Redemption: The Eternal Plan of God
A Sermon on God's Plan of Redemption
Originally preached April 17, 1953
Scripture
Sermon Description
Before the creation of the world, before the beginning of time, God had a plan to redeem the world. In this sermon on God’s plan of redemption, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones boldly proclaims the truth of God’s eternal design for the work of Christ. Before the foundations of the earth, God the Father, in His sovereign plan, chose to predestine a people through the atoning work of his Son, Christ Jesus. Though all are fallen and in sin, God through Christ, works to bring about not only a new people, but a new creation. Where Adam fails to keep the covenant of works with God, Christ the new Adam accomplished redemption for humanity through the incarnation and through His atoning work on the cross. This salvation is planned by the Father, acquired in Christ, and applied by the Spirit. Therefore, salvation is the work of God alone. This is the message of the Old and New Testaments, and it is revealed to God’s people through God’s word. This salvation is not the work of humanity, nor is it an afterthought in the mind of God, but redemption is the plan of history from before the world began. The eternal covenant between the Father and Son is the plan, and by the work of Christ it is brought about for His people.
Sermon Breakdown
- Redemption is entirely of God. The Bible is an account of what God has done about the redemption of men.
- It is all of grace. It was done in spite of man's rebellion, arrogance, sin.
- It was planned before the foundation of the world. Redemption is not an afterthought.
- The three persons of the Trinity take part in the plan of redemption. The Father originates, the Son executes, the Holy Spirit applies.
- The plan of redemption is a definite, perfect plan. It was perfect before the foundation of the world.
- The consummation of the plan of redemption is certain. Nothing can frustrate God's plan.
- The purpose of God in redemption applies to all things, including the heavens and the earth.
- The plan of redemption always centers in Jesus Christ. There is no salvation apart from Christ.
- The purpose of God in redemption has been revealed in various covenants. God has graciously revealed his plan to men.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Biblical Redemption: Key Questions Answered
What is the central theme of the Bible according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, redemption or salvation is the central theme of the Bible. He states, "In many ways, it can be said, of course, that this is the big theme and the central theme of the whole of the Bible. Most of the Bible is given to an account of this particular theme." This doctrine explains how God rescues fallen humanity from sin and its consequences.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the origin of God's redemptive plan?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that redemption was planned "before the foundation of the world." It was not an afterthought or reaction to man's fall. He explains: "Redemption is not an afterthought. It wasn't something that God thought of after men fell. And because men fell. To say that again is to contradict the scripture. The scripture all along keeps on referring to this as something that was conceived before the foundation of the world, before the world was ever made, before man was ever created."
How do the three persons of the Trinity participate in redemption?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that all three persons of the Trinity take part in the redemptive plan with distinct roles: "The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And there in that eternal council, they seem very clearly to have divided up the work so that we can describe the Father as the originator. We can describe the Son as the kind of executor, and the Holy Spirit as the one who applies. The Father originates, the Son executes, the Holy Spirit applies what the Son has achieved."
Why couldn't God make another covenant of works with mankind after the Fall?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that after the Fall, God could no longer make a covenant of works with humanity because man had already failed to keep such a covenant when in a perfect state: "Men, when he was perfect, had failed to keep the covenant of works. So God obviously doesn't make another covenant of works. It is already impossible in the light of what we have already seen." Man's fallen condition of "total inability" meant a different approach was necessary.
What is the relationship between the Old and New Testaments in God's redemptive plan?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the relationship this way: "The Old Testament and the New Testament are concerned about the same person, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. What is the Old Testament? It is the preparation, the promise, the prophecy of his coming... And what is the New Testament but the glorious fulfillment of every type and shadow? It is the substance of all the shadows."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize that salvation is only through Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly refutes the idea that anyone can be saved apart from Christ: "There is no salvation in the Bible anywhere except in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one gospel. There is only one way of salvation. The saints of the Old Testament are saved in Christ as much as you and I are, and all who will ever live must be saved in Christ or not at all." He calls any other teaching "a completely and entirely erroneous conception."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean when he says redemption is "entirely of God"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that redemption originates completely with God, not with man: "The Bible is an account of what God has done about the redemption of men. It is not an account of men seeking for God." He emphasizes: "It is not a question of what men can do to placate God. The Bible doesn't tell us that... The Bible tells us of what God has done in order to reconcile us to himself."
How extensive is God's redemptive plan according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that God's redemptive plan extends beyond just saving individual humans: "This purpose of God in redemption not only applies to men, but it applies to all things. It applies to the world itself." Quoting Ephesians 1:9-10, he notes that God's purpose is to "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth."
Great Biblical Doctrines
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.