Sanctification
A Sermon on Romans 13:11-14
Originally preached March 17, 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
Justification by faith alone has been called the great doctrine on which the church stands or falls. With the emphasis on justification, many Protestants are guilty of neglecting the important doctrine of sanctification. As Christians strive to rightly understand what the Bible teaches about sanctification, there are many unique challenges this doctrine presents. What is the relationship between faith and works? Does the law have any role to play in the Christian life? How does right motivation affect one’s works before God? In this sermon on Romans 13:11–14 titled “Sanctification,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions and more. He also alerts to the dangers of antinomianism and legalism. These two defective beliefs work in tandem as people either think the law does not concern them or they reduce the Christian life to outward practice of the law. In this sermon on sanctification, Dr. Lloyd-Jones not only warns about the dangers of an imprecise understanding of sanctification, but also positively makes a biblical case for grounding good works in faith in Christ Jesus. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones uncovers the symptoms of false beliefs about sanctification while providing the biblical treatment that will lead Christians to truly grow in their relationship with God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage introduces an additional thought to heighten the force of what Paul has been saying.
- The passage reminds us of the New Testament way of dealing with conduct. It never deals with conduct alone but always provides reasons and motives.
- The passage reminds us that we do not live this way to become Christians but because we are Christians. Our conduct is based on our position.
- Our conduct is based on our understanding of that position. Paul assumes we have knowledge of what he has said in Romans 1-11.
- The passage reminds us of the importance of doctrine. Doctrine and practice cannot be separated.
- Understanding the relationship between doctrine and practice avoids the dangers of antinomianism (neglecting the law) and legalism (relying on the law).
- Antinomianism arises from:
- Intellectualism: relying on orthodoxy alone
- Misusing the doctrines of grace as an excuse for sin
- "Believism": saying you believe is enough, no need to change life
- "Take it by faith": claiming to have sanctification without evidence
- Mysticism: focusing on feelings and neglecting life
- Overemphasis on phenomena like spiritual gifts while neglecting decency
- Legalism arises from realizing the danger of antinomianism and swinging to the opposite extreme.
- The passage teaches us to live the Christian life based on objective truth, not subjective experiences. We start with truth and apply it to ourselves.
- Paul's method of teaching sanctification is to present arguments and truths to be put into practice, not offer an experience to be taken by faith.
- Paul uses fear, conscience, reason, and love as motives to encourage sanctification.
Sermon Q&A
Questions from Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 13:11-14
What is the main passage that Dr. Lloyd-Jones is examining in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones is examining Romans 13:11-14, specifically focusing on the passage that begins with "And 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." He describes this as "one of the great and one of the most eloquent passages in the whole of the Bible" that constitutes a new subsection in the 13th chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
What historical figure's conversion is associated with Romans 13:11-14?
St. Augustine of Hippo's conversion is forever associated with this passage. Dr. Lloyd-Jones recounts how Augustine, while in the garden during his time of spiritual crisis, heard a child's voice saying "taller legger" (rise and read). Going inside, Augustine picked up the book and read: "The night is far spent, the day is at end. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." In that moment, "the whole glory of the gospel and the way of salvation became clear to him," marking the great turning point in Augustine's life.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the relationship between doctrine and practice in Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that doctrine and practice are "always intimately associated and inextricably intermixed." He points out that even when Paul seems to have finished with doctrine and moved to practical application, "doctrine keeps on coming in." He states that faith and practice, faith and works, doctrine and its practical application cannot and must never be separated if we've truly grasped the truth. Understanding this interrelationship is the best way to avoid the twin dangers of antinomianism and legalism.
What is antinomianism according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, antinomianism is the condition where a person feels they have nothing to do with the law and is therefore unconcerned about their conduct, practice, and behavior. The term literally means "against law" (anti-nomos). He describes it as a condition that "has worked havoc so many times in the long history of the church" and suggests it's prevalent in his time. It can manifest through intellectual orthodoxy without corresponding behavior, misapplication of doctrines like the perseverance of saints, "believism" that divorces confession from life change, or mysticism focused on inward feelings without outward transformation.
What criticism does Dr. Lloyd-Jones make of the "victorious life" teaching?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly critiques the "victorious life" or "overcoming" teaching, stating that the apostle Paul "never teaches" this approach. He criticizes this teaching because: 1. It starts with man's unhappiness rather than God's holiness 2. It presents the wrong motive (personal happiness rather than reconciliation with God) 3. It suggests sanctification comes in a single crisis experience that can be "taken by faith" 4. It contradicts the New Testament pattern which always starts with objective truth rather than subjective condition 5. It fails to recognize that Christianity doesn't primarily exist to make us happy but to reconcile us to God
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain Paul's method of teaching sanctification?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul's method of teaching sanctification involves reasoning, argument, and presenting motives based on doctrine. In Romans 13, Paul uses a gradation of arguments: 1. First, the fear motive (avoiding punishment and judgment) 2. Second, the conscience motive (doing right because we understand what God expects) 3. Finally, the love motive (loving one another fulfills the law)
The apostle doesn't offer sanctification as a package to be received in a single experience, but presents truth that must be grasped intellectually and then worked out practically. This approach starts with "objective truth and not my subjective condition" and requires a general comprehension of salvation before one can effectively live the Christian life.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "knowing the time" in this passage?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that when Paul says "knowing the time," he's assuming his readers have knowledge of the great doctrinal truths he's been explaining in the earlier chapters of Romans. Paul's teaching is that "unless you've got a general idea and comprehension of the way of salvation and the plan and the purpose of salvation, you will never really be able to live this life, because all the motives presented are based upon these great doctrines." The phrase introduces what Lloyd-Jones calls "the eschatological argument" or "apocalyptic argument," referring to the last times and the coming of Christ as motivation for Christian living.
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.