In the Spirit or in the Flesh?
A Sermon on Romans 7:6
Originally preached May 29, 1959
Scripture
6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Sermon Description
What does it mean to be in the Spirit? In this sermon on Romans 7:6 titled “In the Spirit or in the Flesh?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shares that it means the Christian lives in a totally new way than before. He says that to be in the Spirit is to live in Christ and renewed daily in His power. He contrasts the new life with the old life of sin and bondage under the law. The law was good, but because of human sin and depravity, it brought only condemnation. Jesus is better than the law. Jesus died for His people and makes them new creatures in Christ if they believe in His gospel. Jesus brings commandments that are not burdensome, but rather they are freeing. The glory of this new life is in living in the Holy Spirit as children of God. Christians are no longer slaves to sin and immorality. The most important question then is how does one live this life? The answer is by believing in the gospel of Christ, and in His death, burial, and resurrection as the only means of salvation and peace with God. This message is the only way of true peace and joy with God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is addressing criticism that justification by faith leads to immorality. He argues that it is the only way to live a holy life.
- Paul contrasts the old life under the law and the new life in the Spirit. The old life inflames sin and leads to death. The new life in the Spirit leads to serving God.
- The old life is external and written on stone. The new life is internal, written on hearts and minds by the Spirit.
- The old life lacks understanding of the purpose and meaning of the law. The new life has the veil removed and understanding granted by the Spirit.
- The old life observes the letter of the law. The new life grasps the spiritual meaning and purpose behind the law.
- The old life has the wrong motives: fear of God and self-satisfaction. The new life has the right motive: love of God and desire to please Him.
- The old life leads to bondage. The new life leads to freedom and liberty in the Spirit.
- The old life lacks power and encouragement. The new life has forgiveness of sins, victory over sin and death, the indwelling of the Spirit, relationship to Christ, purpose from God, and the hope of glory.
- The old life is unable to overcome sin and leads to death. The new life has the power of the Spirit to overcome sin and leads to life.
- The old life does not change. The new life is progressively transformed into the image of Christ by the Spirit.
Sermon Q&A
Questions about Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 7:6
What is the main contrast that Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores in this sermon on Romans 7:6?
The main contrast Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores is between "serving in newness of spirit" versus "serving in the oldness of the letter." He examines the difference between the Christian life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit versus the old life lived under the law. This is a fundamental distinction between the Christian's relationship to God's law and the non-Christian's approach to morality and righteousness.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the difference between external and internal relationship to God's law?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that under the old covenant, the law was external - written on tablets of stone and outside of people. However, in the new covenant, God puts His laws "into their mind and writes them in their hearts." The Christian has God's law internalized through the Holy Spirit, not just as an external standard to follow. He quotes Jeremiah 31 and Hebrews 8 to show that the Christian has God working within them both "to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the old and new motives for righteous living?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the old motives for righteous living were: 1. Fear of God and judgment 2. Self-preservation and self-interest 3. Self-satisfaction and pride in one's righteousness
The new motives for the Christian are: 1. Love and gratitude to God for salvation 2. Desire to please God and glorify His name 3. Thanksgiving for what Christ has done in dying for us
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the "spirit of bondage" versus the "spirit of liberty"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the spirit of bondage as the burden felt under the law - characterized by tension, distress, strain, hopelessness, and despair. People under the law find God's commandments grievous and difficult. In contrast, the spirit of liberty comes from the Holy Spirit - "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17). Christians hunger and thirst after righteousness, find God's commandments not grievous, and enjoy freedom from the shackles of the law. They experience the "glorious liberty of the children of God."
What does Lloyd-Jones say about the Christian's ability to live a holy life compared to the non-Christian?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that the non-Christian was "left to himself" under the law, which was "weak through the flesh" (Romans 8:3). The law commanded but gave no power to obey. In contrast, the Christian has: 1. New life as "a partaker of the divine nature" 2. The Spirit who "gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6) 3. God working within "both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13) 4. Power to "mortify the deeds of the body" through the Spirit (Romans 8:13) 5. "Power, love and a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7)
What is the ultimate result of the Christian life according to this sermon?
The ultimate result of the Christian life is progressive transformation into Christ's image. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes 2 Corinthians 3:18, noting that Christians "are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." This is not something Christians do themselves but something done to them as they behold Christ. It's a progressive sanctification where believers become more and more like Christ. God completes the work He begins (Philippians 1:6), and eventually presents believers "without spot, without wrinkle" (Ephesians 5) on the day of Christ.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones respond to the charge that his preaching of justification by faith leads to immorality?
Lloyd-Jones responds that far from leading to immorality, justification by faith is the only true foundation for holy living. He argues that: 1. The law actually inflames sin rather than subduing it 2. Only the gospel provides a new life and new nature that can truly please God 3. The Christian has new internal motivation of love and gratitude rather than fear 4. The Spirit provides real power to overcome sin that the law never could 5. The results demonstrate progressive sanctification as Christians are transformed He shows that the charge of antinomianism misunderstands the very nature of justification, which leads to a deeper and more genuine holiness than mere external rule-keeping.
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.