A Vain and Empty Life
A Sermon on 1 Peter 1:14
Originally preached Oct. 25, 1959
Scripture
14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
Sermon Description
Why is Salvation necessary for the non-Christian man? What is the purpose of life for the non-Christian? In this Sermon on 1 Peter 1:4 titled “A Vain and Empty Life,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions and addresses the fact that the non Christian life is hopeless, vain, and has no purpose until they are born again and delivered out of darkness. Dr. Lloyd-Jones firstly explains the origin of the non Christian life and says that these men and women simply do what they think needs to be done because of tradition; they are following what other people have done in the past. Although they might think that they are living their own life, they are getting their ideas from someone in the past or around them who has done the same. Secondly, he explains that the life without God is a life of lust always controlled by the passions and desires of the flesh and mind. Everything the non-Christian does in this life is controlled by their mind and flesh, including anger and ambition. Lastly Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches that although the non Christian life seems attractive and wonderful at first, it is empty inside and there is no meaning to it. In the ungodly life, there is no hope and it is merely hopeless. He concludes by saying that salvation is necessary to deliver you from this empty life, and so that God can give you light, joy, and hope in this world. It is necessary for the Christian to realize that he is just a journeymen in this world and one day will be in glory with the Father.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by introducing 1 Peter 1:13-14 which exhorts Christians to have hope and live obediently.
- The sermon then provides an overview of 1 Peter 1, noting how it describes the Gospel and salvation.
- The sermon identifies ignorance as the first reason people live sinful lives, noting how people are ignorant of God, themselves, the meaning of life, and how life can be.
- The sermon then says the second reason people live sinful lives is because they follow the traditions of their fathers. They live the way others do without thinking.
- The sermon describes the sinful life as vain, fruitless, purposeless, and without hope. It is a life of lust and passion.
- The sermon says the sinful life is corrupting and degrading. It leaves people with "withered dreams."
- The sermon concludes by contrasting the sinful life with the life Christ offers. Christ offers knowledge, a new life and nature, strength over sin, purpose, and eternal hope.
- The sermon ends with an appeal for people to turn to Christ.
Sermon Q&A
What Is the Christian Salvation According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the root cause of humanity's troubles according to his sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, ignorance is the essential cause of humanity's troubles. He states, "This, of course, is what the Bible says everywhere is the essential cause of men's troubles. It's a tremendous thought, this, that the world is as it is tonight because of ignorance." He explains that people are ignorant about God, about themselves and their true nature, about the meaning and purpose of life, and about what life can really be.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the non-Christian life in his sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the non-Christian life as characterized by: (1) ignorance, (2) being governed by tradition "received from your fathers," (3) being controlled by lusts and passions (both of the flesh and mind), (4) being empty and vain ("vain conversation"), (5) being corrupting, and (6) being utterly without hope. He emphasizes that this life is not original but is actually the oldest pattern of living since the fall of humanity.
What are the "lusts" that Dr. Lloyd-Jones refers to in his sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "lusts" are not just physical desires but include "lusts of the mind." He identifies several categories of lusts: - Physical lusts: eating, drinking, and sexual indulgence - Mental lusts: ambition, desire for prominence, fame, success, anxiety to make money - Pride in knowledge and wanting to display it - Emotional drives like jealousy, envy, malice, hatred, spite, and anger
He describes these as "drives" that control and consume people, making them victims of their own desires.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones call the non-Christian life "vain" in his sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several reasons why the non-Christian life is "vain": 1. It's empty - like a bubble that appears beautiful but has nothing inside 2. It lacks purpose or objective - people go "round and round in circles" 3. It's profitless and fruitless - it brings no real value even to the person living it 4. It makes no positive difference in the world 5. It's self-centered rather than contributing to the good of others
What hope does the Christian gospel offer according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the gospel offers: 1. Light and knowledge - "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" 2. A new nature and understanding - seeing yourself as "a child of God and as a pilgrim of eternity" 3. Strength to master lusts and evil desires 4. A new purpose in life - realizing this world is temporary 5. An eternal hope that transcends this world's problems 6. Divine companionship - "he'll be with you, holding you, sustaining you in life, in death" 7. Ultimate entrance into God's presence "with glory and with exceeding joy"
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the Christian life with the non-Christian life?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts these lives by noting that while the non-Christian life is: - Based on ignorance, the Christian life brings true knowledge - Merely traditional, Christianity offers true originality - Governed by lusts, Christ offers freedom from these drives - Empty and vain, Christianity gives purpose and meaning - Corrupting, Christianity brings renewal - Hopeless, Christianity provides "a blessed, everlasting and eternal hope"
He describes the Christian as standing out "like a star shining in the heavens" amid darkness, being "a pilgrim of eternity" rather than someone trapped in endless cycles of vanity.
Other Sermons
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.