Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on New Birth and Righteousness

What are the key differences between religion and Christianity according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the greatest enemy of the Christian faith is religion. He explains that religion is primarily concerned with outward appearance and behavior rather than inner transformation. The key differences include:

1. Religion is focused on what a person doesn't do (negative morality), while Christianity is focused on positive righteousness
2. Religion is about cleaning "the outside of the cup and platter" while ignoring the "inward parts"
3. Religion is mechanical and external, while Christianity is a living, internal reality
4. Religion makes God's commandments feel "grievous" (burdensome), while to the true Christian they are not grievous
5. Religion is more concerned with behavior than with the person themselves
6. Religion is primarily about following rules, while Christianity is about a personal relationship with God

As Lloyd-Jones states: "The religious man is like your Christmas tree. It's manufactured, it's artificial, and you add things onto your branches... But that's not Christianity."

What does it mean to hunger and thirst after righteousness?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, hungering and thirsting after righteousness is a key characteristic of true Christian life. It means:

1. Having a positive desire for holiness rather than merely avoiding sin
2. Seeking to be righteous because of a desire to please God as Father
3. Wanting righteousness more than happiness or experiences
4. Understanding that the ultimate purpose of salvation is not just forgiveness but transformation into righteousness
5. Desiring communion with God, which requires righteousness as its basis

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes this point by quoting Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness." He notes that the beatitude doesn't say "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after happiness" - highlighting that the Christian's primary desire should be for righteousness rather than personal satisfaction.

What is the fruit of the Spirit and why is it important in Christian life?

The fruit of the Spirit, according to Lloyd-Jones' sermon, is the natural outworking of God's life within a believer. He explains:

1. Fruit cannot be manufactured or artificially produced - it must grow from within
2. The fruit of the Spirit distinguishes true Christianity from mere religion
3. The specific fruits include: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (self-control)
4. These qualities emerge naturally from the new nature rather than being forced

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes: "Fruit is never manufactured. You can't add on fruit... Fruit is a manifestation of life, fruit is a manifestation of nature." This is significant because it demonstrates that true Christian character comes from internal transformation, not external conformity to rules. The presence of this fruit provides evidence that a person has genuinely been born again.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the ultimate purpose of salvation?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that many people mistakenly think the ultimate purpose of salvation is merely forgiveness of sins. However, he argues that forgiveness is only the beginning. The ultimate purpose of salvation is:

1. To make us righteous and restore God's image in us
2. To bring us back into communion and fellowship with God
3. To purify us and make us "a peculiar people, zealous of good works"
4. To fulfill the righteousness of the law in us
5. To transform us into the likeness of Christ

He quotes 2 Corinthians 5:21: "He has made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," and Titus 2:14, which states Christ "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." For Lloyd-Jones, salvation's goal is not just to save us from punishment but to restore us to what God originally intended us to be.

How can a person test whether they have been truly born again?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several tests to determine if someone has genuinely been born again:

1. Do God's commandments feel grievous or burdensome to you? To a true Christian, they are not grievous.
2. Do you have an instinctive desire to please God as your Father?
3. Do you understand that righteousness is the basis for communion with God?
4. Is your desire for righteousness greater than your desire for happiness or experiences?
5. Do you show evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life?
6. Is there a changed attitude toward sin and the world?
7. Do you have real joy that persists regardless of circumstances?

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes: "If you can say with confidence that you are hungering and thirsting after righteousness beyond everything else in the world, my dear friend, you've got the life of God in you. For no man ever is in that position except the man who has been born of the Spirit."