The Ungodly Man
A Sermon on the Ungodly Man from Psalm 1:3-4
Originally preached Jan. 13, 1963
Scripture
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Sermon Description
What separates Christians from the rest of the world? How can one know for sure someone else is truly saved? Scripture gives many tests of salvation, but few are as vivid as the portrait painted in this passage. In this sermon on Psalm 1:3–4 titled “The Ungodly Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains the vast difference between those who are rooted by the river of life and those who will blow away like chaff. Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents five differences between the godly and the ungodly person. These differences are profound and have eternal consequences. Due to sin, people are no longer as God originally created them to be, but instead they are empty and in desperate need of salvation. Listen and discover why unhappiness characterizes the ungodly person and understand the only remedy is found in Jesus Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The ungodly man is nothing but a relic, a remnant, a ruin, a wreck. He is like chaff - the worthless husk that remains after the grain has been removed.
- The ungodly man has no form or shape to his life. He is constantly changing and inconsistent. There is no pattern or governing principle. He is hard to define.
- The ungodly man has no roots or foundations. His life is superficial, light, and insecure. He is subject to changing circumstances and does not know how to handle difficulties.
- The ungodly man's life is lifeless and cannot grow. He ends where he began and only gets worse over time. There is no possibility of improvement or development.
- The ungodly man's life bears no fruit. It does not provide real satisfaction, joy or happiness. Its end is death.
- In contrast, the godly man is like a tree. His life has wholeness, form, roots, life, and bears fruit. He can grow in knowledge and grace.
Sermon Q&A
Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers on Psalm 1:3-4
What does Martyn Lloyd-Jones say is the difference between a godly person and an ungodly person according to Psalm 1?
According to Lloyd-Jones, Psalm 1 illustrates that the difference between the godly and ungodly is as profound as "the difference between a tree and chaff." The godly person is "like a tree planted by the rivers of water," while the ungodly are "like the chaff which the wind driveth away." This is not merely a difference in degree or behavior but a fundamental difference in nature. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes, "It is a complete contrast" and "there is nothing common at all to the two."
How does Lloyd-Jones describe true happiness according to the sermon?
Lloyd-Jones explains that true happiness is not something to be pursued directly but rather comes as a byproduct of seeking righteousness. He states, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All these other things shall be added unto you. That's the order." He emphasizes that happiness is "not dependent upon circumstances" but is "something that is ultimately dependent upon our relationship to God and the state and the condition of our own soul." It is a happiness that is "true" and "lasting" that "continues and abides" regardless of what happens in life.
What are the key characteristics of chaff that Lloyd-Jones uses to describe the ungodly person?
Lloyd-Jones describes chaff (representing the ungodly) as having several key characteristics: 1. It is "nothing but a relic," "a remnant," "a ruins," "a wreck" - the refuse left when the valuable grain is gone 2. It has "no form at all" - it's "a formless, shapeless mass" without pattern or governing principle 3. It is "rootless" - having "no foundations" and being "utterly insecure" 4. It is "lifeless" - unable to grow or develop positively 5. It never produces fruit - "Chaff is always useless" and "never gives real satisfaction"
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the main reasons people don't believe the Christian message?
According to Lloyd-Jones, there are two main reasons people don't believe the Christian message: 1. "Men is so terribly ignorant about himself" - people don't see themselves as they really are, starting with false assumptions about their own condition 2. "The true nature of the christian life" is misunderstood - people think Christianity is just about ethics or adding something to an otherwise unchanged life, when it actually represents a complete transformation
How does Lloyd-Jones describe the Christian's life in contrast to chaff?
Lloyd-Jones describes the Christian's life (represented by the tree) as: 1. An "organism" with "wholeness" rather than being a mere remnant or relic 2. Having "form," "beauty," "symmetry," and "consistency" - a definable, recognizable pattern to life 3. Having "roots" - being "rooted and grounded in the faith" with fixed principles and security 4. Possessing "life" - able to grow and develop, starting as "babes in Christ" with "endless, infinite, eternal possibility of development" 5. Bearing fruit - producing "real satisfaction," "real joy," and "true and clean and real happiness"
What does Lloyd-Jones teach about the nature of conversion or becoming a Christian?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that becoming a Christian is not about self-improvement or adding religion to an unchanged life. Instead, it requires a complete transformation: "Before you can become a Christian, said our Lord to Nicodemus, you need to be born again." He describes it as "a rebirth," "a regeneration," and "a new creation." It's not "slightly different from the man who's not a Christian" but rather "the God who created at the beginning has created something new here that wasn't there before." He describes it as the difference "between death and life."
What does Lloyd-Jones say about the essential doctrines that a Christian must believe?
Lloyd-Jones firmly states that a Christian must believe certain essential doctrines: "A Christian is a man who believes a body of doctrine." These include: - Jesus Christ is "the only begotten son of God" - Jesus was "born of a virgin" through "a miraculous birth" - Jesus performed miracles and gave divine teaching - Jesus went to the cross deliberately to save us - Jesus "took our sins upon himself and bore their punishment" - Salvation comes through faith in Christ, not good works - The "literal, physical, bodily resurrection" of Christ - The person of the Holy Spirit and Pentecost
What does Lloyd-Jones teach about the permanence of worldly accomplishments and pleasures?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that worldly accomplishments and pleasures are impermanent like chaff: "The glittering prizes of this world are nothing but chaff." He says they've "got nothing to give the soul, nothing to give the spirit, nothing to give real joy and lasting peace or a solid treasure." He describes worldly pursuits as "chasing bubble" that explodes in one's hand leaving "nothing but a heap of refuse." Quoting the Bible, he states: "All flesh is as grass and all the glory of men as the goodness of grass. The grass withereth, the flower falleth away."
How does Lloyd-Jones describe the process of growing as a Christian?
Lloyd-Jones describes Christian growth as an organic process similar to a tree's development. Christians start as "babes in Christ" who cannot "speak," "think," or "reason" proficiently in spiritual matters. However, unlike chaff, they have "life" which enables them to "develop" and "grow." He references 1 John's categories of "children," "young men," and "old men" to illustrate stages of spiritual maturity. He describes the Christian life as "a never ebbing sea" where one "grows in knowledge and one grows in grace" with "endless, infinite, eternal possibility of development and of advance."
What final appeal does Lloyd-Jones make to his listeners regarding their spiritual condition?
Lloyd-Jones concludes by directly asking his listeners to examine their lives: "What is the nature, the character of your life? Is it chaff or is it like a tree?" He urges those who find "nothing but refuse and chaff left in your life" to "cry out to God, confess it to him. Acknowledge it. Don't try to defend yourself." He reminds them that God "sent his son into this world to save chaff, refuge, the ruins of the soul, and he has power sufficient to do it." His final appeal is: "Face the facts, acknowledge the truth, then cast yourself upon the mercy and the love of God in Jesus Christ, our Lord. And be ye saved."
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.