Grace and Truth ... by Jesus Christ
A Sermon on Romans 1:6-7
Originally preached Jan. 20, 1956
Scripture
6Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon Description
The church in Rome was an extraordinary church whose faith was known by all the believers. In this sermon titled “Grace and Truth… by Jesus Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines some of the reasons that the apostle Paul writes as highly as he does of this church in Romans 1:6–7. Like all believers, they were once sinful men and women, but God in His grace called them out of the world to be a holy people set apart for His great purposes. All Christians are saved by God’s grace alone and there is nothing they can do to contribute to their salvation. Because they are saved, they are at peace with God and one another. These great doctrines of the Christian faith serve as the foundation of the Christian life. This is a life of loving one another and seeking to share the message of Christ with all. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that all true living must come from true doctrine and a true knowledge of God. This sermon confronts all with the message of God’s free grace to sinners who have no other hope than Jesus Christ. The church in Rome was a congregation of redeemed believers who trusted in Jesus and sought to live according to the calling of God in their lives.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon examines Romans 1:7-15 where Paul expresses his desire to visit the Roman church.
- Paul begins by wishing the Romans grace and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ. Grace is God's unmerited favor and kindness. Peace is the result of experiencing God's grace.
- Paul thanks God for the Roman Christians and their faith which is known throughout the world. Paul is not thanking them for attending church but is thanking God for making them Christians.
- The "whole world" refers to the Roman Empire and Christian communities within it, not literally every person on earth. The news of the Roman church spread through Christian networks.
- Paul rejoices that there are Christians even in a place like Rome, the center of the empire and filled with vice and paganism. The presence of Christians there proves the gospel is for Gentiles too.
- The news of the Roman church spread without organized publicity efforts. Revivals spread on their own through the work of the Holy Spirit. The church today relies too much on publicity and propaganda instead of the Holy Spirit.
- Christians should live in such a way that their faith is spoken of and spreads to others, leading them to rejoice and inquire about the gospel.
- Paul prays that the Romans would be filled with the Spirit so they can spread the gospel through their lives and bring God glory.
- Paul prays for God's mercy on himself and Christians who have failed to spread the gospel and live out their faith. He prays God would make them "living epistles of Christ."
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Romans: Key Questions and Answers
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the meaning of "grace and peace" in Paul's greeting to the Romans?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when Paul wishes "grace and peace" to the Romans, he's wishing them everything a Christian could need. Grace is "unmerited favor" - kindness shown to those who don't deserve it. The term refers not only to God's grace itself but also to "the things that come to us as the result of God's grace." Peace is the result of experiencing God's grace. It means peace with God (no longer being His enemy), peace within oneself (absence of restlessness), and peace with others. Lloyd-Jones describes grace as "the fountain, the source" that leads to "this ocean of peace."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the relationship between doctrine and Christian living?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that doctrine and Christian living are inseparable. He states, "The Christian life is one, and it's indivisible. It consists of faith and works, belief and practice, and the two things are quite inseparable." He condemns the attitude that says, "I can't be bothered with doctrines... I believe in living the Christian life." He argues that "if your life and your mode of living is not the outcome of your doctrine, it is not Christian living." Every New Testament epistle follows this pattern: "after a preliminary salutation, immediate doctrine, and then after outlining the great doctrine, therefore the application of the doctrine."
What significant doctrinal truth does Dr. Lloyd-Jones find in Paul's simple phrase "God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ"?
Lloyd-Jones points out that this phrase contains profound doctrinal truth about Christ's deity. He explains: "Here is doctrine, here is profound doctrine, this little word 'and'... It tells me that the Lord Jesus Christ is equal to God." He argues that nothing but God can be put alongside God: "You can't put a man by the side of God. You can't put a power, you can't put anything. Anything put by the side of God must be equal with God." Thus, Paul is affirming that Jesus is "the eternal son of God, co-equal, co-eternal with the Father."
Why does Paul thank God for the Romans rather than thanking the Romans themselves?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Paul thanks God for the Romans because they are what they are by God's grace alone. He states, "He doesn't thank them for being what they are. He doesn't thank them for having joined the church and for being faithful." Lloyd-Jones says, "We are not to be praised, my friends. It's God who's to be praised." Paul thanks God for their faith because faith itself is a gift from God. Lloyd-Jones references Paul's words elsewhere: "I am what I am by the grace of God" and applies this principle to the Romans as well.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about how the faith of the Romans became "spoken of throughout the whole world"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses this as a lesson about genuine spiritual revival. He points out that the Roman Christians had no newspapers, telegrams, telephones, radio, television, or advertising agencies, yet news of their faith spread throughout the empire. He explains: "A revival never needs to be advertised. It always advertises itself. You don't need to advertise the work of the Holy Spirit. It is its own advertisement." He challenges his listeners: "If you and I were only functioning as we should be, functioning as Christians, amongst other things, a great deal of money would be saved for the church." He concludes that in the first century, Christianity "was advertised simply by the lives and living of Christian people."
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.