Not Ashamed to be Called Their God
A Sermon on Hebrews 11:16
Originally preached Sept. 24, 1961
Scripture
16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Sermon Description
How can one face not only present difficult circumstances but whatever future may come? When the world is filled with sorrow, and the future is filled with doubt, how should one live? In this sermon on Hebrews 11:16 titled “Not Ashamed to be Called Their God,’ Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones exhorts the believer to live with confidence. The early believers were in much trouble, yet they triumphed in this world, gloriously living and dying with faith. It wasn’t the power of their faith in and of itself, but rather the power of the one in whom faith rests. This great hope in uncertain days can only be applied to the believer, for only the believer can be accepted by God. He is not ashamed of all those who trust in Jesus. He is building a city for them that lasts. He has promised to dwell and walk with them. God has received them. The believer, then, leaves the City of Destruction and runs to that other country, the city with foundations. Listen to this sermon as Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the listener to ask: “Is this true of me? Is God my God?” This is the only way to face the present, whatever future may come, knowing that God is not ashamed of His people and is not ashamed of being called their God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon text is Hebrews 11:16 - "Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city."
- This statement is not true of all people, only certain people who have a special relationship with God.
- What does this special relationship mean? It means:
- God dwells in and walks with these people. He is not a distant God but an intimate God.
- God takes a peculiar interest in these people. They are His special possession.
- God gives revelations of Himself to these people that He does not give to others.
- God gives promises and pledges to these people that He does not give to others. For example, "God is able to make all grace abound to you." (2 Corinthians 9:8)
- God will never leave these people. He says "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
- God receives these people and is always ready to listen to them.
- What does this relationship mean for these people?
- They can have great confidence in God.
- They know God is always guarding and watching over them.
- They have access to God at all times. They can go to Him in any circumstance.
- They know the power that is working on their behalf - the power of the Almighty God.
- How can we be certain that God has this relationship with us? Because God has prepared an eternal city for us as proof. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us.
- Of whom is this true? Those who:
- Submit themselves utterly to God and obey His Word
- See the truth about this world and are not satisfied with it. They are seeking a better, eternal country.
- Confess that they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They do not belong to this world.
- Have no desire to return to their old life of sin.
- Declare plainly through their words and lives that they are seeking the eternal country.
Sermon Q&A
What Does "God is Not Ashamed to Be Called Their God" Mean? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Explains
What is the main scripture focus of this sermon by Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
In this sermon, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on Hebrews 11:16, particularly the latter portion which states, "Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city." He parallels this with Hebrews 2:11 from his previous sermon that says "for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren," drawing connections between these two scriptural statements about God's relationship with His people.
What special relationship is Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlighting in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes the covenant relationship between God and His people. This is not a universal relationship that applies to all humanity, but rather a special, intimate relationship where God identifies Himself with certain people. As Lloyd-Jones explains, "God identifies himself with these people. He puts himself amongst them... The almighty, everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth, puts himself and binds himself and his great and glorious name with these people."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones prove this is not a universal relationship for all humanity?
Lloyd-Jones clearly establishes that this special relationship is not universal by citing several biblical examples: - Jesus' words to certain Jews: "You are of your father the devil" (John 8:44) - Peter's words in 1 Peter 2:10: "which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God" - The distinction between those who are "children of God" versus "children of the devil" - God's special covenant relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
He emphatically states, "There's nothing been more popular in the present century than a belief in what is called the universal fatherhood of God. But it's not true."
What does it mean when God is "not ashamed to be called their God"?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this phrase means: 1. God enters into a covenant relationship with these people 2. God identifies Himself with them personally 3. God dwells in them and walks among them (2 Corinthians 6:16) 4. God takes a special interest in them as His "peculiar possession" 5. God gives revelations of Himself to them that He doesn't give to others 6. God makes specific promises to provide for them and be with them 7. God prepares an eternal city for them
As Lloyd-Jones puts it: "It means that as a father he takes an interest in us, which is the peculiar interest of a father in his children."
Who are the people of whom this statement is true?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies these people as those who: 1. Have submitted themselves utterly and absolutely to God 2. Have believed God's word and acted upon it 3. Have recognized the true character of this world 4. Have turned their backs on worldly pursuits 5. Confess themselves to be "strangers and pilgrims on earth" 6. Have no desire to return to their old way of life 7. "Declare plainly" by their words and actions that they seek a heavenly country
He states, "This is the thing that characterizes them. They are making a plain declaration in their words and in their lives that they are seeking this other country."
What great comfort does this relationship offer to believers?
The special relationship where "God is not ashamed to be called their God" provides believers with: 1. The confidence that they are never alone 2. Access to God at all times and in all places 3. The knowledge of God's almighty power working on their behalf 4. Assurance of God's promises to meet all their needs 5. Protection in all circumstances—"The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what men shall do unto me" 6. The promise of an eternal city being prepared for them 7. The certainty that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
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.