What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About True Conversion and Trembling Before God?

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish between intellectual assent and true saving faith?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, there is a crucial distinction between mere intellectual assent to truth and a saving belief in Christ. He states, "There is nothing which is perhaps so important for our souls and our eternal destiny as that we should draw a distinction between intellectual ascent to truth and a saving and a true belief in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ." True saving faith involves the whole personality - mind, emotions, and will - whereas intellectual assent is merely agreeing with facts in your mind. He warns that many people think they are Christians because they have intellectually agreed with Christian doctrine, but have never experienced true conversion.

What scriptural evidence does Lloyd-Jones provide about temporary believers?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones references several scriptural passages to demonstrate the reality of temporary believers:

1. Jesus' parable of the sower - showing seed that springs up quickly but has no root and withers
2. Matthew 7 - those who say "Lord, Lord" and did works in His name but are rejected with "I never knew you"
3. Luke 13 - those who knock at the door saying "let us in" but are not admitted
4. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins - showing those who thought they were ready but were not

He explains that these passages all demonstrate that there are people who believe they are Christians but have never truly been converted.

According to Lloyd-Jones, what three elements are always present in genuine conversion?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies three elements that are always present in genuine conversion, as demonstrated in Saul's conversion on the Damascus road:

1. Astonishment - being amazed at the truth about oneself and about Christ
2. Trembling - experiencing fear and awe when confronted with God's reality
3. Submission - surrendering the will as expressed in Saul's question: "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that while these elements may vary in intensity from person to person, they are always present to some degree in genuine conversion.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe that trembling is a necessary part of true conversion?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones insists that trembling is an inevitable response to truly encountering God for several reasons:

1. It's the biblical pattern - seen in Adam and Eve after sin, Abraham, Isaiah, Felix, and the Philippian jailer
2. It's a natural response to God's majesty, greatness, and power
3. It comes from seeing God's holiness in contrast to our sinfulness
4. It arises from realizing the terrible fate we would have suffered without Christ's intervention

He states: "My dear friends, my case is that the realization of the truth of necessity leads to this fear and trembling." He further adds that "if you have never trembled, it is because you've never really known God."

How does Lloyd-Jones define a true Christian at the conclusion of his sermon?

At the conclusion, Lloyd-Jones defines a Christian as "one who sees clearly that he would undoubtedly have gone to hell and wretchedness and misery and perdition were it not that God's own Son came from heaven to earth and went to the cross and gave his life for him." He adds that "a Christian is a man who's looked into hell and who knows that he's been saved from it by God's amazing, wondrous love in Jesus Christ, our Lord."

Instead of simply asking if someone believes in Jesus Christ, Lloyd-Jones poses a deeper question - whether the person understands they are a "hopeless, damned sinner" who cannot save themselves, who is "under the wrath of God and hopelessly lost and damned and helpless." This recognition, he argues, is what true belief in Christ actually means.