Changed from Glory into Glory
A Sermon on Romans 6:22
Originally preached March 13, 1959
Scripture
22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Sermon Description
It should be unthinkable to the Christian to return to their old life. In Romans 6:22, Paul emphasizes a depiction of what it is like to be in Christ Jesus and it is a simple argument to those who consider themselves a Christian. In the sermon from Romans 6:22 titled “Servants of Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones underlines that a Christian is one who has undergone a profound change, because only a Christian can truly discuss a true difference between their past and present. That is because a Christian has been set free from sin. God regenerates and creates the Christian anew. A Christian has the power to resist the devil while a non-Christian does not. Sin becomes just a nuisance in the daily life, not a master. Once a Christian grasps that they are now enslaved to God and righteousness, they realize that they truly have no right to continue on sinning. The result of this great change is a fruitful life in Christ. If there is no fruit, one is not truly a Christian. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages the listener to analyze their life and actions to determine if they are living in a fruitful life as slaves to righteousness.
Sermon Breakdown
- The Christian has undergone a profound change. There is a contrast between "then" and "now".
- The change is complete and absolute. There is nothing in common between the non-Christian and the Christian.
- The change is something that happens to us, not something we do. We have been freed and enslaved to God.
- Being freed from sin means we are no longer under its reign, rule, or tyranny. We are outside its territory and jurisdiction.
- Sin is no longer the Christian's master, just a nuisance. The Christian is on top, sin is underneath.
- When Christians sin, it is because they have foolishly listened to a voice they do not need to listen to. They can resist the devil, and he will flee.
- Christians have been translated to God's kingdom. The devil cannot touch them.
- Realizing we are slaves of God is the key to holiness and sanctification. We have no right to live for ourselves or sin.
- Christians have fruit unto holiness. Fruit is the result of the change, not the means to everlasting life.
- All Christians have fruit. Without fruit, there is no Christianity. Fruit means becoming less guilty of sin and more devoted to God.
- Holiness is progressive. Christians should become increasingly holy over time, though they still stumble. Falling does not mean returning to the beginning.
- The first result of the change is fruit unto holiness. The end result is everlasting life.
Sermon Q&A
What Does It Mean to Be Free from Sin According to Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What does Romans 6:22 teach about the Christian's freedom from sin?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans 6:22 ("But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life") is one of the most magnificent statements in all literature. This verse teaches that Christians have been completely freed from sin's dominion and rulership. This doesn't mean sinless perfection, but rather that sin is no longer our master. As Lloyd-Jones explains, "Sin in the Christian is no longer our master. It's just a nuisance. In the non-Christian it is master, it is Lord. It reigns. But sin is no longer my master. It's only a nuisance, an annoyance. Nothing more than that."
How does Lloyd-Jones describe the profound change that happens when someone becomes a Christian?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the Christian has undergone a profound, complete transformation. He says, "There is nothing in common between the non-Christian and the Christian, and there are no gradations between not being a Christian and being a Christian." This change is characterized by the contrast between "then" and "now" that Paul repeatedly highlights. It's not a slight modification or addition - it's a complete transfer from one kingdom to another. Lloyd-Jones adds that this change is not something we do ourselves but something done to us - "having been freed" and "having been enslaved to God" are both passive formulations showing God's action in our lives.
What does it mean to be "enslaved to God" according to the sermon?
Being "enslaved to God" means we completely belong to God as His purchased possession. Lloyd-Jones explains: "We have no right to live to ourselves. We have no right to please ourselves. I'll go further. We have no right to sin." Like Jesus who said, "I came not to do mine own will, but the will of him who hath sent me," Christians are to be utterly and absolutely at God's disposal. Lloyd-Jones states this is "the secret of holiness" - not an experience we need but a realization of what we already are. As he puts it, "You are not your own. You are bought with a price."
What is the fruit that Christians produce according to Romans 6:22?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the fruit mentioned in Romans 6:22 is holiness or sanctification. This fruit is a direct result of our changed condition - "You cannot produce this fruit without being freed from sin and enslaved unto God." Every Christian bears some fruit, as it's impossible to be a Christian without fruit-bearing. This fruit includes abandoning sinful practices and becoming devoted to God. It means manifesting "the fruit of the Spirit" (love, joy, peace, etc.) and becoming progressively more Christ-like. As Lloyd-Jones explains, "Holiness isn't a feeling. Holiness isn't an experience. Holiness is to be devoted to God, to be at his service."
Is sanctification progressive according to Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
Yes, Lloyd-Jones firmly teaches that sanctification is progressive. He states, "Holiness is progressive. Holiness is something that should increase in us." He refers to 2 Corinthians 3:18, explaining that Christians are "changed into the same image, from glory to glory, progressing, advancing, becoming more and more like him." He refutes the idea that we remain exactly the same throughout our Christian life or that our holiness is only in Christ. Using the analogy of climbing a mountain, he explains that even when a Christian sins, they don't necessarily fall all the way back to the beginning of their spiritual journey. The saint "matures, grows, develops" and "becomes increasingly conformable to the image of his dear son."
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.