God Is Faithful
A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Originally preached Sept. 15, 1957
Scripture
4I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 …
Sermon Description
Is it possible to be confident and filled with a sense of assurance about the state of the Christian church today? The Apostle Paul had great confidence and certainty in the faithfulness of God as he wrote to the church in Corinth: “God is faithful.” Do Christians desire the assurance that Paul seems to have in his writings? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches this sermon as an introduction to 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 so that the listener may be helped and strengthened both at the current state of the Christian church, and in evaluating the manner in which Christians live. Dr. Lloyd-Jones asserts that Paul’s confidence is based upon the fact that he knows that salvation is entirely of God. Paul did not have confidence in the Corinthians or himself, but in God and His grace alone. It is God who calls His people up from spiritual death into His salvation. The Christian has been called and quickened by God and can have confidence today knowing that it is God who calls, confirms, and keeps each Christian because He never starts something without finishing it.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon opens by introducing 1 Corinthians 1:9 as the main text and focus - "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
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The sermon establishes that Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians to address many problems in the church. Despite this, Paul opens with a statement of confidence and assurance in God.
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The sermon asks how Paul can be confident given the state of the Corinthian church and the difficulties of life. The answer is that Paul's confidence is in God, not man.
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Salvation is entirely of God. It starts with the grace of God, not man. God called us and chose us.
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God gives us spiritual gifts, knowledge, and confirms our faith. He will sustain us to the end.
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God preserves us from error and sin. He allows trials but provides escape. He will make us blameless.
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Our confidence is in God's character. He is faithful and unchanging. He always finishes what He starts.
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Despite the problems in the church, we can be confident because God is in control and will fulfill His purposes.
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In summary, the sermon teaches that we can be confident in times of difficulty because our salvation and security rest in God alone, not man. God is faithful and sovereign.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers: God's Faithfulness
What is the key verse that Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on in this sermon from 1 Corinthians?
The key verse Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on is 1 Corinthians 1:9: "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." This verse forms the foundation of his entire sermon about the faithfulness of God even in difficult circumstances.
Why was Paul's confidence in the Corinthian church surprising?
Paul's confidence was surprising because the Corinthian church was filled with numerous serious problems. Dr. Lloyd-Jones lists these issues: divisions and party spirit, a case of grievous sin being ignored, believers going to law against each other, confusion about marriage, disputes between "strong" and "weak" brothers, disorder at the Lord's Supper, and turmoil over spiritual gifts. Despite all these problems, Paul still expressed confidence at the beginning of his letter.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what is the only true basis for Christian confidence?
The only true basis for Christian confidence is understanding that salvation is entirely of God. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Paul "has no confidence in them [the Corinthians], he has no confidence in himself," but rather his confidence is based on "one thing only, and that is that after all, the church, even at Corinth, is the church of God and that God is faithful." Our confidence must rest not on people or circumstances but on God's character and work.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain about the meaning of being "called" by God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that being "called" means more than just hearing the gospel message. It is an "effective call" or "efficacious call" that not only addresses a person but puts power into them. He uses the example of Lazarus being called from the dead: "in the call of Christ to Lazarus was the power given to Lazarus." A Christian is someone who has been given new life by God's call, enabling them to respond to the gospel, since "the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints?
Lloyd-Jones describes the final perseverance of the saints as God's work to "confirm us unto the end that we may be blameless in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ." God not only brings believers into spiritual life but keeps them in it. He preserves them from deadly errors and deadly sins. Though believers may be tempted, shaken, or even fall temporarily, a true child of God "will never be allowed so to sin as to fall away from grace." God will "confirm," "sustain," "establish," and "make steadfast" His people.
What aspects of salvation does Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlight as being entirely of God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlights that every aspect of salvation is entirely of God: 1. God's grace initiates salvation 2. God's call makes salvation effective 3. God enriches believers with gifts of utterance and knowledge 4. God confirms the faith in believers 5. God preserves believers to the end 6. God will present believers blameless on the final day
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say that God's character makes salvation certain?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that salvation is certain because "God is faithful." Unlike humans who are unreliable and break promises, God "never starts anything without completing it." His character as the unchanging, trustworthy God ensures that "when God begins, God continues." Lloyd-Jones quotes Philippians 1:6: "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." The absolute faithfulness of God's character guarantees the completion of His work.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast human faithfulness with God's faithfulness?
Lloyd-Jones points out that humans are fundamentally unfaithful: "You are not very faithful, says Paul in effect to these Corinthians, you are not very trustworthy." Humans don't fulfill promises, take things up with enthusiasm but forget them, make resolutions and break them, and are "ever beginning, but we never end." In stark contrast, "God is faithful. He cannot deny himself." God never acts haphazardly or negligently, He plans completely, and He always finishes what He starts.
What comfort does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer to believers facing trials and difficulties?
Lloyd-Jones offers the comfort that God "will never suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able to bear." He quotes 1 Corinthians 10:13, noting that God is kind and will always provide a way of escape in temptation. Though believers may be shaken or tottering, "He'll never let you fall." This provides tremendous comfort amidst personal struggles and the troubled state of the church in the modern world.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones apply this message to the state of the church in his time?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones applies this message to the state of the church in his time by acknowledging the "departure from the faith and from the truth," the "doctrinal confusion," and the "worldliness" visible in the church worldwide. He admits that were it not for the truth of God's faithfulness, he "would be filled with a sense of despair." But because salvation is God's work from beginning to end, and because God is faithful to complete what He starts, we can have confidence in the church's ultimate future despite its current troubles.
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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.