Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 1:1

What was Paul's three-fold description of himself in Romans 1:1?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Paul describes himself in three ways: first, as "a servant of Jesus Christ"; second, as "called to be an apostle" or "a called apostle"; and third, as "separated unto the gospel of God." These three descriptions progressively build upon each other, showing increasing levels of authority and divine calling in Paul's ministry.

What were the essential qualifications to be a true apostle according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that a true apostle must have: seen the risen Lord to be a witness to the resurrection; been specially called and commissioned by the Lord himself; received authoritative teaching directly from the Lord (not from other men); and been given power to preach, teach, work miracles, and impart spiritual gifts to others.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones reject the concept of apostolic succession?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects apostolic succession because the very definition of an apostle makes it impossible. Since a key qualification was being an eyewitness to the resurrection, no one alive today could qualify. He also points to Ephesians where Paul describes the apostles as the "foundation" of the church - and a foundation is laid once, not repeatedly. Additionally, with the completion of the New Testament canon, the apostles' unique authoritative teaching role is no longer needed.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by Paul being "separated unto the gospel of God"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this phrase means Paul was divinely set apart for the gospel from before his birth. As Paul states in Galatians 1:15-16, God "separated me from my mother's womb and called me by his grace." This reveals God's sovereignty and foreordination of Paul for his apostolic ministry. It wasn't an afterthought or the result of circumstances, but part of God's eternal plan.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect Paul's personal calling to the doctrine of God's sovereignty?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones sees in Paul's calling a powerful example of God's sovereignty - that God had predetermined Paul's ministry before he was born, similar to Jeremiah and John the Baptist. He extends this to teach that our salvation was also determined "before the foundation of the world." This doctrine demonstrates God's intimate knowledge of each person and should inspire holiness in believers who realize "his eye is upon us."

What practical application does Dr. Lloyd-Jones draw from Paul's unique apostolic authority?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones applies this teaching to refute modern claims about faith healing. He explains that the commission in Matthew 10:8 to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils" was specifically given to the twelve apostles and not to the church for all time. This helps believers discern which modern movements are rightly interpreting Scripture versus those making claims beyond biblical authority.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize the importance of studying these introductory verses?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones stresses that these introductory verses are full of vital doctrine, not mere preliminaries to skip over. He states, "It's because so many of us have so often neglected this sort of doctrine here at the very beginning that we fall such easy prey to these specious arguments by which we are surrounded." Proper understanding of these verses provides protection against false teaching.