Kingdom of Righteousness
A Sermon on Romans 14:17
Originally preached May 19, 1963
Scripture
17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Sermon Description
Is the kingdom of God about political or social change? Is it about making men and women more ethical? According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the answer is absolutely not. In this sermon on Romans 14:17 titled “Kingdom of Righteousness,” he says that the kingdom of God is about the true righteousness of Jesus Christ that comes through the gospel. The mistake of many is thinking that the kingdom of God is about the externals of religion, and Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that reduces the Christian life to a matter of external affairs. According to Scripture, being a Christian is not about going to church or being a good person, but it is about the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is a sad thing when Jesus is replaced by the good deeds of people. It is Jesus that saves from sin and darkness and grants true righteousness. This sermon asks the questions: “what is Christianity to you? Is it a lifeless external thing that you do, or is it the power and grace of God made manifest in Jesus Christ?”
Sermon Breakdown
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The kingdom of God is not about external things like food and drink. It is about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
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Righteousness refers to our standing before God and relationship with Him. It is not about our own morality or good works. We must face the question of how we can be righteous before God.
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We cannot stand before God based on our own righteousness. We need to be cleansed from the guilt and power of sin. This is only possible through Jesus Christ, who died to take away our sins and gives us His righteousness.
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When we understand righteousness through Christ, we can have peace with God. We no longer need to strive to earn salvation. We can rest in God's grace and forgiveness.
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The peace we have with God also leads to peace within ourselves and with others. We are no longer comparing ourselves to others or condemning them. We recognize we are all sinners in need of grace.
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True Christianity also results in joy in the Holy Spirit. This joy is not based on circumstances but comes from knowing our sins are forgiven and we are children of God.
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The joy of the Holy Spirit cannot be taken away by others. It allows us to rejoice even in suffering because our joy depends on Christ, not our circumstances.
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The hope of glory - of being with Christ - also fuels our joy. Even death cannot quench this joy because it brings us into the presence of the One we love.
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True Christianity is about our relationship with God and whether we have righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is not about religious observances, morality, or comparing ourselves to others.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Kingdom of God According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What is the main text that Dr. Lloyd-Jones is expounding in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones is expounding Romans 14:17, which states: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." This verse serves as the foundation for his entire sermon as he explores what the Kingdom of God truly is versus what many people mistake it to be.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say there is confusion about the Christian message?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that despite having an open Bible in language we can understand, there remains significant confusion about the Christian message both in the world and even within the church. This confusion stems from people misunderstanding the fundamental nature of the Kingdom of God by substituting external religious practices, moralism, or social reform for the true Kingdom.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean when he says "the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink"?
When Dr. Lloyd-Jones says "the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink," he means the Kingdom is not about external religious observances, ceremonies, or rules about what one should eat or drink. He explains that Christianity is not primarily about ritual practices, denominational affiliations, or arguments over religious minutiae, which were causing division in the Roman church. The Kingdom is not defined by these external religious practices.
What are the three positive characteristics of the Kingdom of God according to Romans 14:17?
According to Romans 14:17, the three positive characteristics of the Kingdom of God are: 1. Righteousness - right standing with God through Christ 2. Peace - peace with God and inner peace that comes from being reconciled to Him 3. Joy in the Holy Ghost - a deep, abiding joy that is not dependent on circumstances
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define true righteousness in the Kingdom of God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones defines true righteousness not as our own moral efforts or goodness, but as the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. He explains it as having our sins put to Christ's account and Christ's righteousness put to our account. This righteousness deals with both the guilt of sin (forgiveness) and the power of sin (a new nature). It's not about what we do but what Christ has done for us.
What is the difference between religion and Christianity according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, religion is about external observances, rituals, denominations, moral codes, and prohibitions. It focuses on human effort and often leads to judgmentalism and misery. True Christianity, on the other hand, is about a relationship with God through Christ, receiving righteousness as a gift, experiencing peace with God, and having joy that doesn't depend on circumstances. Religion is man's attempt to reach God; Christianity is God's way of reaching man.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the joy that comes with being in the Kingdom of God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the joy of the Kingdom as "joy in the Holy Ghost" - a joy that: - Comes from knowing your sins are forgiven - Results from being adopted into God's family - Is independent of circumstances - Can persist even in tribulation and suffering - Cannot be taken away, even by death - Is "unspeakable and full of glory" - Is connected to the hope of eternal glory
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe is the most important test of true Christianity?
The most important test is one's relationship with God - not church membership, morality, or religious observances. He asks: "What is your relationship to God? Are you ready to stand in the presence of God in the judgment?" True Christianity is marked by having Christ's righteousness, peace with God, and joy in the Holy Spirit. It's about worshiping God in spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in human effort.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticize Victorian Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes Victorian Christianity for reducing the gospel to mere morality and respectability. He states, "The Victorians did great harm to the Kingdom of God. They really did bring it down, most of them, to the level of a morality and a respectability. And they made their Sunday a cheerless, joyless day." He believes they mistakenly equated Christianity with moral behavior rather than the transformative power of the gospel.
How does one enter the Kingdom of God according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, one enters the Kingdom of God by faith alone - by simply believing and casting oneself upon Christ. It's not about human striving or moral effort but about receiving Christ's righteousness by faith. He concludes his sermon by saying: "You have but to believe. Simply believe as you are here and now. Cast yourself upon him. He'll give you the righteousness. It'll be followed by the peace. And in turn, it will turn into a joy unspeakable and full of glory."
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.