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Sermon #5560

Be Reconciled to God

A Sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:6

Originally preached June 18, 1961

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Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:6 ESV KJV
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, (ESV)

Sermon Description

Learn of the calmness and assurance that comes with this Christian gospel. There is a confidence that comes with believing. All things are of God and for God. In this sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:6 titled “Be Reconciled to God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that the first result of this new creation that Christianity proclaims is a new perspective. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims the necessity of this radical reorientation and looks at the example of Paul. Examine the natural view of humanity versus the biblical view of humanity. No one can face the end of life without first accepting this teaching. No one will ever know the comfort of the Scriptures if they do not accept it from beginning to end. Are people merely animals? The world thinks that there is nothing outside of the concrete and material world, but there is an entirely other reality beyond humanity’s comprehension. The world thinks that people are essentially and fundamentally good. Learn to think of them in terms of their relationship to God, and seen in the context of God. No one is the arbiter of their faith. God alone saves.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon focuses on 2 Corinthians 5:16 which says "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more."

  2. The chapter presents the challenge and case for Christianity, especially in light of the possibility of the end of the world. Christianity claims it can enable people to face death with confidence.

  3. Verse 17 says "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." To have confidence in death, you must become a new creation through Christ.

  4. A new creation sees everything differently. The first thing is seeing yourself differently. This is the greatest discovery.

  5. To understand yourself and the world, you must accept what the Bible says about man. Man's view of himself and the world is either "after the flesh" or "after Christ."

  6. The view "after the flesh" sees man as essentially an animal, the product of evolution, autonomous, belonging only to this world and time, living for himself, and able to solve his own problems. The ultimate view is man is good and progressing.

  7. The Bible's view sees man as made in God's image, responsible to God, belonging to the spiritual and eternal realm, living for God, unable to solve his own problems, sinful, and needing reconciliation to God through Christ.

  8. The view "after the flesh" divides people, emphasizing differences. The Christian view sees all as the same, equally sinful and living for themselves, under God's wrath, and needing Christ.

  9. Man's troubles are due to sin and God's curse. Man needs reconciliation to God through Christ, not his own efforts. Man sees himself as dying, facing judgment, and deserving eternal punishment.

  10. The only proof the Christian view is true is Christ coming to die for sinful man who could not save himself. We must see ourselves as the Bible says to have confidence in death.

  11. The sermon urges people to see themselves as sinful, acknowledge it to God, and believe the gospel that Christ died for their sins and rose again to reconcile them to God.

Sermon Q&A

What Are the Key Differences Between the Natural Man's View and Christian's View According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:16, there are fundamental differences between how natural man views himself and others versus the Christian perspective. Here are the main contrasts:

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the natural man's view of human beings?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the natural man (or man "after the flesh") views humans as:

  1. Merely evolved animals with no special origin beyond the material world
  2. Autonomous beings responsible only to themselves
  3. Belonging only to this world and time with nothing beyond death
  4. Divided by distinctions such as nationality, race, color, social status, wealth, and education
  5. Essentially good, with troubles caused by external factors like other people or circumstances
  6. Capable of solving their own problems without divine help
  7. Either progressing toward perfection or, for some, simply existing to "eat, drink and be merry"

As Lloyd-Jones puts it: "Man is supreme, autonomous man, responsible for himself, and his ideas and views are supreme and are to be accepted because there is literally nothing beyond them."

How does the Christian view of humanity differ according to Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the Christian view sees humans as:

  1. Made in God's image and likeness as a unique creation
  2. Primarily responsible to God, not autonomous
  3. Eternal beings who continue beyond death to face judgment
  4. United in their common fallen condition ("There is no difference")
  5. All guilty of trespasses against God and living selfishly
  6. Unable to solve their fundamental problems without divine intervention
  7. In need of reconciliation with God through Christ

As Lloyd-Jones states: "You don't begin to understand why the world is in its present state and condition unless you accept what the apostle teaches here about this view of man."

Why does Lloyd-Jones believe this change in perspective is so important?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this change in perspective is vital because:

  1. It helps us understand the true state of the world and its problems
  2. It allows us to understand ourselves and our own failures
  3. It prepares us to face death and eternity with confidence
  4. It leads to the only solution - reconciliation with God through Christ

He explains: "You cannot face the end, the dissolving of the earthly house of your tabernacle unless you accept this teaching. You've got to accept every bit of it."

How does one transition from the natural view to the Christian view?

According to Lloyd-Jones, this transition happens through:

  1. Regeneration - becoming "a new creation" through God's work
  2. Seeing the truth about oneself as sinful and helpless
  3. Repenting and acknowledging this truth to oneself and God
  4. Believing in Christ who died to reconcile us to God
  5. Receiving a new nature that views everything differently

Lloyd-Jones concludes with this appeal: "I beseech you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God. And you see, that doesn't mean going out and trying to do. No, no. It just means believing here and now on the Lord Jesus Christ, admitting your utter impotence and your helplessness and your lost estate."

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.