What is Christianity?
A Sermon on Romans 8:3-4
Originally preached Dec. 16, 1956
Scripture
3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not …
Sermon Description
What is Christianity all about? Many have a sentimental view and say that Christianity is about nothing more than love. Others say that Christianity is about morality and good works. In this sermon on Romans 8:3–4 titled “What is Christianity?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that both these answers are wholly inadequate understandings of biblical Christianity. Christianity begins with an understanding that humanity is fallen and in sin; people are unable to know God and serve Him rightly. All are under the condemnation of God’s law because they have rebelled against their maker. In response to this sinful nature that is in all people, God has sent His Son to die upon the cross of Calvary so that all who believe might be forgiven of sin and inheritors with Christ. This message of atonement and redemption is in contrast to all sentimental and shallow distortions of Christianity. But it is the message of Jesus Christ dying that alone can bring true salvation and peace. There is no other message of salvation from sin and true redemption than what can be found in the Christian gospel of God’s grace. This is the only redemption from the curse of the law and God’s righteous condemnation. This is the only means of salvation that God has made so that sinners can be redeemed.
Sermon Breakdown
- The Christian message is primarily a matter of history. It is a record of certain facts.
- The Christian message gives us an explanation of the meaning of the facts. True history consists of facts plus the explanation of the facts, the meaning of the facts.
- The Christian message is good news because of the state and condition of mankind apart from it.
- Man is under condemnation and the wrath of God, full of sin and evil, unable to deliver ourselves, unable to get out of the fetters and chains, unable to find liberty.
- The law could not deliver us out of condemnation. The law was perfect but man was too weak to keep it.
- In the midst of our failure and shame and helplessness, God announces that he's going to do something, and then he does it. The Christian message is not primarily a call to us to do anything. It is primarily a proclamation of what God has done for us.
- God sent his own Son, his unique Son, his only begotten Son out of heaven into the world.
- He came in the likeness of sinful flesh. He had a truly human nature but without sin. He experienced all the infirmities that result from sin but had no sin.
- He came for sin, to deal with the problem of sin.
- He condemned sin in the flesh. He took our sins upon himself and God condemned them and punished them in him.
- By his death, he bore the punishment for our sins. God's law is fully satisfied.
- If we believe in him, we know our sins are forgiven. There is no more condemnation. We are made children of God and heirs with Christ.
- We have a new life, a new strength and power, a new understanding, and a faith to see through death to the glory beyond.
- Christ will sustain us, strengthen us, and enable us to follow him. He will take us through death and present us faultless before God. We will reign with him.
- This is the message of Christmas. Have you realized the truth of this and found Christ to be the most wonderful thing? If not, you are still under condemnation.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Understanding of the Christmas Message
What is the real message of Christmas according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the real message of Christmas is not merely a beautiful story or philosophy, but a historical fact with profound meaning. As he explains: "The christian message is primarily not a philosophy. It is a recital of facts. It is an announcement and a proclamation of certain things that have happened and have taken place." Specifically, it's the good news that "God sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" to deliver humanity from condemnation.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe our natural condition without Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes humanity's natural condition as being "under condemnation" and "weak through the flesh." He explains that we are all: "Under the condemnation of God's law, under the wrath of God, full of sin and of evil, unable to deliver ourselves, unable to get out of the fetters and the chains, unable to find this liberty which we seem to long for." He references Romans 3, stating "There is none righteous, no, not one. Every mouth has been stopped. The whole world lieth guilty before God."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say the law could not save humanity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the law could not save humanity because of our weakness: "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh." He clarifies that the problem isn't with God's law, which is "absolutely perfect... a holy law... a righteous law." Rather, the problem is with us: "The trouble is not in the law, it's in us, in our flesh." He illustrates this with an image of a spade with a wooden handle breaking in hard ground - the spade (law) is good, but the handle (our flesh) is too weak for the task.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the uniqueness of Christ's incarnation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christ is "God's own son" who is "not created" but "the only begotten son of the father." Christ came "in the likeness of sinful flesh" - not in sinful flesh itself. This means "he did come in a flesh in which he experienced all the infirmities that result from sin" but "there was no sin in him." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes, "He knew what it was to be weary and to be tired...to be disappointed in his friends...pain and suffering and hunger and thirst. He had all the infirmities of the flesh, but none of the sin."
What does "condemned sin in the flesh" mean according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "condemned sin in the flesh" means that Christ became our substitute, taking our sins upon Himself to bear their punishment: "Christ made himself our substitute. And God put our sins upon him and he condemned them and he punished them. And the punishment meant the death of Christ. But by dying, he bore the punishment." This substitutionary atonement is why "if I believe in him, I know my sins are forgiven" and "there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones reject the idea that Christianity is merely a philosophy or beautiful story?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects the notion that Christianity is merely a philosophy because such a view fails to address humanity's fundamental problem - our inability to rescue ourselves from sin. He argues: "What's the use of saying the message the world needs is this, that we must all stop hating one another and begin to love one another? The question is, how can you do it?" He explains that the Bible shows we cannot keep God's law because of our weakness in the flesh, making a mere philosophical approach inadequate.
What is the proper response to the Christmas message according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the proper response to the Christmas message is to first recognize your condition: "Acknowledge and confess the justice of his condemnation. Admit and acknowledge and confess your utter weakness." Then, "believe the good news and trust yourself to it. And ask him by his holy spirit to make it plain and clear to you that you may live the rest of your life in this world, rejoicing in it and telling others of it." The message requires personal faith and trust in what Christ has done.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones argue that God couldn't simply forgive sin without Christ's death?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that God couldn't simply forgive sin without Christ's death because of His holy and just nature: "God, because he's holy and pure and just and righteous, he can't just say, all right, I'll pretend I haven't seen it or I'll forget all about it." He challenges listeners: "If God can forgive sin simply by his love and by saying, all right, we'll forgive it all and you needn't think any more about it. Why did Christ come into the world?" The incarnation and crucifixion were necessary because justice had to be satisfied.
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.