Redemption History
A Sermon on Romans 13:11-14
Originally preached April 7, 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
As Christians compare Christianity with other moral and ethical belief systems, philosophies, and religions in the world, many of them have an equal emphasis on love of neighbor. What then distinguishes the Christians’ call to fulfill the royal law of love from others? In Romans 13:11–14 the apostle Paul provides a beautiful insight into the Christian motivation to love neighbor as he writes to Christians in Rome about the doctrine of eschatology. It is in this doctrine that the believer finds the grounding to live a radical life of love of neighbor. In this sermon on Romans 13:11–14 titled “Redemption History,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds that no other moral system knows anything about the doctrine of last things. In this sermon, he brings out the practical implications of the doctrine of eschatology. Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ stress on the intimate relationship between the life to come and its impact on the Christian life today moves eschatology beyond the often sensationalized prophesy paperbacks to the nitty-gritty of Christian love. While not neglecting the importance of general history, he calls Christians to understand redemptive history because that is what the Bible is interested in. Listen to Dr. Lloyd-Jones as he calls Christians to follow Paul’s call for radical love of neighbor by looking at redemption history, especially regarding Christ’s second coming.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by reminding the listeners of the passage being studied, Romans 13:11-14.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that in the previous sermon, they looked at this passage generally but will now examine it in more detail.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the passage divides into two parts: doctrinal and practical application. The doctrinal part comes first because doctrine motivates practice.
- The doctrinal part of this passage focuses on eschatology or the doctrine of last things. This doctrine is unique to Christianity.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Paul assumes the listeners know and understand this doctrine. Dr. Lloyd-Jones will remind them of what they know about eschatology.
- Eschatology teaches about the significance and importance of the time we live in. The "time" refers to a special period, not just the present moment.
- Paul uses "time" in Romans 3:26; 5:6; 8:18; 9:9; and 11:5 to refer to a special period associated with Jesus's coming.
- Christians view time and history differently than non-Christians. Non-Christians see time as either linear progress or cyclical with no purpose. Christians see two types of history: the history God permits (secular history) and the history God produces (redemption history).
- The history God produces has three characteristics:
- It is predetermined by God
- It is progressive, leading to a predetermined end
- Its time element revolves around Jesus Christ
- The Bible divides time into before Christ, during Christ's earthly life, and after Christ's ascension until His second coming. We live in the last period of history.
- If we don't understand we live in this special time, Paul's argument won't motivate us. We must view history and time through redemption in Christ.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Romans 13:11-14: Questions and Answers
What is the main doctrine that Paul uses in Romans 13:11-14 to motivate Christian living?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Paul uses the doctrine of eschatology, or the doctrine of the last things, as the main motivating force in this passage. He explains: "Now, what is the doctrine that he puts before us here? Because he really only puts one big doctrine before us in this final argument. And this is the doctrine... the doctrine of eschatology, or if you prefer it, the doctrine of the last things, the doctrine of God's ultimate purpose." This doctrine about God's ultimate plan and purpose differentiates Christianity from all other moral or ethical systems.
How does the Christian view of time and history differ from non-Christian views according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones explains that non-Christians view time primarily through calendars, either as linear progression or as cyclical patterns, but they see no real purpose in history. He notes that secular historians like H.A.L. Fisher concluded there was no discernible purpose in history. In contrast, Christians understand time in relation to God's redemptive plan. Lloyd-Jones states: "There is nothing which so differentiates the Christian more clearly from all who are not christian than his view of time and his view of history." Christians see time divided according to Christ's comings - the time before Christ came, the current time between His first and second comings, and the future time of His return.
What does Lloyd-Jones mean by "knowing the time" in this sermon?
When Paul says "knowing the time," Lloyd-Jones explains he means Christians understand they are living in a specific period of redemptive history - between Christ's first and second coming. Lloyd-Jones states: "What do we know? Well, we know that we are living in the time between the two comings of the Son of God. That's what he means by the time." This is the last phase of world history before Christ returns, what the New Testament writers call "the last days." Christians' understanding of this time frame should shape their behavior and priorities.
What are the two types of history according to Lloyd-Jones' explanation?
According to Lloyd-Jones, there are two types of history: "There is that sort of history to which I've been referring. What's that? Well, if you like, you can call it man's history. But a better way of describing it is to say that it is the history that God permits, the history that God allows." The second type is "the history that God produces... God's history, holy history, or if you prefer it, redemption history." This second type is the truly significant history that the Bible is concerned with, showing God's direct interventions in the world.
Why does Lloyd-Jones emphasize the importance of doctrine in Christian living?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that doctrine must come first because Christian conduct flows from doctrinal understanding. He states: "The only way to be saved from the terrible sin of antinomianism is always to put your doctrine first and to realize that christian conduct is always the outcome and the outworking and the application of doctrine and of truth." He warns against the "tourist mentality" that rushes through Scripture without truly absorbing its doctrinal foundations, emphasizing that repetition of doctrine is essential for spiritual growth and proper Christian living.
What are the three main characteristics of God's redemptive history according to the sermon?
Lloyd-Jones identifies three main characteristics of the history God produces: 1. It is predetermined by God: "This is a history which is predetermined by God. Obviously, he's blended all, he's determined it all." 2. It is progressive and leads to a predetermined end: "It is progressive and that it is always leading on to a predetermined end." 3. It centers on Christ: "This history which God produces and time element in this history must always be thought of primarily and essentially in relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ."
How does understanding "the time" affect Christian living according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones argues that understanding we live in the last days between Christ's first and second coming should fundamentally shape how Christians live. He explains: "Now, christian conduct and behavior is governed by this kind of thing. And if you and I don't start with this knowledge that we are living in this extraordinary time between the first coming and the last of the second coming, the apostles argument will not only not appeal to us, it won't help us." This understanding provides the motivation for righteous living, as we recognize we're in the final period of world history awaiting Christ's return.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as unique about Christianity compared to other ethical systems?
Lloyd-Jones explains that Christianity's uniqueness lies in its eschatological foundation: "The thing that differentiates the christian teaching concerning conduct and behavior from every moral teaching or ethical system, from all your human is mentioned and moral is that they know nothing at all about and are not interested in this great doctrine of the last things. They lack the multive, and that is why they always fail in practice." Christianity provides not just moral rules but an ultimate purpose and motivation based on God's redemptive plan and timeline.
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.