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Sermon #5232

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God"

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God" - A Sermon on Psalm 14:1

Originally preached Oct. 6, 1957

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Scripture

Psalms 14:1 ESV KJV
To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. (ESV)

Sermon Description

What does it mean to be a fool? According to Scripture, to be a fool is not merely being ignorant of the truth, but it is opposing the wisdom of God. This is why all those that deny that God exists are called fools; they have rejected God’s revelation of Himself in His Word and in His creation. In this sermon “The Fool Says in His Heart, “There is No God,” from Psalm 14:1 Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the folly of rejecting God as Lord and Creator. Scripture tells that God has clearly revealed Himself, and it is only an act of foolish rebellion that leads men and women to deny that God exists and has created all things. God has given evidence that He exists in all of creation, from the stars above to human consciousness. The greatest tragedy of the fool is not only that they have rejected God as their creator, but that they have also rejected God as their savior. Jesus Christ is God’s only appointed means of salvation; to reject Him is to reject God’s love and grace. The ultimate answer to human rebellion is the sovereign electing grace of God for it is only God’s grace that can overcome sin.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The psalmist makes a universal statement that anyone who says there is no God is a fool.
  2. The greatest matter confronting us is our relationship with God. It transcends all other questions and issues.
  3. There are many attitudes towards God but the psalmist focuses on those who say there is no God.
  4. The fool listens to his desires rather than understanding. He is superficial and lacks the ability to think clearly.
  5. There is a sense of God in all human beings. We all have a conscience that condemns wrongdoing. The fool ignores these senses within himself.
  6. Disbelief in God is not due to intelligence or learning. Both intelligent and unintelligent people deny God. Many learned people believe in God.
  7. People denied God in David's time as well. It is not due to recent knowledge or discoveries. There is nothing new about denying God.
  8. The fool draws momentous conclusions from insufficient evidence. He has not truly thought the matter through.
  9. The problem of pain or psychology or evolution or comparative religion are not adequate evidence to prove there is no God. They are just theories.
  10. The fool ignores massive evidence for God like creation, history, prophecy, archaeology, Jesus, the church, and Christian saints.
  11. No one can prove there is no life after death. The fool risks his eternal destiny on flimsy evidence.
  12. The godly life is superior to the life of the fool in this world and the next. The fool rejects great blessings and rewards.
  13. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. One must repent and believe in Christ to become truly wise.

Sermon Q&A

What Does the Bible Say About Atheism?

What does the Psalmist mean when he says "The fool says in his heart there is no God"?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon, the Psalmist makes a universal statement that anyone who says there is no God is a fool. The term "fool" in this biblical context doesn't simply mean unintelligent but refers to someone who is superficial, doesn't think deeply, lacks understanding, acts impulsively, and doesn't consider consequences. The Psalmist contrasts the fool with those who have understanding, suggesting that denying God is not a matter of intelligence but of spiritual wisdom.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe the question of God is more important than current events?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while issues like nuclear weapons, political developments, and scientific advancements (like the satellite launch he mentions) are important, our relationship to God transcends all these matters. He argues that this question is "incomparably the greatest" because:

  1. It concerns something that is absolutely certain and continues regardless of world events
  2. Our lives are limited and we must all face this question eventually
  3. Even in times of catastrophe, our relationship to God remains our most important concern
  4. Our eternal destiny depends on this relationship

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the claim that atheism is based on superior knowledge or intelligence?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones refutes this claim with several key arguments:

  1. Disbelief in God is not confined to the learned - for every intellectual atheist, there are many uneducated people who also don't believe
  2. Many of history's greatest thinkers and scientists were believers (he cites Isaac Newton and Pascal)
  3. Religion is actually more popular among the intelligent and educated (universities) than among the general population
  4. Atheism is not new or modern - the Psalmist wrote about people denying God nearly 3,000 years ago
  5. There's a significant difference between possessing knowledge and having true understanding or wisdom

According to the sermon, why are atheistic arguments considered insufficient?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones considers atheistic arguments insufficient because:

  1. They draw momentous conclusions from insufficient evidence
  2. People reject God based on limited objections (like the problem of pain) without considering alternative explanations
  3. Scientific theories like evolution and psychological theories remain unproven hypotheses
  4. Atheists ignore the vast evidence for God's existence, including:
  5. The complexity and order of the universe
  6. The unique nature of humanity
  7. The evidence of history, especially regarding the Jewish people
  8. Biblical prophecy and its fulfillment
  9. The person of Jesus Christ and the persistence of Christianity
  10. The lives of saints and Christian benefactors throughout history

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the ultimate foolishness of atheism?

The ultimate foolishness of atheism, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is risking one's eternal destiny on insufficient evidence. He argues:

  1. No one can prove there is no life after death
  2. If the Bible is correct about eternity, the atheist risks endless misery
  3. The atheist rejects the best life possible (communion with God) for temporary pleasures
  4. Believers have joy in this life and the assurance of eternal life, while unbelievers face death with nothing to look forward to
  5. The wise person acknowledges God, repents, and receives forgiveness through Christ

The sermon concludes with the biblical wisdom that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

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.