The Sufferings of Christ
A Sermon on Romans 8:32
Originally preached April 13, 1962
Scripture
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Sermon Description
It is instinctive to try to spare loved ones from pain and suffering if at all possible. Yet one reads in Romans 8:32 that God the Father did not spare His Son from suffering; rather the Son was delivered up for unworthy sinners. Can such a statement by the apostle Paul be the apex of the glory of God? Can the truth of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and the appeasement of the Father’s wrath truly be God’s most glorious display of His love? This is the argument of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on Romans 8:32 titled “The Sufferings of Christ.” He meticulously examines each word in this theologically-rich verse by the great apostle. Every word, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is of upmost importance in expounding the wondrous truth of God’s grace in this text. Dr. Lloyd-Jones not only makes a case for the Father graciously giving up His Son for the salvation of sinners, but he sheds light on the true agony and grief Christ felt in His sufferings. While some want to minimize Christ’s cry of dereliction, Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims the glory of God in the suffering of the Son.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon focuses on Romans 8:32 to strengthen the believer's assurance of salvation.
- Verse 32 provides an argument for why God will not abandon those He has saved.
- The argument is that if God did the greatest thing (not sparing His own Son), He will surely do the lesser thing (providing all other things we need).
- The sermon examines the meaning and significance of each word and phrase in Romans 8:32 to understand the depth of the argument.
- "He that spared not his own Son" - God the Father was the one acting in not sparing His Son.
- "His own Son" - The Son is God's eternal, only begotten Son, not just a man.
- "Spared not" - God held nothing back from His Son, He did not keep anything from happening to Him. The same word used when Abraham did not withhold Isaac.
- "But" - Shows the contrast between sparing and delivering up. The opposite of sparing was done.
- "Delivered him up" - Handed Him over to bear the full wrath of God against sin. Given over to the powers of darkness.
- "For us all" - On our behalf, in our place. Though we were sinners and enemies, He was delivered up for us.
- "Freely" - Done out of God's grace and love, not in response to anything in us. Magnifies God's love.
- "All things" - Everything necessary to bring us to glory and conformity to Christ. Grace, circumstances, needs, etc.
- We can be assured of perseverance because of what God has already done in delivering up His Son. He will surely finish what He started.
- We must understand what truly happened at the cross to grasp the depth of God's love and argument for assurance. Not just a demonstration of love but a substitutionary atonement where God's wrath was poured out on sin.
- We should respond with praise, worship, and trust in God who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all.
Sermon Q&A
Romans 8:32 Analysis by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Questions and Answers
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the main argument in Romans 8:32?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the main argument in Romans 8:32 is from the greater to the lesser. He explains that "God having done the greatest thing of all, he can't refuse us something which is less than that." The verse presents the case that if God has already given the ultimate sacrifice (His own Son), He will surely give us everything else we need for our salvation and perseverance. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this is not based on a general view of God's love but on what God has actually done for us in demonstration of that love.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones interpret the phrase "spared not his own Son"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this phrase means God did not withhold anything from Christ in the process of our salvation. He connects this to Genesis 22:16 (Abraham offering Isaac), noting that the same Greek word is used in both passages. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "God the Father did not spare his son anything in this world, either in his life, but particularly here in his death." God didn't hold back from Christ any part of the suffering necessary for our salvation, despite Him being God's dearly beloved Son.
What does "delivered him up" mean in the context of Romans 8:32?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "delivered him up" means that God handed over His Son to bear the full wrath of God against sin. He explains that Christ was delivered "to the power of darkness" and experienced the full penalty of God's holy law upon sin. Lloyd-Jones cites several passages including Luke 22:53, 2 Corinthians 5:21, and Galatians 3:13 to show that Christ was "made to be sin," "made a curse for us," and experienced true abandonment by the Father as evidenced by His cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones respond to those who minimize Christ's suffering on the cross?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly disagrees with those who claim Christ's cry of "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" was not an expression of grief but merely a quotation of Psalm 22 pointing to ultimate triumph. He calls this interpretation "pathetic" because it detracts from "what is perhaps the greatest glory of all of what happened on the cross." Lloyd-Jones insists that Christ truly experienced abandonment by the Father, citing Isaiah 53's language of being "smitten of God," "afflicted," "wounded," "bruised," and "put to grief" as evidence that real suffering occurred.
Who does "us all" refer to in Romans 8:32, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones clarifies that "us all" does not refer to the whole of mankind but to the same people mentioned earlier in Romans 8:28 - "them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." He emphasizes that this phrase refers to believers specifically, and that God delivered up His Son for each individual believer ("every single one of us"). This specificity is crucial to the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints.
How does this verse support the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this verse provides assurance that believers will persevere to the end because if God has already done the greatest thing (delivering up His Son) for us when we were enemies, He will certainly not abandon us now that we are His children. He states, "If he's foreknown you, he has predestinated you. And if he's predestinated you, he's called you. If he's called you, he's justified you. If he's justified you, he's already glorified you." The love that led God to sacrifice His Son guarantees He will complete our salvation.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the word "freely" in this verse?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones believes the word "freely" applies to both parts of the statement - both to God giving up His Son and to giving us all things. He explains that God acted "freely" in delivering up His Son, meaning there was nothing in us to recommend us. God did it "of his grace" when we were "enemies and alienated in our minds by wicked works." This emphasizes the unmerited nature of God's sacrifice and subsequent gifts to believers.
What does Lloyd-Jones mean by "all things" that God will give believers?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "all things" refers to everything necessary for bringing believers to "ultimate conformity to the image of God's son." This includes "every grace that I can ever need" and all provisions required for perseverance. He quotes Philippians 4:19 and 2 Corinthians 9:8 to show that God will supply all needs and provide all sufficiency in all things, regardless of life circumstances, personal weaknesses, or even sins.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say we should respond to this truth?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges believers to "work out this mighty logic" and embrace the assurance of salvation. He says understanding the depth of God's love on the cross should lead to certainty about our final perseverance. He concludes with a prayer expressing "astonishment and amazement" at God's sacrifice and asks for help to "realize this more and more and more until we shall be utterly certain of it, rejoicing in it, relying upon it, and lost in wonder, love and praise."
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what is the common misunderstanding about God's love?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that many people think they safeguard the love of God by denying the substitutionary theory of the atonement. They believe that by removing concepts of God's wrath and punishment of sin, they make God's love seem greater. However, Lloyd-Jones argues they actually "detract from the love of God." The true greatness of God's love is seen precisely in that "he spared his own son nothing" and "poured all his wrath upon him" despite their Father-Son relationship. This demonstrates a love that satisfies justice while saving sinners.
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.