MLJ Trust Logo Image

Sermons on Faith

Series Summary

This collection of 33 sermons on faith follows Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones as he explores the true meaning and necessity of biblical faith. Seeking to answer the question “is true faith more than just blind belief”, …

Sermons


Abraham; Faith in Action

Volume 2 John 1:12-13; Hebrews 11:17-19

Can Christians have assurance of their salvation? This is not a merely speculative question, but it is at the heart of much of the Gospel. In this sermon on assurance from John 1:12-13 and Hebrews 11:17-19, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches the great truth that those who are saved in Christ can and should know that they are redeemed. Dr. Lloyd-Jones first looks at how Abraham displayed his faith and assurance. Not only did he believe God when he was told that Sarah would bear a son but he even obeyed God when told to sacrifice his only son. To do such an act, Abraham must have had an absolute assurance in his faith, but what can provoke such assurance? Dr. Lloyd- Jones states that such assurance can only come about when someone directly knows that he is a child of God. Abraham knew that God had promised to make a nation through him and so, even if Isaac was killed, God could raise him from the dead if he willed it. When Abraham was tempted to disobey God, he remembered that he knew God and that God would never break a promise. This knowledge of God gave Abraham the strength to follow through on God’s commandment. However, is it possible to know God in the same way that Abraham did? Dr. Lloyd-Jones replies that it most certainly is. We can have an intimate knowledge of God so that we may know when he is speaking to us. This way, in hard times we can have an answer to the devil’s temptations. We are all children of God just like Abraham; however, even with assurance of our faith, this does not mean that as long as we follow God’s will everything will go swimmingly for us. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones puts it, “God tests us so that we may know him better.” God wants us to better know ourselves as well as himself, and the only way to do this is by stripping us of things that we might put our faith in. God is always testing us so that eventually we may get in a position where we trust him blindly in the dark. We must remember that we have the same God that Abraham had, and if Abraham was willing to kill his son for such a God, then likewise we should put our faith in him.

>