The Essentials of Salvation
A Sermon on Romans 7:4
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.
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.