Why the World Is at War
A Sermon on James 4:1
Originally preached Nov. 12, 1961
Scripture
1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Sermon Description
Does Christianity work? Many claim that Christianity is outdated and has no message for the modern world. They argue that if people would simply use their reason, then all the wars and conflicts would end, and there would be true peace. What is wrong with this solution to suffering? In this sermon on James 4:1 titled “From Whence Come Wars,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims that only the message of Christianity can bring peace, because only the message of Christianity deals with humanity’s most fundamental problem: sin. No one can save themselves through reason because they place reason as king, and yet it is often irrational. The best secular thinkers are unable to use their reason to live rightly; how then can all of humankind use reason to fix the world? The message of Christianity is hopeful because it calls for trust in Christ and not reason. Jesus died, not because all are irrational, but because all are sinners. They are irrational because all humans are born in sin, and it is this sin that blinds them all. This sermon offers the only message of hope, that Jesus has died for all who believe. God is gracious and forgiving to all who seek Him and repent of their sins.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by introducing the verse from James 4:1 which asks the question "From whence come wars and fightings among you?". This verse frames the topic of discussion for the sermon which is why there are troubles and conflicts in the world.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones then outlines that there are two views on this question - the non-biblical view and the biblical view. He spends the majority of the sermon contrasting these two views.
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The non-biblical view believes that man is essentially good and the problems of the world can be solved by appealing to man's reason. However, Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues this view is too superficial, ignores history, and contains contradictions. Man cannot solve the problems of the world through reason alone.
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The biblical view recognizes that the problems of the world stem from man's sin and rebellion against God. Man is not essentially good but is selfish, lustful, and desires to be his own God. The world is under the influence of evil powers like Satan that manipulate man.
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The only solution is for man to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Only through Christ can man be delivered from the wrath of God, the power of sin, and the devil. Christ defeated these enemies at the cross and will defeat them once and for all when He returns.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by pleading with the listener to believe this message and submit to God so they can have peace in their life. This is the only way to overcome the troubles of the world both internally and externally.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Root Cause of War and Human Conflict
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the central question of his sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies the question "From whence come wars and fightings among you?" from James 4:1 as the central question of his sermon. He argues this is the most relevant and pressing question of our time, especially on Remembrance Sunday when people are thinking about the two world wars of the 20th century and the potential for further conflict. He says, "If there is a more up to date and relevant question in the world tonight I'd like to know what it is."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the biblical and non-biblical views of humanity's problems?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts these views by showing that:
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The non-biblical view is superficial, seeing problems as simple with easy solutions, while the biblical view recognizes the profound depth of human problems.
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The non-biblical view puts man at the center of the universe with no higher power, while the biblical view begins with God ("In the beginning, God").
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The non-biblical view sees man as essentially good and rational, needing only education and reason, while the biblical view recognizes humans as driven by "lusts that war in your members."
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The non-biblical view offers false hopes based on human progress and reason, while the biblical view acknowledges man's helplessness without divine intervention.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the root cause of wars and human conflict?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies human lusts and desires as the root cause of wars and conflicts, quoting directly from James 4:1: "Come they not hence even of your lusts, that war in your members." He describes this as an "iceberg of irrationality" where only a small portion of human reason is visible above the surface, while beneath lies the vast mass of human passions, greed, and selfish desires that truly control behavior. He states, "That's why your world is as it is... because of your lusts, that war in your members."
What contradiction does Dr. Lloyd-Jones point out in the rationalist approach to human problems?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that rationalists like Bertrand Russell and Leonard Wolfe operate with a fundamental contradiction: they first argue that humans are irrational and foolish, but then appeal to these same irrational people to be rational. As he quotes from a critic of Russell: "He is in the awkward position of holding both that human affairs are conducted irrationally and that it needs only a dose of reason to put them right. If human affairs are conducted irrationally, what ground is therefore thinking that the dose of reason will be swallowed?"
What solution does Dr. Lloyd-Jones propose for the problem of human conflict?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones proposes that only Christ offers the true solution to human conflict. His solution includes:
- Christ removing God's wrath against sin through His sacrifice on the cross
- Christ giving believers a new nature through rebirth
- Christ providing power to resist the devil and overcome internal lusts
- Christ reconciling humans to God and consequently to each other
- Christ's eventual return to establish lasting peace and righteousness
He concludes: "There'll be no peace until man is finally delivered from lust and from the power of the devil. But thank God, that day is coming."
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.