A Knowledge of God
A Sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Originally preached June 25, 1961
Scripture
18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the …
Sermon Description
How can finite people know the infinite God? As Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims in this sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, there is no question more important to answer in this life or the next. Humanity was created to know their creator and to love Him, but because of sin and rebellion, they are alienated from God. Some say that the answer to this dilemma is to use reason to know God, as this has been the answer of the many wise people and philosophers over the ages. Others recommend mysticism where humans commune with God through religious practices and experiences. However, the biblical answer is found in the nature of God’s revelation as God spoke through the prophets and apostles in Scripture. This means that humans cannot rely on themselves to know God, but by looking to what God has said concerning Himself. There is no place for humanity’s autonomous reason or immediate religious experiences once they understand that God has made Himself known in Scripture and in His Son, Jesus Christ. God must be looked to not only for knowledge of Himself, but also to know Him as Savior and Lord.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by introducing the text from 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 which states that God has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ.
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The sermon highlights how life has become precarious and uncertain in today's world. Death is inevitable for all.
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The sermon states that the only way to face death and have assurance of the afterlife is through the Bible and its message. All other worldviews are speculation.
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The sermon outlines two types of knowledge of God: knowledge of God after the flesh (wrong view) and knowledge of God after the Spirit (right view).
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Knowledge of God after the flesh comes through tradition, philosophy, and mysticism. These views see God as an abstraction, ultimate being or force. They believe God is passive and unconcerned with the world.
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Knowledge of God after the Spirit comes through revelation in the Bible and Jesus Christ. God reveals himself as a personal, holy, loving, and gracious God. He is the creator and sustainer of the world, and will judge the world.
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God displayed his grace by sending Jesus Christ to die for sinners and reconcile them to God. Salvation is God's work from start to finish.
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The proper response to God's grace is amazement, reverence, awe, gratitude, and praise. We have no claim on God and deserve only judgment.
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We must submit to God, acknowledge our nothingness, and cast ourselves on his mercy to be saved.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's Sermon on Reconciliation
What is the key text that Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 as his key text: "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
According to Lloyd-Jones, why is the message of reconciliation so urgent in the modern world?
Lloyd-Jones argues that this message is urgent because of the precariousness and uncertainty of life in the modern world. He states, "There never was a time, perhaps, when life was so uncertain as it is today," referencing the threat of modern warfare and weapons that could "blow up the whole world." The Christian message prepares people not just for life but for death, which is inevitable regardless of whether war comes or not.
What are the different ways people try to know God "after the flesh"?
According to Lloyd-Jones, people try to know God "after the flesh" through: 1. Tradition - following religious practices they were raised with without personal thought 2. Philosophy - using human reasoning and thinking to determine what God should be like 3. Mysticism - looking inward or passively waiting for God to speak All these approaches rely on human understanding rather than divine revelation.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the true way of knowing God "after the spirit"?
The true way of knowing God is through divine revelation. Lloyd-Jones states, "The Christian always says about his knowledge of God is that it is something that he has received, not something that he's arrived at." This revelation comes through: 1. The Bible - "God's revelation of himself" 2. Jesus Christ - "God has spoken to us about himself in a person, in his own son" As Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the father but by me."
What does Lloyd-Jones say about God's relationship to the world?
Unlike philosophical views that see God as distant or uninvolved, Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that God is: 1. The eternal creator who made everything 2. The sustainer who still controls everything - "He's still controlling it all. It's still in his hands." 3. The judge who sees everything - "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" 4. The redeemer who is actively working to save people - "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself"
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe God's plan of redemption?
Lloyd-Jones describes God's plan of redemption as being conceived "before the very foundation of the world." When sin entered the world, God didn't abandon it but initiated a plan to "gather together in one all things in Christ" (Ephesians 1:10). He sent Christ to "seek and to save that which was lost." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "it is God's action from beginning to end" - God made the way of forgiveness by sending His Son, and He applies salvation by calling us, convicting us, regenerating us, and adopting us.
What should be the Christian's response to God's revelation and redemption?
The Christian's response should be: 1. Amazement and astonishment at God's grace 2. Reverence and awe 3. Loving adoration 4. "Trembling acceptance of the offer of salvation" 5. Gratitude and praise 6. Desire to live for God's glory and serve Him Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that if one isn't "utterly humbled before God" and "looking up in utter adoration and praise and thanksgiving," they don't truly know Him.
Why does Lloyd-Jones say we cannot arrive at a knowledge of God through human effort?
Lloyd-Jones states that "by definition, a man can never arrive at a knowledge of God" through human effort because: 1. Of who God is - He is transcendent and beyond human comprehension 2. Of who we are - We are "not only fallible...feeble, ignorant, sinful, vile, unworthy, helpless, hopeless, totally inadequate" He quotes, "The world by wisdom knew not God" to emphasize that the greatest philosophers have failed to find God through human wisdom.
Sermons on Knowledge
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.