own happiness, but for our own usefulness." He points out that the Christian "is not meant to be an advocate. He's meant to be a witness," and people will listen more readily to someone who can say with confidence, "I know whom I have believed."
What is the "mortification of sin" according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the mortification of sin refers to the active process by which Christians, through the power of the Holy Spirit, put to death sinful desires and actions. He bases this on Romans 8:13: "If ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." It involves actively dealing with sin, keeping the body under control, and removing things that lead to sin.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the passive approach to sanctification?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones refutes the passive "let go, let God" approach to sanctification by pointing to the active commands in Scripture. He emphasizes that mortification is "something which you and I are called upon to do. It is not something that is done for us." He specifically challenges those who teach that "the way of sanctification is to do nothing." Instead, he points to numerous New Testament passages that give explicit instructions on what believers should actively do.
What illustration does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use to explain the balance between the Spirit's work and our responsibility?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the illustration of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand. He points out that Jesus told the man to "stretch forth thine hand," which seemed impossible for someone with paralysis. Yet as Jesus gave the command, He also gave the power to obey it. The man had to take action, but the power came from Christ. Similarly, we must actively mortify sin, but the power to do so comes from the Holy Spirit.
What practical steps does Dr. Lloyd-Jones outline for mortifying sin?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several practical steps for mortifying sin: 1. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness 2. Put off the old man (completely disassociate from the old way of living) 3. Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul 4. Keep the body under control ("keep under my body") 5. Make no provision for the flesh 6. Nip sin in the bud at the first suggestion
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the Christian's race with athletic competitions?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts athletes who abstain from certain things temporarily for "a corruptible crown" with Christians who should practice continuous discipline for "an incorruptible" crown. He notes that people admire athletes who abstain from drinking or smoking before competitions, yet they call Christians who abstain permanently "narrow." He points out that while athletic contests are temporary, "there's no end to the christian race. The match is always on."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about dealing with temptation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that when it comes to temptation, we should "nip everything in the bud." He advises, "When you see the approach, the first suggest, nip it in the bud. Don't play with it. Don't reason, don't argue. Reject sin in total at the first appearance." He explains that it's easier to deal with temptation early because "the more you play with it, the stronger it becomes."
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.