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Sermon #5543

Christ the Only Hope

Originally preached Oct. 1, 1967

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Sermon Description

What is the Christian’s hope in life? Is it that the world will get better through social change or that humanity will get better and better until all evil is eradicated? In this sermon titled “Christ the Only Hope,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the apostle Paul’s great doctrine of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians. For Paul, the Christian hope is not found in any worldly change, but in the future and final salvation of the people of God. This final salvation includes the physical and bodily resurrection of all believers when they will be made just as Christ is. While this earthly body is passing away and slowly dying, God in His power is able to make all things new and whole once again. Even though many in modern times scorn the idea of heaven, the resurrection, and salvation, the holy Scriptures are clear that there will be a day when Jesus comes again to judge the living and the dead. All will rise from the dead. Those that believe in Jesus will go to live in the new heaven and the new earth, for it is only through faith in Jesus that anyone can be saved from sin and the wrath of God.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address confusion and false teaching in the Corinthian church. In particular, some were denying the resurrection of the dead.
  2. Paul argues that if there is no resurrection, then Jesus did not rise from the dead. If Jesus did not rise, then there is no gospel and Christians are still in their sins.
  3. Paul says that if our only hope is in this life, then Christians are most miserable. He gives several reasons for this:
  4. Jesus would only be a man, not the Son of God
  5. There would be no gospel or forgiveness of sins
  6. Paul would have no comfort in his sufferings and persecutions
  7. The teaching of Jesus alone does not reform the world or give hope
  8. But Christ has risen from the dead, and this gives assurance of a complete future salvation. Though Christians have the first fruits of salvation now, we await full salvation at the resurrection.
  9. The resurrection proves that Jesus conquered all enemies, including death. He now reigns at the right hand of God, building His kingdom by calling individuals to faith.
  10. Jesus will return to destroy His enemies, raise the dead, and usher in a perfect kingdom. There will be an end to history, sin, and suffering.
  11. We must ask whether we belong to Christ and will share in His resurrection and kingdom. We become Christ's by believing the gospel that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.

Sermon Q&A

What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Resurrection of Christ?

What is the main point of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon about the resurrection?

In this sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. He emphasizes that without the resurrection, Christianity would be meaningless and Christians would be "of all men most miserable," as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:19. The resurrection confirms that Jesus is the Son of God, validates the gospel message, and provides hope for both this life and the life to come. Lloyd-Jones argues that attempts to reduce Christianity to merely the ethical teachings of Jesus without the supernatural elements like the resurrection will always fail.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say Christians would be "most miserable" if Christ had not risen?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Christians would be most miserable for several reasons if Christ had not risen:

  1. Jesus would be merely a human teacher, not the Son of God
  2. There would be no gospel or good news - "you are yet in your sins"
  3. Christians would have no comfort or consolation in their sufferings
  4. The teaching of Jesus alone, without the power of resurrection, achieves nothing and cannot change the world
  5. There would be no hope beyond this life - no resurrection, no glorified bodies, no eternal life

As he states, "If Jesus Christ is only a man, if he's only a teacher, if he didn't really die for our sins and give proof that the work was finished and was perfect by the resurrection, you still are sinners, and you have got to meet the wrath of God upon sin."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast modern religious teaching with the true gospel?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts modern religious teaching and the true gospel in several ways:

  1. Modern teaching emphasizes Jesus as merely a great human teacher versus the true gospel's emphasis on Jesus as the divine Son of God
  2. Modern teaching focuses on this world only versus the true gospel's focus on both this life and eternity
  3. Modern teaching believes human problems are primarily intellectual/educational versus the true gospel's recognition that the problem is spiritual and moral
  4. Modern teaching promotes social reform through human effort versus the true gospel's proclamation that only Christ can truly transform humanity
  5. Modern teaching has abandoned the supernatural versus the true gospel's embrace of the supernatural resurrection

He states that the modern approach has "emptied the chapels and churches, and the world has gone from bad to worse" because "the teaching of Christ alone does not reform the world."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the ultimate hope for the world?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the ultimate hope for the world comes directly from Christ's resurrection. He explains that:

  1. The resurrection proves Christ has conquered every enemy, including sin, the devil, and death
  2. Christ is currently reigning and building His kingdom through individual conversions
  3. Christ will return in glory as "King of kings and Lord of lords"
  4. At His coming, believers will be resurrected with glorified bodies
  5. Christ will destroy all evil and establish His perfect kingdom
  6. The entire cosmos will be redeemed and perfected

As Lloyd-Jones states: "When all your civilizations and all the efforts of men have come to naught, he will come and purge the cosmos and glorify it to be worthy of himself." This is what he calls "the only hope of the world."

What are the present benefits of Christ's resurrection according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, believers experience several present benefits from Christ's resurrection:

  1. Justification - "My sins are forgiven. God has pronounced me to be just in the light of the resurrection"
  2. The gift of the Holy Spirit - "It was because of the work that he had done on the cross and his burial and his resurrection and his ascension, that God the Father gave him the Holy Spirit to give us as a gift"
  3. Regeneration (new birth) - "We are new creatures...All this happens to me now because he's risen from the dead"
  4. Deliverance from the world's power - "A Christian is a man who has already been delivered from this present evil world"
  5. A new identity and purpose - He quotes Paul: "I am what I am by the grace of God. I'm no longer that. I'm a new man."

However, he emphasizes that these are just "the first fruits and the foretaste only of our salvation."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the future benefits of Christ's resurrection?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while Christians receive many benefits now, the full benefits of Christ's resurrection await the future. These include:

  1. Bodily resurrection - "There's a day coming when I shall not only be saved in spirit, my very body shall be saved and glorified"
  2. Transformation of our nature - "It is sown in corruption...but it's going to be raised in glory"
  3. Complete freedom from sin - "Every part of me shall be delivered from every effect and remnant and relic and all the infection of sin"
  4. Perfect communion with God - "We shall stand in the presence of God"
  5. Sharing in Christ's victory - "All who believe in him shall be in it and shall be sharing his wonderful victory"

He emphasizes that "our salvation in this life and in this world is at its best only partial, incomplete" but will be perfected when Christ returns.

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.