Sanctification in Romans 6 to 8
A Sermon on Sanctification
Originally preached May 28, 1954
Scripture
Sermon Description
What is the believer’s relationship to sin? In this sermon on sanctification, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this topic, saying “It is impossible for a Christian to remain in continual sin due to sanctification.” This is a freeing truth. From the moment of conversion, the Spirit of Life dwells in the believer, and they cannot be subject to the carnal. Moreover, this is a promise for all Christians, not just a blessing that some receive and others don’t. And yet, the struggle against sin is still a daily battle for followers of Christ. To help the listener better understand, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that from the moment of salvation, Christians are dead to sin since they have been united with Christ and His life. The Christian spirit is alive to Christ, yet their bodies are still under the bondage and dominion of sin. For those who are discouraged that they will not be able to fight sin, Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers some encouraging wisdom, imploring the believer to go to Scripture and remember the Lord’s promise to be with those who seek Him. Christians are called to fight sin, and with the help of the Holy Spirit living in each believer, they can overcome it.
Sermon Breakdown
- The method of sanctification is through the truth of God's word.
- The whole truth of scripture ministers to our sanctification.
- Key passages on sanctification are Romans 6-8.
- Paul wrote Romans 6-8 to refute the idea that salvation by grace means we can continue sinning.
- The theme of Romans 6-8 is that justification and sanctification cannot be separated.
- Romans 6 summarizes the argument, Romans 7-8 provide more detail.
- Romans 8 describes all Christians, not just some. All Christians have the Spirit.
- Our union with Christ means we are dead to sin and alive to God.
- We are not only dead to the law, but also dead to sin. Sin no longer rules over us.
- We have died and been buried with Christ, and risen with Him to new life.
- Christ's life is now our life. We are alive to God.
- This does not mean we are sinless now, but that our spirits are redeemed from sin. Our bodies still struggle with sin.
- Our bodies are still subject to sin and dominated by sin, though our spirits are redeemed.
- We are waiting for the redemption of our bodies. Our full salvation includes our bodies.
- We are not left struggling hopelessly against sin. Christ's Spirit is working in us.
- God works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose.
- The Spirit leads us into truth, which sanctifies us. The truth includes our position in Christ and the hope of bodily redemption.
- We are to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God, and not let sin rule our bodies.
- Sanctification is progressive, not complete in this life. We still battle sin in our bodies.
- The day is coming when we will be free from sin in body and spirit. We will be like Christ.
- While we wait, we purify ourselves in hope, keeping our bodies under control.
- We reject the ideas that we can be entirely free of sin in this life, or that we just need a "counteraction."
- All Christians are in Romans 8, with the Spirit, though our bodies still struggle with sin.
- Sanctification means growing in understanding and mastery of the sin in our bodies.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About Sanctification in Romans?
What is Lloyd-Jones' definition of sanctification according to this sermon?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, sanctification is the process by which believers are made holy through God's truth. He begins with Jesus' prayer in John 17:17, "Sanctify them in thy truth. Thy word is truth," showing that sanctification happens through the whole Word of God. Lloyd-Jones explains that while every biblical truth contributes to sanctification, there are specific sections like Romans 6-8 that deal with it explicitly as Christians are progressively delivered from sin's power.
How does Lloyd-Jones explain the relationship between justification and sanctification?
Lloyd-Jones strongly denounces any separation between justification and sanctification. He states: "The theme of Romans 6, 7, and 8 is to denounce with horror the tendency of people to separate justification from sanctification." He quotes 1 Corinthians 1:30 to show that Christ "is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption." For Lloyd-Jones, you cannot divide Christ or have Him only for justification but not sanctification - both are part of the same salvation package.
What does Lloyd-Jones teach about the Christian's relationship to sin?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christians are "dead to sin" through their union with Christ. He cites Romans 6:2: "How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?" He explains that believers have been crucified with Christ, died with Him, were buried with Him, and have risen with Him. As a result, sin "shall not have dominion over you" (Romans 6:14). This is not merely an ideal but a spiritual reality for every Christian.
How does Lloyd-Jones distinguish between the Christian's spirit and body in relation to sanctification?
Lloyd-Jones makes a critical distinction: "Our spirits are already entirely delivered from sin. I, as a spirit and as a spiritual being am dead to sin. I have finished with it once and forever. But that is not true of my body." He explains that while our spirits are redeemed, our bodies remain "under the thraldom of sin." He cites Romans 8:10: "The body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness" and Romans 8:23 about "waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
What does Lloyd-Jones say about the possibility of complete sinlessness in this life?
Lloyd-Jones explicitly rejects the doctrine of "eradication of sin" or complete deliverance from sin in this earthly life. He states: "We must of necessity reject all talk about eradication of sin, all talk of being delivered entirely from sin in this life and in this world." He bases this on his understanding of Romans, where even Paul describes the ongoing battle with sin in the unredeemed body while awaiting the day when our bodies will be completely transformed.
How does sanctification progress in the believer's life according to Lloyd-Jones?
Sanctification progresses through the Holy Spirit's work in believers. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Holy Spirit: 1. Works upon our wills 2. Creates desires for holiness 3. Reveals sin to us 4. Gives us strength to obey 5. Leads us through God's truth
He quotes Philippians 2:13, "For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do," emphasizing that while believers actively "mortify the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13), it is ultimately God's work in us that produces sanctification.
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.