Strangers and Pilgrims (1)
A Sermon on Romans 13:11-14
Scripture
11Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. 12The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let’s rid ourselves of the deeds of darkness …
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
It can be easy to lose faith in oneself when feelings change quickly. In this sermon on Romans 13:11–14 titled “Strangers and Pilgrims (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds that regardless of feelings, one’s position is sure if they are a follower of Jesus. Feelings come and go but thankfully they do not influence one’s position or relationship with Jesus since it is centered in Him and His work, not theirs. Christians are charged throughout Scripture that they are to be different from the world because of the change they have undergone in Christ. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, Paul calls believers to walk as children of the day, yet he mentions that the day is still to come— how can it be both? As he explains, Christians are already in the day because they are believers. Even though it is in the future, Christians are there in spirit because they are followers of Christ. Paul’s point is that their citizenship is in heaven and must act like it. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains how the knowledge of one’s conversion ought to drive their actions and how this concept of the “now and not-yet” applies to today.
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.