Access to God
A Sermon on 1 Peter 2:2-5
Originally preached April 15, 1962
Scripture
2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, …
Sermon Description
How does anyone know Christ will accept them? All know what it is like to be rejected by someone, but the great truth of the gospel is that Jesus is merciful and loving. He never rejects those that come to Him. In this sermon on 1 Peter 2:2–5 titled “Access to God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains how Jesus was the friend of sinners and the outcasts in His earthly ministry. What happens when a sinner comes to Jesus? As Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims, Jesus is the only way to God. He is the true high priest who gives access into God’s presence as children of God. Jesus is the only way to God, and He is the only true source of blessing in this life. While many claim to give peace with God through works or merits, Jesus simply asks people to believe in Him. There is nothing anyone can do to save themselves. This leads to the great truth of assurance in Christ. All who believe in Jesus can, and should, be assured that He loves them and has died for them. This is because Jesus is faithful, loving, and gracious. This sermon will help the listener understand the necessity of trusting in Christ as well as the peace it brings.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon is based on 1 Peter 2:2-5. Dr. Lloyd-Jones has been going through this passage over multiple sermons.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the most important question is how to face life and its uncertainties. The only answer is to be in the right relationship with God.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the Bible's message is how to be right with God. This was the key to the heroes of the faith in the Old Testament like Abraham, Moses, and David.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Jesus also showed that the key was being in the right relationship with God. Jesus said he lived by God.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the key question is how we can get into the right relationship with God. The answer is through Jesus Christ alone.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses 1 Peter 2:2-3 which says to desire the pure milk of the word and taste that the Lord is gracious. This shows if we come to Jesus, he will receive us.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says we know Jesus is gracious through him coming into the world, his compassion for sinners and sufferers, his teaching, and his death on the cross.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says if we come to Jesus, we will receive blessings and privileges. 1 Peter 2:4-5 calls these "the preciousness".
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the first blessing is access to God in prayer. We need grace to help in time of need, and only God can provide this.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the Old Testament shows we cannot approach God whenever we want. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and not without blood.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Jesus is now our high priest. His blood provides the way into God's presence. There is no other way to approach God.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones quotes several passages showing Jesus is the only mediator and the only way to God. Through Jesus, our prayers are acceptable.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones says other blessings of coming to Jesus include becoming God's chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's special possession.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by appealing to come to Jesus, the living stone, so we can offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on 1 Peter 2:2-5
What does it mean that believers "shall never be confounded"?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being in a position where we "shall never be confounded" means having the security and stability to face life's challenges without despair. He emphasizes this as "the most urgent question confronting everybody in this world" - how to face life now, tomorrow, and the unknown future with certainty and peace, regardless of what circumstances come. This state is only available to those who believe in Christ and become part of "the people of God."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the graciousness of Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several evidences of Christ's graciousness: His willingness to leave heaven and become poor for our sakes (2 Corinthians 8:9), His compassion for the suffering during His earthly ministry, His reputation as "the friend of publicans and sinners," His welcoming of little children, His promise "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out," and ultimately His sacrifice on the cross. All these demonstrate that Christ is gracious and will receive anyone who comes to Him.
What is the only way to access God's presence according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the only way to access God's presence is through Jesus Christ as our great High Priest. He states emphatically: "There is no access into the presence of God except through him." Drawing on the Old Testament priesthood system, he explains that just as only the high priest could enter God's presence with blood, now Christ has become both our High Priest and sacrifice. He quotes 1 Timothy 2, emphasizing "there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
What are the "spiritual sacrifices" mentioned in 1 Peter 2:5?
The spiritual sacrifices mentioned in 1 Peter 2:5 refer to the prayers, praises, and petitions that believers offer to God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that our prayers are "acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" because Christ takes our poor, imperfect prayers and "transforms them" before presenting them to God. These spiritual sacrifices replace the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament system.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the privilege of being God's "peculiar people"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that being God's "peculiar people" (a term he notes is poorly translated) means being "a people for a peculiar position, a people for a peculiar treasure." This privilege means God takes a special interest in believers, places His mark upon them, and ensures nothing will ultimately harm them. As God's treasured possession, believers can be assured that "his loving eye will always be upon you, and he will never leave you, nor forsake you."
What does it mean to be built up as "living stones" in a spiritual house?
According to the sermon, believers become "living stones" like Christ (who is the "living stone") when they come to Him. These living stones are built up into a spiritual house or temple where God dwells. This means believers collectively form a spiritual dwelling place for God and individually function as priests who have direct access to God through Christ. This imagery conveys both the corporate nature of the church and the individual privilege of approaching God directly.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the Old Testament priesthood with the believer's access to God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the limited access of the Old Testament priesthood (where only the high priest could enter God's presence once a year with blood) with the believer's direct access to God through Christ. He explains that under the New Covenant, believers don't need an earthly priesthood or temple, as they themselves are priests with Christ as their High Priest. While access to God was severely restricted under the Old Covenant, believers now can "go boldly, confidently and with assurance into the presence of God."
What does it mean to "taste that the Lord is gracious"?
To "taste that the Lord is gracious" means to personally experience Christ's graciousness through coming to Him and believing in Him. Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges listeners to "come to him, taste and see that the Lord is good. Try him. Take him at his word." This tasting is not theoretical knowledge but practical experience of Christ's grace, which then creates a desire for "the sincere milk of the word" and spiritual growth. Once someone has tasted Christ's graciousness, they will naturally want more.
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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.