The Way of the Ungodly
A Sermon on Psalms 1:5-6
Originally preached Jan. 27, 1963
Scripture
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Sermon Description
In this sermon of Psalm 1:5–6 titled “The Way of the Ungodly,” Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones diagnoses the way of the ungodly and then presents the prescription given by God for the ungodly to be remedied. Listen as he lays out the five aspects of God’s future judgment: the fact, the nature, the terms, the thoroughness, and the consequences. It is a dismal future for the ungodly person. They will not stand amidst the congregation of the righteous. Since God’s law sets the standard for humanity, how can anyone meet that standard? There is only one way and only one secret to happiness and blessedness. Only Christ can remove the fear of death and judgment. As the hymn states, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’s blood and righteousness… On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” A person can stand on nothing else in this world or on the Day of Judgment but on the rock of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The psalmist teaches that true happiness depends on our relationship with God and what we are as a consequence of that relationship.
- The ultimate trouble with the ungodly or sinner is that he is a fool who lives only for the present moment and refuses to consider the future or judgment.
- The Bible emphasizes the wholeness or unity of life - considering the past, present and future. It proclaims that death is not the end and that there will be a judgment after death.
- The judgment is a fact emphasized throughout the Bible. Modern objections to judgment are based on false views of God and His love. We only know about God through His revelation in Scripture.
- The nature of the judgment is that everyone will appear before God. The judge is the Lord. The terms of judgment are God's law and commands. The judgment will be extremely thorough - nothing is hidden from God.
- The consequences of judgment for the ungodly are that they will have no defense or excuse, will be speechless, and will be condemned to eternal punishment.
- The message of judgment is written to warn us and call us to repentance and faith in Christ. Believing in Christ is the only way to stand in the judgment.
Sermon Q&A
What Does the Bible Say About Final Judgment According to Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What does Psalm 1:5-6 teach about the final judgment?
According to Lloyd-Jones, Psalm 1:5-6 teaches that "the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous" because "the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish." This passage emphasizes the unavoidable reality of judgment and shows that our eternal destiny is determined by our life and attitude in this world.
Why is considering the end of life essential to true happiness according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones explains that true happiness can only come when we consider "the wholeness or unity of life" - not just living for the present moment. The psalm teaches that "the only men who is truly blessed and happy is the man who has catered for all and who is ready for all - the end, death and what lies beyond it included." We cannot atomize life into segments but must see it as a whole, flowing stream.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the fact of judgment in the Bible?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that judgment is a fundamental biblical message appearing throughout Scripture:
- It appears in the Garden of Eden when God judged Adam and Eve
- It's demonstrated in the Old Testament with individuals and the nation of Israel
- John the Baptist preached about "the wrath to come"
- Jesus taught about judgment in passages like John 5
- The apostles consistently warned about coming judgment
- The book of Revelation previews the ultimate judgment
He states that "if there's anything that's plain in the Bible, it is judgment."
What will be the nature of the final judgment according to the sermon?
Lloyd-Jones outlines these aspects of judgment: - Everyone will appear before God - The judge is the Lord himself, specifically Jesus Christ - We will be judged according to God's law - The judgment will be thorough - "nothing can be hidden from the sight of God" - There will be a separation between those truly in "the congregation of the righteous" and those who merely appeared to be
What will happen to the ungodly in the judgment according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones explains that "the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment" means they will "not have a leg to stand on." They will be: - Speechless, without replies or excuses - Unable to justify themselves - Confronted with their rejection of God's offer of salvation - Sent to "outer darkness... to a place where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched" - Experiencing "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord"
What is the purpose of this teaching on judgment according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones concludes that this teaching is given "because God is love. It is written to warn us while there is yet time. It is written to save us." The message calls people to repentance and faith in Christ while there is still opportunity. He emphasizes that "today is the day of salvation" and that in Christ, one can say "bold shall I stand in thy great day" because Christ's righteousness provides security in the judgment.
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.