The Essentials of Salvation
A Sermon on Romans 7:4
Originally preached April 24, 1959
Scripture
4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Sermon Description
What is different about the Christian life from every other life? In this sermon on Romans 7:4 titled “The Essentials of Salvation”, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states that it is no external matter. He says that the Christian life is one that has been totally reoriented because the Christian has passed from death into life by believing in the gospel. The Christian is not simply one who acts differently, but they have been renewed in Christ and made a new creature. This radical change is brought about because Jesus did not come to improve behavior, but to make new men and women. All must ask if they have been transformed in Christ. Only by believing in the person and work of Christ can anyone be saved. Christ stands at the center of life and it is Christ who calls all to believe in Him. He came and died in order that sinners might be saved and brought to life. He rose from the dead as a testament to the power of His message and gospel. This message of Christ is the most important message one can ever hear for it is the words of eternal life.
Sermon Breakdown
- To be a Christian means to have an entirely new life. It involves a death and a rising.
- To be a Christian means to be in an entirely new relationship, especially with God. We were under law, now under grace.
- To be a Christian means to have an entirely new purpose in life: to bring forth fruit unto God.
- To be a Christian means to have an entirely new ability, power and strength.
- How does one become a Christian? Through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is central and vital.
- We become Christians through Christ's death. We are dead to the law through the body of Christ.
- Christ died because of the law. The law demands punishment for sin, which is death.
- Christ came under the law and obeyed it perfectly. But he also bore our sins and the punishment for them. He satisfied the law's demands.
- We also become Christians through Christ's resurrection. We are married to him who is raised from the dead.
- The resurrection proves Christ's work is sufficient, conquers death, gives us new life, presents us to God, and guarantees our final salvation.
- We are saved by historical facts: Christ's incarnation, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and intercession. Not by ideas or teaching alone.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 7:4
What does it mean to be "dead to the law" according to Romans 7:4?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being "dead to the law" means that the Christian has undergone a profound change in their relationship to God. Previously, we were under the law's condemnation and judgment, but through Christ's death, we have been released from that legal relationship. Lloyd-Jones explains: "Before your relationship to God was one through the law. It is now through the Lord Jesus Christ. What a change that is! My whole standing is different. My position, my status as I stand before God, it's altogether different from what it was before." This represents a fundamental shift from a relationship based on legal requirements to one based on grace.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the essential characteristics of a Christian?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes four essential characteristics of a Christian from Romans 7:4: 1. A Christian has an entirely new life - "To be Christian is nothing less than that. It involves a death and a rising." 2. A Christian has an entirely new relationship to God - "Your relationship to God was one through the law. It is now through the Lord Jesus Christ." 3. A Christian has an entirely new purpose - "To bring forth fruit unto God" rather than living for oneself. 4. A Christian has been provided with an entirely new ability/power - "There is a new ability, there is a new power which has entered into the life of this man."
What is the significance of Christ's body in our salvation according to this sermon?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that we are "dead to the law by the body of Christ," highlighting the physical, tangible, historical reality of salvation. He explains: "We are saved by historical facts and events, by things that happened to the Lord Jesus Christ." The reference to Christ's "body" reminds us that salvation isn't merely through ideas or concepts but through the actual physical suffering of Christ on the cross. As Lloyd-Jones states: "We are not saved by teaching. We are not saved by ideas. We are saved by the fact that the eternal Son of God came into this world, had a literal, physical body... and died upon that cross." This physical sacrifice was necessary to satisfy the demands of God's law.
What are the two dangers Christians face in their relationship to the law?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies two opposite dangers that Christians face regarding their relationship to the law: "We saw that there are certain dangers that always confront the Christian. One is the danger of legalism, and the other extreme, of course, is antinomianism, and constantly the devil tries to press us to one or the other of these extremes." Legalism involves returning to the law as a means of salvation or sanctification, while antinomianism represents a rejection of moral obligations altogether. Lloyd-Jones warns that the devil constantly tries to push believers toward one extreme or the other.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize Christ's resurrection in addition to His death?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that both Christ's death and resurrection are essential for our salvation. He states: "The apostle is therefore careful to add it. He is saying that the other thing that was essential to our salvation in addition to the death is that the Lord should have arisen from amongst the dead." The resurrection is necessary for several reasons: 1. It proves that Christ's death was sufficient to satisfy the law's demands 2. It shows He conquered death, "the last enemy" 3. It enables Him to give us new life 4. It allows Him to present us to God 5. It guarantees our future resurrection and complete salvation
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.