Where Art Thou?
A Sermon on Genesis 3:9
Originally preached Oct. 23, 1955
Scripture
9And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Sermon Description
No one is wise, clever, or powerful enough to escape the corruption of sin. In this sermon on Genesis 3:9 titled “Where Are Thou?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims that the power of sin over the world can be seen in the garden when Adam and Eve rejected God’s commands, lived by their own desires, and plunged the world into disastrous sin. Ever since, people reject the truth of Christianity by claiming that it is irrational, intellectually inadequate, and foolish. In its sinful pride and arrogance, humanity seeks to judge God’s word using the intellect and mind. But according to Scripture, all are slaves to sin and are born wholly corrupt. Only by God’s grace can those born in Adam receive new eyes and a new mind to see and know God rightly. It is not up to humanity and its reasoning, but to God and His infinite grace that He grants to those whom He has given to Christ Jesus. This is the heart of the gospel that God promised to Adam and Eve when He said that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent once and for all. Christ was born of a woman and died upon the cross so that all who repent and believe upon His name will be saved and made inheritors of life everlasting.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon is focused on Genesis 3:9 - "And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?"
- God addresses us personally. He is interested in us as individuals.
- We think we are investigating God, but really God is investigating us. We are on trial, not the investigators.
- Christianity is about us and our lives, not just opinions and ideas.
- God forces us to face where we really are - intellectually, morally, spiritually. We hide behind "trees" to avoid this.
- God addresses the true nature of our sin and rebellion against him. Sin is not just an action but violation of God's law and our created purpose.
- God pronounces judgment on sin - conflict, suffering, pain, death. Civilization shows the futility of man's efforts apart from God.
- But God provides a way out through Jesus Christ, the seed of the woman, who bore our judgment.
- We must come out of hiding and cry out to God for mercy. He will receive all who come to him.
Sermon Q&A
What Does the Question "Where Art Thou?" in Genesis 3:9 Mean for Modern Believers?
What is the significance of God's question to Adam "Where art thou?" in Genesis 3?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, God's question "Where art thou?" in Genesis 3:9 is profoundly significant because it shows that God personally addresses and seeks out sinful humanity. It demonstrates that despite man's rebellion and attempt to hide from God, God continues to speak to us and pursue us. The question reveals that we are not the investigators of God; rather, we are being investigated by God. It shows that God is concerned not merely with our intellectual opinions about Him but with our personal relationship with Him and our moral condition.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say that this chapter is one of the most important in the Bible?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Genesis 3 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible because "in this one chapter we rarely have a history of mankind, a history of the world and at the same time, all the main outlines of salvation." It provides the only true explanation for why the world is as it is, why humans behave as they do, and it outlines God's plan for redemption. The chapter is timeless because it addresses the fundamental cause of all human troubles—a wrong attitude toward God—and shows how this wrong attitude plays out in every human life throughout history.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the personal nature of God's address to humans?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that God addresses us personally, not merely abstractly. He states: "The first thing I notice is that God addresses us personally... Adam, where art thou? Where art thou? Put your emphasis wherever you like. A personal address to Adam." This personal address shows that Christianity is not primarily about discussing ideas, philosophies, or even theological concepts, but about God addressing us as individuals. He points out that people often hide behind intellectual arguments and abstract discussions to avoid facing their personal relationship with God and moral condition.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by saying we are "being investigated" rather than being "investigators"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that humans often approach religion and God as if they are the investigators—examining, analyzing, and passing judgment on God and religious claims. However, the reality is that we are the ones being investigated by God. He says: "Adam suddenly discovered that he, far from being the investigator, was the one who was being investigated." This means that rather than us sitting in judgment of God, God is examining us, our lives, our choices, and our moral condition. He asks the penetrating question: "Had you realized, my friend, that in this life and in this world you are on trial? You are not trying. You are on trial, you are being tried."
How does God's question "Where art thou?" confront us morally according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, God's question forces us to face where we are morally. He states: "He forces us to face where we are and what we are. Adam, where art thou? Where exactly are you and what you are doing there?" The question challenges us to examine our moral standing—our chastity, purity, honesty, and "soul cleanliness." Lloyd-Jones contrasts this with people's tendency to discuss abstract philosophical and theological questions while avoiding personal moral examination. He uses Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman as an example, showing how Christ cut through theological discussion to address her moral condition.
What does the sermon teach about the true nature of sin?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that sin is not merely breaking a moral code or committing specific wrong actions. The true nature of sin is that it is rebellion against God and a violation of our created purpose. He quotes David's words in Psalm 51: "Against thee, thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight," explaining that "the terrible thing about sin rarely the thing that makes sin sin... is that I have sinned against God. I violated the law of my being. I am a rebel against God." Sin is a departure from our intended purpose as beings created in God's image who were meant to live in correspondence with and enjoyment of God.
How does the sermon explain God's judgment on sin?
The sermon explains that God's judgment on sin is both present and future. Present judgments include the perpetual conflict between good and evil within us, the sorrow and suffering in life (particularly in childbirth), the struggle for existence and earning one's livelihood, and the inability to recreate paradise through human civilization. The ultimate judgment is physical death: "Unto the dust thou shalt return." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that death "came in as a part of the punishment of sin" and that we are "born to die." Beyond physical death is the final judgment before God in eternity.
What hope does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer at the end of his sermon?
After describing the reality of sin and judgment, Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to the hope found in Christ. He reminds listeners of God's promise that "the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head," referring to Christ's victory over Satan. He explains that God calls us out of hiding "not only to condemn you but to tell you that if you believe and acknowledge the condemnation he has a way to bring you back to paradise." Jesus Christ has "borne the judgment of the sin of all who believe in Him," making it possible for sinners to be cleansed and welcomed back to God. He concludes by urging listeners to "cry out unto him for mercy" with the promise that "him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say we must face our sin before receiving the gospel?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones insists that we must face the reality of our sin and God's judgment before we can truly receive the gospel. He states: "You don't come to the gospel until you faced all that. This is no sobstar, this is no patent remedy, this is not one of your optimistic philosophies." He explains that "it's only the desperate who come to Christ. It's only those who know that they're sick who see their need of a physician." Without recognizing the seriousness of our condition, we will not see our need for the Savior that God has provided in Christ.
How does the sermon connect Genesis 3 to our everyday lives today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Genesis 3 is not merely ancient history but describes the ongoing human condition. He states that "this chapter is not only a record of actual history. In addition to that, it is a full explanation of what we, each one of us, do in turn." The patterns of sin, hiding from God, and experiencing the consequences of rebellion are repeated in every human life. The personal question "Where art thou?" continues to be asked by God to each person today through conscience, events, Scripture, and ultimately through Christ. The same judgment on sin continues to affect our world, and the same offer of salvation through Christ remains available to all who will respond to God's call.
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.