The Christian Experience
A Sermon on Ezekiel 3:1-3
Originally preached Sept. 25, 1960
Scripture
1Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 2So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly …
Sermon Description
Why it is beneficial to study the Old Testament? Reading through the Old Testament can seem challenging and confusing at times, but in this sermon on Ezekiel 3:1–3 titled “The Christian Experience,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones illustrates it is very applicable to the life of a believer today. This passage addresses the essence of the Christian experience, which is the knowledge of God. Preaching from the book of Ezekiel, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones helps the listener better understand what differentiates proper and false experiences of God from each other. First, false experiences are external to people—it is something that is added on to their life, not an integral part of who they are. Second, false experiences of God vary depending on a person’s season of life. In difficult times, people are much quicker to turn to the Lord because they realize how much they need Him—however, when situations are going well, they make the mistake of thinking they can walk without Him. Third, this false Christianity has only a vague influence on someone’s life. Real Christianity, however, is the polar opposite. It is practiced regularly because it is at the core of who a believer in Christ is. Christianity, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, is a heart religion that influences all the actions of a believer’s life. Listen as he helps the listener discern between true and false Christianity, and the importance of following wholeheartedly with one’s life.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage for the sermon is Ezekiel 3:1-3 which describes Ezekiel eating a scroll from God.
- The symbolism of eating the scroll is meant to convey a lesson in the form of a picture. The message and lesson are what matter, not the symbolism itself.
- What is described regarding Ezekiel's call applies not just to prophets but to all Christians. Every Christian is meant to be an evangelist.
- The nature of Christian experience is the theme of the sermon. Last week the sermon looked at awareness of God as essential to Christian experience. This week examines response to God's call.
- False religion is external, outside oneself, added on. It is spasmodic, only reminded of at times. It is a vague, general influence. It is a perpetual hindrance, making one wish to be free of it. It is negative and repressive.
- True religion is experimental, tasted and proved. It is inside oneself, controlling one's life. It is at the center of one's life, in one's mind, will, and heart. It leads to joy.
- To gain true Christian experience, take God's Word in its entirety. Take time to thoroughly digest it. Receive it into your heart. Let it rebuke and humble you. Let it lift you up and move you to action.
- The lives of saints illustrate these principles. Take and eat the scroll God offers through His Word.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ezekiel 3:1-3: Understanding True Christian Experience
What is the main difference between false religion and true Christian experience according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the main difference is that false religion merely "overshadows" a person while true Christian experience "penetrates" them. He quotes a phrase about the Victorians: "religion overshadowed the Victorians instead of penetrating them." In the sermon, he uses Ezekiel's eating of the scroll as a metaphor - false religion is like holding the scroll externally, while true Christianity is like eating and digesting it so it becomes part of you internally.
What are the characteristics of false religion that Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several characteristics of false religion: 1. It remains entirely external and outside a person 2. It's spasmodic and variable - something one "takes up and puts down" 3. It's merely a vague general influence or "background" to one's life 4. The person doesn't really understand it, only follows tradition 5. It functions as a perpetual brake upon life, standing between a person and what they want to do 6. It is purely negative and repressive 7. It produces a joyless religion that makes people miserable
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe true Christian experience?
True Christian experience according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones is: 1. Experimental - something tasted and proven in experience 2. Internal - something inside a person, not just external knowledge 3. Central - at the very center of a person's being and personality 4. Controlling - it dominates and determines everything in life 5. Outward-flowing - like fruit growing naturally from a tree rather than decorations added on 6. All-encompassing - it controls understanding, will, and heart 7. Joy-producing - it brings sweetness and joy regardless of circumstances
What illustration does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use to explain the difference between authentic and artificial Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the illustration of comparing a decorated Christmas tree to a real fruit tree. He explains: "The difference between the false religion and the true religion is this. It's the difference between your decorated Christmas tree and your fruit tree." With a Christmas tree, ornaments and decorations are artificially attached from outside. But with a fruit tree, the fruit grows naturally from within due to the inner life and sap of the tree. True Christianity, like real fruit, comes from an inner life force rather than being artificially attached behaviors.
How does one develop true Christian experience according to this sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, to develop true Christian experience one must: 1. Take God's Word in its entirety - "You've got to take God's word as a whole, as it is" 2. Submit to all parts of Scripture without picking and choosing 3. Take time with the Word - "Make time for the word of God. Put everything else aside" 4. Thoroughly digest it - "Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" 5. Meditate upon it - "Think over it, remind yourself of it" 6. Apply it to every part of your being, especially your heart 7. Allow it to rebuke, humble, and then lift you up 8. Let it move you to action - "Unless it lifts you on your feet again and puts joy in your heart and moves you and leads you to do something, I say you're not taking it properly"
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.