A World in Darkness
A Sermon on Romans 13:11-14
Originally preached April 14, 1967
Scripture
11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us …
Sermon Description
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes a striking statement about the Christian view of the world in saying that at its best, the world is still in darkness. In a modern day and age when such statements may seem polarizing and perhaps even offensive, why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones make such a provocative claim? Does this mean that the Christian simply dismisses everything in the world? Does the Christian despise the culture as a result of acknowledging the darkness that pervades every aspect of this world? In this sermon on Romans 13:11–14 titled “A World in Darkness,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the post-enlightenment, progressive view that the world is generally good and getting better. He does so by looking closely at how the apostle Paul characterizes the world as ignorant of the most vital knowledge. The world is morally dark and in utter despair because of sin. This, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, makes the Christian a pilgrim in this world. They are restless strangers in a world of darkness. As children of the light, they cannot find their ultimate trust or excitement in what politicians and others offer as a fix to this dark world. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges this understanding of the world and encourages Christians to look forward to the day when their salvation will be complete.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle assumes we know certain things: the time we are living in, our view of life in this world, and our outlook on the future.
- The time we are living in is the time between Christ's first and second coming.
- Our view of life in this world is that it is like the night and darkness. This refers to mankind's ignorance, especially regarding God, ourselves, life's purpose, death, judgment, and eternity. The world sees life as wonderful, but Christians see it as grim.
- Our outlook on the future is our salvation and the day. Our salvation refers to the ultimate, final salvation we are moving toward, not our current experience of salvation. The day refers to Christ's second coming.
- The world sees itself as enlightened but is still in darkness regarding what really matters. Christians see the world as doomed and passing away.
- Christians are strangers and pilgrims in the world, realizing life will have troubles, the world is evil, and all human efforts are superficial. But Christians look forward to eternity.
- Regarding salvation, Christians have been saved from sin's guilt, are being saved from its power, and will be saved completely in the future. The apostle focuses on the future, ultimate salvation here.
- The apostle has described this future, ultimate salvation in Romans 8, referring to the redemption of our bodies. Hebrews and 1 Peter also refer to this future salvation.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding the Christian's View of Life According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "the time" in Romans 13:11-14?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "the time" refers specifically to the period between the first and second comings of Christ. He states, "He assumes that we know this time, the time in which we're living, and that knowing the time which we have defined as being the time between the two comings of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what he means by the time, the time of the first advent, the time of the second advent." This is the Christian's unique view of time - the interval between what Christ has already done and what He is yet going to do.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the Christian's view of life in this world?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christians view life in this present world as "night" and "darkness." Unlike non-Christians who may see life as wonderful and the world as improved, Christians recognize this world as temporary and fallen. He says, "The Christian looks out upon life as it is today, and to him it is the night. It's darkness. And I want to stress this, that he takes that view of life in this world at its best, not only at its worst." This view shapes how Christians live as "strangers and pilgrims" rather than being fully at home in this world.
What are the two key words Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses to describe the world's condition?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes two key words: "night" and "darkness." He states, "The two important words for us now are the words night and darkness." These words characterize the world's intellectual ignorance about God, humanity's purpose, death, judgment, and eternity. They also describe the moral condition of mankind, referring to what Paul elsewhere calls "the unfruitful works of darkness."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the meaning of "salvation" in this passage?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones clarifies that when Paul says "our salvation is nearer than when we believed," he's not suggesting Christians aren't already saved. Rather, he's referring to the final, complete aspect of salvation. He explains there are three "tenses" of salvation: "We have been saved" (from sin's guilt), "we are being saved" (from sin's power - sanctification), and "we shall be saved" (the ultimate, complete salvation including glorification). In this passage, Paul focuses on this third, future aspect of salvation.
How does the Christian's understanding of time and the world differ from non-Christians?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, non-Christians celebrate progress, enlightenment, and view the world at its best state ever. They boast about "the 18th century when the enlightenment, as it were, came in" and the "wonderful discoveries" since then. In contrast, Christians recognize that despite surface improvements, the world remains fundamentally in darkness about the most important matters. He states, "All the enlightenment hasn't given us any light at all. If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness? That's the scripture's verdict on the sophistication and the enlightenment and the culture of this present age."
What practical implications does this view have for Christians according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christians should never put their ultimate trust in human culture or progress. While Christians don't dismiss culture as useless (it falls under "common grace"), they recognize its limitations. He explains, "The Christian mustn't despise culture. But what he never does is to put his faith in it, ought to glory in it and say how wonderful it is." Instead, Christians should live as "pilgrims on the way to eternity," recognizing that no political efforts will fundamentally transform this world's fallen nature. This perspective shapes how Christians engage with the world while maintaining their distinct identity.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the day/night contrast in Scripture?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Scripture consistently uses the day/night contrast to describe the difference between life in Christ versus life apart from Him. He quotes numerous passages including John 8:12 where Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Christians are described as having been "called out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9) and as "children of light" rather than "children of darkness." This contrast permeates New Testament teaching about the Christian's identity and conduct.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the concept of Christians as "pilgrims" in this world?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christians are "strangers and pilgrims" in this world because they recognize its temporary and fallen nature. He quotes Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" and says Christians "don't settle down here. We don't even want to stay here forever and forever." He explains, "Here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." The Christian's awareness of the world's darkness and the coming salvation means they pass through this world like travelers passing through "vanity fair" - engaged with it but not ultimately belonging to it or putting their hope in it.
The Book of Romans
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.