A Ruined Mansion
A Sermon on Jeremiah 2:6
Originally preached Oct. 16, 1960
Scripture
6Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed …
Sermon Description
What is the source of suffering and misery in this world? In this sermon on Jeremiah 2:6 titled “A Ruined Mansion,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this question and more. Humanity is like a ruined mansion, a dark shadow of what it once was. People were made to be a friend of God, but now they live in sin and filth. Humanity has sinned and fallen from the original state of happiness and peace into despair because it has willingly rebelled against God. They are now an enemy of God and subject to the wrath of God. What then is humanity’s hope? It is certainly not in itself. Hundreds of years of human history has only shown that people cannot save themselves. This is why God had to send His own Son into the world to die in the place of sinners. Jesus Christ suffered and died a bloody death on the cross for all. All that trust in Him are saved and made children of God. God’s answer to the plight of humanity is to take their place. This sermon calls all to forsake their sins and flee to Christ. There is no guarantee that anyone will live another hour; for this reason all must come to Christ this day.
Sermon Breakdown
- Men are not where God meant them to be by nature. They are in a spiritual Egypt instead of Canaan.
- Men are in a state of slavery and bondage to sin, Satan, and the world. They cannot free themselves.
- Men are in a state of suffering, misery, and unhappiness as a result of their sin and separation from God.
- Men are utterly helpless and hopeless to change their condition. They cannot save themselves.
- God has provided the only way of salvation through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation is all of grace, not of works.
- God sent His Son into the world. Though Jesus was the eternal Son of God, He humbled Himself and became a man.
- Jesus lived a perfect life and died an atoning death on the cross for sinners. He bore our sins in His body on the tree.
- Jesus' death delivers men from the wrath of God, reconciles them to God, and gives them eternal life.
- Many refuse to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. This is the height of folly, madness, and ingratitude.
- There is no escape from sin and its consequences apart from faith in Christ. Refusing Him leads to eternal misery.
- We must turn to Christ, believe on Him, and give our lives to Him. This is the only way to have peace with God.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About God's Response to Israel's Forgetfulness?
Based on this sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Jeremiah 2:6, here are key questions and answers focused on the message of God's response to Israel's forgetfulness and how it applies to us today.
What does Jeremiah 2:6 reveal about Israel's spiritual condition?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Jeremiah 2:6 shows that Israel had forgotten God's deliverance, as they no longer asked, "Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt?" Despite their desperate spiritual, moral, and military predicament, they refused to turn to the only One who could save them. This forgetfulness and neglect of God was the supreme tragedy of their situation, especially since they had experienced God's dramatic rescue from Egypt.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones compare mankind's current condition to Israel in Egypt?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones compares all of humanity to Israel in Egypt by saying we are: 1) out of position—not where God meant us to be, like Israel who didn't belong in Egypt but in Canaan; 2) in slavery and bondage—not just to physical addictions but to temper, jealousy, envy, public opinion, and fear of what others think; 3) suffering misery—"The way of the transgressor is hard" and sin never brings true happiness; 4) utterly helpless—"Man cannot free himself. He's up against a power greater than himself."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about God's initiative in salvation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that salvation is entirely God's initiative and action. He states, "You can never make yourself a Christian. Never. It is God alone who can deliver." He points to the biblical truth that "while we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" and "while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God." The preacher stresses that salvation is "all of grace, not of works," comparing it to how God initiated Israel's deliverance from Egypt.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain Christ's death as God's supreme act of salvation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christ's death was God's supreme provision for humanity's deliverance. He explains: "Christ died for the ungodly. While we were yet sinners, while we were yet without strength. Our sins were placed upon him. He took them upon himself. He bore our sins in his own body on the tree. God hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." The results of this work include deliverance from God's wrath, reconciliation with God, free pardon for all sins, and freedom from sin's dominion.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the greatest tragedy in the world today?
The greatest tragedy, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is that "God has already done the one thing that can save either the individual or the entire human race. And yet the world won't listen to it." Just as Israel forgot to ask "Where is the Lord who delivered us from Egypt?", modern humanity fails to ask "Where is the God that so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son?" This ingratitude and neglect of God's supreme gift in Christ is identified as worse than murder—"the most awful, the most terrible thing a man can ever do."
What specific warning does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give about rejecting Christ's salvation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that rejecting God's salvation in Christ leads to eternal consequences. He states: "If you die still refusing terrible thought, you will go to eternal loss, to eternal bondage, to eternal misery." He emphasizes the urgency of this decision in light of life's uncertainty and the temporary nature of worldly pleasures. He calls the rejection of Christ's salvation "sheer madness" and "the height of irrationality."
Old Testament
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.