The Sacraments
A Sermon on the Sacraments of the Church
Originally preached Nov. 19, 1954
Scripture
Sermon Description
Is communion a means of receiving grace? In this sermon on sacraments, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones begins a series on the sacraments and their place in the lives of believers. This topic provokes many different views but as Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, keeping these practices is one of the ways that believers receive God’s grace. Protestants have held that there are two kinds of sacraments: communion and baptism, and that these two sacraments are outward spiritual signs of inward spiritual grace given by God. However, this is different from the Catholic view, which holds that God’s grace is in the actual water of baptism, and the food and drink of communion. This difference brings up an interesting question: what is the relationship between the sacrament and the grace that is given through it? In this sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents his argument for the Protestant view holding that the sacraments serve to signify the seal of the Holy Spirit and convey Christ’s love to the recipient. Dr. Lloyd-Jones likens this to what an engagement ring accomplishes. Though the ring itself is not the love of the man for the woman, it is a token, a symbol and new expression of that love. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones guides the listener through this sometimes challenging subject.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by providing context on how the topic of the sacraments came to be discussed. Dr. Lloyd-Jones walks through how the previous sermons built up to this topic.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones acknowledges that the term "sacrament" is not found in scripture and was introduced later, though its origins are discussed.
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Two definitions of "sacrament" are provided, one from the 39 Articles of the Church of England and one from the Westminster Confession. They emphasize that sacraments were instituted by Christ, signify and seal grace, and strengthen faith.
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Different views on the relationship between the outward signs of the sacraments and the inward grace are discussed. The Catholic view is that grace is contained within the elements. The Zwinglian view is that the sacraments are merely symbols. The traditional Protestant view is that the sacraments not only signify grace but also seal it.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the sacraments provide visual representations to help our understanding, as we are often helped by visual aids. They call to mind spiritual truths.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses the relationship between the outward signs and the inward grace in more detail. The sacraments do not add to the grace we have already received through faith but confirm and seal it, like a ring confirms and seals a promise of marriage. They exhibit and convey grace to us.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the sacraments were instituted by Christ and are a means of grace, but they are not absolutely essential to receiving grace. Grace comes primarily through the Word, and faith is required for the sacraments to have meaning.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that Catholics recognize seven sacraments but Protestants traditionally recognize only two - baptism and the Lord's Supper - as they were the only ones instituted by Christ.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones expresses thanksgiving to God for providing the sacraments as aids to our faith in His condescension and kindness. They have also ensured the Gospel continues to be proclaimed even when preachers fail in their duty.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding the Sacraments in Christian Theology: Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Explanation
What are the means of grace according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the traditional Protestant teaching holds that the means of grace are "the word and the sacraments." He explains that believers receive grace through "the word of God and the application of the word of God to him by the Holy Spirit and through the sacraments." He emphasizes that the sacraments should never be separated from the word, and that the preaching and teaching of Scripture alongside the sacraments work together as means by which God builds up believers.
What is the origin of the term "sacrament" and why does Lloyd-Jones consider it unfortunate?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "sacrament" is not a biblical term but was introduced into church teaching in subsequent centuries. The word derives from Latin, originally referring to a deposit of money in court during legal proceedings. Later, it became mixed with Greek ideas about mystery religions and initiation ceremonies. Lloyd-Jones considers the term unfortunate because it's not found in Scripture and carries associations that may not align with biblical teaching. He notes, "Personally, I try not to use this term," preferring instead to announce "that at the close of this service, we hope to meet together at the communion table to partake of the Lord's supper."
What are the main views on the relationship between the sacramental elements and grace?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines three main views:
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The Catholic view: Grace is contained within the elements themselves (bread, wine, water). The elements act mechanically and automatically (ex opere operato) to convey grace, regardless of the recipient's condition.
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Zwingli's view: Sacraments are merely external signs or symbols that commemorate past events. They don't convey grace but simply help us remember what Christ did.
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The Reformed Protestant view: Sacraments not only signify grace but also "seal" it. Like Abraham's circumcision was "a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised," sacraments authenticate and confirm the grace already received through faith, similar to how a ring seals a marriage promise.
How many sacraments does Dr. Lloyd-Jones recognize and why?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones recognizes only two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper. He explains that "the traditional protestant position is to recognize two sacraments only... they are the only two that were instituted by the Lord himself and which are commended by the Lord himself." He contrasts this with the Roman Catholic position, which recognizes seven sacraments (baptism, confirmation, the Lord's Supper, penance, extreme unction, orders, and marriage), and notes there is "no evidence whatsoever for regarding the other five as what are called sacraments" in Scripture.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say sacraments are not "essential" while still being important?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that sacraments are not "essential" in the sense that they don't add anything fundamentally new to the word of God. Rather, they "simply tell us the same thing in a different way," providing a visual representation of spiritual truth. He states: "We take the bread and the wine, not because we believe it is essential, but because it has been commended, and because it is one of the means of grace ordained by the Lord himself." Unlike the Catholic view that sacraments are absolutely necessary for receiving grace, the Protestant position holds them as important but secondary to the preached word and faith.
What role does faith play in the efficacy of the sacraments according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "without faith in the recipient, there is no value whatsoever in baptism or in the Lord's supper." He contrasts this with the Roman Catholic view, which doesn't require faith from the recipient since grace is believed to be in the sacrament itself. Lloyd-Jones states: "If they don't come with faith, they've done nothing, and they're no different and no better than they were before." The sacraments are confirmations and seals of faith, not substitutes for it. Just as a woman values an engagement ring because she already knows her fiancé's love, believers value the sacraments because they confirm what is already believed through faith.
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.