Jesus Christ, Crucified
A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 2:2
Scripture
2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Sermon Description
What is the mission of the church? Believers and unbelievers ask this question with some saying that the mission of the church is to lobby governments. Others claim that the church is to be a means of social change. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 2:2 titled “Jesus Christ, Crucified,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones considers what the Bible says is the mission of the church. Paul the apostle is preaching Christ and Him crucified. He is not merely advocating for external social change, nor is he looking to the greatest philosophers of the day for answers. Paul’s answer to the question of the church’s mission is simple: proclaim Christ and Him crucified. This is the only message that saves people, not only from their sins, but from eternal damnation as the just punishment for rebellion. All human wisdom and culture stand under the judgment of God in Jesus Christ. All are responsible for their actions before God almighty. All stand condemned before the holy God. This is why the church must proclaim Jesus Christ crucified. There is no other way of salvation. This sermon confronts all with the simple question: “do I believe in Jesus as my savior?”
Sermon Breakdown
- The world is in great trouble and confusion. There is disagreement on what the church's role and duty is in such times.
- Paul deliberately decided to preach nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. He knew the Jews and Greeks would see it as foolishness but preached it anyway.
- Paul could have preached many other things like Jewish law, philosophy, culture, art but deliberately did not. These things come to nothing and fail to address man's deepest needs.
- Many great thinkers have concluded life seems meaningless and absurd. Advancements in knowledge have not led to improved human relationships or subdued man's destructive passions.
- The world's troubles are due to man's sin and separation from God. The law proves man's sin but cannot save him. Philosophy cannot change man's nature or give him meaning.
- God sent his Son to reconcile man to himself. Jesus Christ and his death on the cross is God's power and wisdom. It succeeds where all else fails.
- The cross provides forgiveness, peace with God, access to God, new life, joy, and eternal hope. This is what God has prepared for those who love him.
- Paul preached this message because God commanded him to. It had revolutionized his own life and the lives of the Corinthians. It still has power to change lives today.
- The church's role is to preach this message of salvation, not give opinions on politics, society or other worldly affairs. This message alone helps individuals and society.
- True Christianity glories in nothing but the cross of Christ. The world is crucified to the Christian and the Christian to the world.
Itinerant Preaching
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.