The Lord Jesus Christ
A Sermon on the Lord Jesus Christ
Originally preached May 8, 1953
Scripture
Sermon Description
What is at the center of the Christian faith? In this sermon on the Lord Jesus Christ, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers this question, preaching that unlike all other religions, Christianity is centered around the one man, Jesus Christ. Jesus is not simply a generic moral teacher or wise man, but He is God incarnate who died for sinners. This is why it is so vital to understand who Jesus is and what He has done. It is not a matter of doctrinal speculation, but the doctrine of Christ at the center of the Christian life and gospel. It must be understood rightly that Jesus is both truly God and truly man without mixture. What does this mean? First, the doctrine of Christ tells that God Himself has come to die and save humanity. God has become man in order to redeem fallen and evil sinners. Furthermore, it tells that Jesus is a perfect high priest because as both God and man, He can intercede on humanity’s behalf. Finally, this sermon calls all to ask the question, “do I believe? Am I trusting in Jesus?” This is the most important question anyone can ask.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by emphasizing how the doctrine of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. Dr. Lloyd-Jones stresses how one must have the right view of Jesus to be a Christian.
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The first reason given for considering Jesus is that he fulfills Old Testament prophecies and promises. Examples are given from Genesis, Daniel, Isaiah, Micah, and Malachi.
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The second reason is that Jesus is the only way to be reconciled to God. Verses from Hebrews, John, Luke, Acts, and 1 Timothy are cited to support this.
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The third reason is that Jesus has all authority and power. Verses from Revelation, 1 Corinthians, and Ephesians are given as evidence.
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The fourth reason is that Jesus will judge the world. Verses from John, Acts, and Revelation are used to illustrate this.
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The sermon then transitions to discussing the incarnation - that the eternal Son of God took on human nature. 1 Timothy 3:16 is quoted to explain this.
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The incarnation means that the second person of the Trinity entered time, took on humanity, and was born as a baby, lived as a man, and appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh.
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Jesus did not come into being when he was born. Rather, the eternal Son of God assumed human nature. Philippians 2:5-8 and Old Testament prophecies are cited to support this.
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The sermon ends by noting how it will continue by exploring the incarnation, virgin birth, Jesus's deity and humanity, and how they are united in one person.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Person of Christ: Questions and Answers
What is the central focus of biblical doctrine according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, while Christ is not the starting point of biblical doctrine, He is "the core and the center of biblical doctrine." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "the truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ is at one and the same time the central and the most stupendous fact in the history of redemption." He describes Christ as the turning point of history, noting that our calendar system (BC/AD) reflects this reality.
How does Christianity differ from other religions regarding its founder?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that unlike other religions where the founders are important but not essential to the faith, Christianity is completely dependent on the person of Christ. He states: "If the Buddha had never existed, you could still have Buddhism. If Muhammad had never lived, you could still have Muhammadanism... But that isn't the case with the christian faith. Christianity, as has often been pointed out, is Christ." In Christianity, the person himself is not only central but "absolutely vital."
What are the main Old Testament prophecies that point to Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several key Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Christ: - Genesis 3:15 (the seed of the woman bruising the serpent's head) - Genesis 49:10 (the scepter not departing from Judah until Shiloh comes) - Daniel 9:24-27 (the seventy weeks prophecy predicting when Messiah would appear) - Micah 5:2 (predicting Bethlehem as birthplace) - Isaiah 7:14 (born of a virgin) - Prophecies about His lineage from the tribe of Judah and house of David - Zechariah 9:9 (entering Jerusalem on a donkey) - Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 (details of His suffering and death)
What is the biblical definition of the incarnation according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones defines the incarnation as follows: "The eternal Son of God, the second person in the blessed holy Trinity, hath taken on him or has taken unto himself human nature." He emphasizes that this does not mean a new personality came into being at Christ's birth. Rather, "the eternal second person in the blessed Trinity entered into time, took unto himself and into himself human nature, and was born as a babe, lived a life as a man, and appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe doctrine about Christ is essential for Christians?
Lloyd-Jones rejects the idea that simple belief without doctrinal understanding is sufficient. He argues: 1. The New Testament itself exhorts us to understand Christ correctly 2. The four Gospels were written to define the truth about Christ 3. Epistles like 1 John were written to counteract heresies about Christ 4. The first 3-4 centuries of church history were dominated by councils defining Christ's person 5. False beliefs about Christ endanger one's soul
He states: "It is not enough to say, 'I believe in Jesus Christ.' The New Testament asks you a question. When you say that, it asks you, 'What do you believe about him?'"
Why does Lloyd-Jones insist we must consider Jesus?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Bible gives four primary reasons why we must consider Jesus: 1. He is the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies and promises 2. He is the only mediator by whom we can be reconciled to God 3. He is the one in whose hands all things are, with all power and authority 4. He is the one by whom the world will be judged
As Lloyd-Jones quotes from Scripture: "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given amongst men, whereby we must be saved."
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.