Salvation Guaranteed by Grace
A Sermon on Romans 4:13-17
Originally preached May 31, 1957
Scripture
13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of …
Sermon Description
What is the difference between the promise of God and the law of God? In the sermon “Salvation Guaranteed by Grace,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on the teaching of the apostle Paul in Romans 4:13–17. Here is the promise that Christ’s salvation given by God to Abraham and his descendants is a gift of grace. The law, on the other hand, says, “Do this and live!” These are two different things that are both explained in Jesus Christ. He died and fulfilled the law wholly, and it is by grace that all who believe become inheritors of His salvation. Does this mean that the law is evil? Paul gives an emphatic no to this question. The law's purpose was to point toward a gift of salvation, not provide salvation. What does the law and the promise have to do with today’s Christian? This is not an abstract theological question but it concerns the central question of salvation. It asks all to examine themselves to find out if they are truly resting in the promise of Jesus Christ or in themselves. This sermon on salvation by grace calls all to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation.
Sermon Breakdown
- The promise to Abraham was not through the law but through faith. This is a historical fact according to Genesis.
- If the promise was through the law, faith would be made void and the promise would be of no effect. The law brings wrath, not promise.
- Where there is no law, there is no transgression. The law defines and establishes sin.
- Therefore, the promise is by faith so that it may be by grace. Grace and faith go together, as do works and law.
- The promise is by faith so that it may be sure to all the seed, not just those under the law. Faith includes Jews and Gentiles.
- Abraham is the father of all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile. Faith makes us children of Abraham.
- God gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. This is how God could promise Abraham many descendants when he and Sarah were old.
- God sees the end from the beginning. He has already glorified us, though we are still on earth. He calls us as though we already have our glorified bodies.
- Nothing but God's omnipotence and omniscience could have saved us or kept us or brought us to glory. Our salvation is sure because it depends on God, not us.
- There is hope for even the vilest sinner because salvation is by the omnipotence of grace, not by our works or worthiness.
- God will complete the work He began. His promise will not fail. Our salvation is as sure as Christ's righteousness and God's faithfulness.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 4:13-17
What is the main promise to Abraham that Paul refers to in Romans 4:13?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon, the promise to Abraham went far beyond just possessing the land of Palestine. It refers to "the great day which is coming, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ." Lloyd-Jones explains it as "the promise concerning the great and glorious day, when there shall be a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, and Christ and his people shall reign in glory in this glorified world."
Why does Paul argue that the promise to Abraham could not have come through the law?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul makes this argument based on historical fact: the law was given through Moses 430 years after the promise was made to Abraham. The promise was given entirely by grace through Abraham's faith, not through law-keeping. Additionally, the very nature of law works against promises, as Lloyd-Jones states, "law worketh wrath" and nobody has ever been able to keep the law perfectly. If the promise depended on law-keeping, it would never be fulfilled.
What does Romans 4:14 mean when it says "faith is made void" if the heirs are of the law?
Lloyd-Jones explains that if the promise came through law, then faith would be rendered meaningless because "law is always interested in works and deeds." He says, "The moment, therefore, you bring in law, you're back onto works. And faith doesn't come in at all. There is no faith in a law. Law is a matter of commandments, positive and negative, prohibitions and vetoes, instructions and injunctions. So the moment you bring in law, faith is banished."
What are the two things that always go together according to Lloyd-Jones in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that certain concepts are always correlative: "Works and deeds are always tied to and belong to law" while "faith is the correlative of grace." He says these terms are "wedded and married together." He emphasizes, "If you're talking about grace, well, then don't talk about works. You mustn't mix your terms. You mustn't contradict yourself...You cannot mix works and grace any more than you can mix black and white."
How does faith make the promise "sure to all the seed" according to Romans 4:16?
Lloyd-Jones explains that because salvation is by faith through grace (not works), it guarantees that the promise extends to all believers—both Jews and Gentiles. This way of faith alone ensures that salvation is comprehensive and inclusive. Additionally, faith makes salvation sure because it rests entirely on God's character and power, not on human ability. If salvation depended even partially on human effort, no one would be saved, but since it's by grace through faith, it is secure in God's hands.
What does it mean that God "quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as though they were"?
According to Lloyd-Jones, this phrase demonstrates God's omnipotence and omniscience. God "quickened" (gave life to) Abraham and Sarah's aged bodies, enabling them to have a child when it seemed impossible. It also points to God's ability to resurrect the dead (including Christ) and His power to see the end from the beginning. God can call things that don't yet exist as though they already do because in His sovereign plan, they are certain to come to pass. Lloyd-Jones calls this "the omnipotence of grace."
Why does Lloyd-Jones call the principle of justification by faith "the great missionary charter"?
Lloyd-Jones explains that because salvation is by faith through grace, it can be offered to anyone regardless of their background. He states: "We can offer and preach this gospel to all nations, to all people. I care not who enters this chapel, whether good or bad. From a palace or from a gutter. Whether highly religious or irreligious, it makes no difference." This means the same gospel can be preached to lifelong churchgoers and to "pagans in Central Africa who've never seen a Bible."
How does Lloyd-Jones connect the concept of assurance of salvation to this passage?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that our salvation is secure precisely because it depends on God's grace, not our works. He states, "Our salvation is sure because it's founded on the character of God himself. His everlasting and eternal grace." If our salvation depended on our abilities or faithfulness, we would all fail, just as Adam failed in perfect conditions. He quotes Jesus saying, "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish," noting that our security comes from being in God's hand, not from our grasp of Him.
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.