MLJ Trust Logo Image
Search
Sermon #5254

The Great Christian Salvation

A Sermon on Psalm 107:35-38

Originally preached March 6, 1955

Share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Play Sermon
btn-play
Download Sermon Add to Queue Add to Playlist

Scripture

Psalms 107:35-38 ESV KJV
He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does …

Read more

Sermon Description

What is unique about the Bible’s teaching on salvation? Many religions and philosophies present ways that people can be saved from death and enjoy everlasting peace. In this sermon on Psalm 107:35–38 titled “The Great Christian Salvation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that the Christian’s faith stands apart from all these other worldly teachings because in the holy Scriptures is found a salvation that is wholly miraculous. Becoming a Christian is a miracle of God in that He transforms what is dead and lifeless into a living and breathing new spiritual being. This new birth is impossible according to nature, but with God all things are possible. This message of salvation as an act of God means that it is only by grace that anyone can be saved. Salvation is wholly of God, and therefore it is wholly of His grace. Christians are not called to understand the miraculous nature of God’s acts, but are called to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who has come and died for sinners. They are called to believe so that they may be saved. This is the most important message that anyone can hear because it is the only true message of salvation.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The psalmist calls upon all to give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and mercy.
  2. The psalmist presents four examples of those delivered from extremities by God.
  3. The psalmist makes an application, saying that those who do not praise God lack wisdom and do not observe his works.
  4. The Bible says that those who do not believe in God are fools who do not think or observe.
  5. The Bible presents arguments for God's existence, like the wonders of creation, that should convince any thinking person.
  6. The psalmist observes God's power, greatness, and salvation, though many are blind to these things.
  7. Becoming a Christian is a miraculous work of God, not something we achieve ourselves.
  8. The change God works in the soul is complete, like turning a wilderness into standing water.
  9. The change is a miracle, the direct action of God, and thus beyond our understanding.
  10. The change gives us rest, satisfaction, purpose, growth, and more.
  11. The Christian life is exciting and expanding, with increasing depths and heights.
  12. Unfortunately, the end of the sermon is missing from the recording.

Sermon Q&A

What is Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' View on Salvation According to Psalm 107?

Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Psalm 107, here's an examination of his teaching on salvation:

What is the main theme of Psalm 107 according to Lloyd-Jones?

According to Lloyd-Jones, the main theme of Psalm 107 is giving thanks to God for His goodness and mercy. The psalmist desires that "all should give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever," and especially calls upon "the redeemed of the Lord to say so" because they have experienced amazing blessings from God's hands.

Why does Lloyd-Jones say people don't praise God?

Lloyd-Jones explains that people don't praise God because of ignorance and lack of wisdom. As he states: "If we've never praised God, if we don't know what it is this evening to have in our hearts a hymn of praise unto God... there's only one explanation... It's ignorance. It's a lack of wisdom. Which means a lack of knowledge, a lack of understanding, a lack of discrimination."

What does Lloyd-Jones teach about the nature of salvation?

Lloyd-Jones teaches that salvation is:

  1. A miracle performed by God: "When you become a Christian, you are nothing less and nothing short again of a miracle... It's God who's acted upon him, and he's acted upon his soul."

  2. Not dependent on human works: "Our salvation doesn't depend upon us at all. Not to the slightest extent. It is entirely the result of what God himself has done in his only begotten son, our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ."

  3. A complete change of nature: "When a man becomes a Christian, it isn't that he's a little bit better. He's got a new nature. It's a complete change of nature... it isn't the surface of his life that's changed. It's his heart that's changed."

How does Lloyd-Jones illustrate the transformation of salvation?

Lloyd-Jones uses the imagery from Psalm 107:35-38 of God turning "the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into water springs." This depicts the complete transformation that occurs in salvation. Just as transforming a desert into water-filled land represents a total change, so salvation brings a radical transformation to the human heart.

What are the results of salvation according to Lloyd-Jones?

Lloyd-Jones identifies several results of salvation:

  1. Rest for the soul: "There's nothing more blessed about the christian life than that. It's the end of all the journeys and the wanderings."

  2. Complete satisfaction: "I find complete intellectual satisfaction... complete emotional satisfaction."

  3. Purpose in life: "Come to this position and you'll see your life in this world as better journey, better pilgrimage."

  4. Growth and development: "That's another wonderful thing about this life, it's a life that grows."

Why does Lloyd-Jones reject the idea that becoming a Christian is just a decision?

Lloyd-Jones strongly rejects the notion that becoming a Christian is merely a human decision or self-improvement: "I don't preach decisions. I preach regeneration. I preach God acting in the souls of men by his holy spirit and nothing less." He emphasizes that Christianity involves God putting "a new principle of life into you, and therefore you're an entirely new person."

The sermon powerfully presents salvation as God's miraculous work of transformation, not merely a superficial change or human decision, but a complete regeneration that brings rest, satisfaction, purpose, and continual growth.

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.