Test Yourself
A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 12:31
Originally preached Sept. 28, 1958
Scripture
31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Sermon Description
The Apostle Paul’s most famous chapter on love is often praised for its poetic beauty and aesthetics. But should we reduce 1 Corinthians 13 to ornate language and mere sentimentality? Should we instead tremble at Paul’s love chapter? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones suggests the latter. The Scriptures are clear about the danger of drifting and it is possible, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, for a person to think they are Christian when they are in fact not a Christian at all. Therefore, they must examine themselves. But because the heart is deceitful due to sin, one must examine themself in the right way – the true way, and 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:3 is a passage for true self-examination. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that Paul is dealing with a church that has put its hope in what they do – miracles, tongues, healings – rather than the most important fact that they are Christians through the new birth. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that people can perform extraordinary works and yet not be born again. He says all works of intellect, sacrifice, speaking, gifts to the poor, and general kindness can be counterfeit by sinful people and the devil himself. But there is one proof which cannot be counterfeit, and that is love. True love from the heart manifested outwardly cannot be falsified because God’s nature is love, and the Christian partakes in that divine nature through the new birth. The Christian should test themself according to the sure and true Word of God.
Sermon Breakdown
- What matters most about a Christian is what they are, not what they do. Their identity and nature as a new creation in Christ is most important.
- What makes someone a Christian is being born again and having a new nature, not natural abilities, gifts, or good works.
- Anything apart from the new birth and new nature, no matter how great, is useless. Gifts, works, knowledge, etc. without the new birth profit nothing.
- The one proof of having the new nature is love. Love is the "more excellent way" and the only thing that cannot be counterfeited.
- We should focus on and examine ourselves regarding love above all else. Love is the evidence of truly being a Christian.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on 1 Corinthians 13: Key Questions and Answers
What is the main danger Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns about in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns about the danger of looking at ourselves in the wrong way - examining ourselves falsely and coming to the conclusion that all is well when spiritually we are in a dangerous condition. He states: "There is this terrible danger that we may be going along ostensibly as Christians, imagining that all is well, feeling quite pleased and satisfied with ourselves, whereas in reality we're in a desperately dangerous condition." This self-deception is what he considers particularly dangerous for professing Christians.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones call 1 Corinthians 13 an "alarming and terrifying chapter"?
While many consider 1 Corinthians 13 as merely a beautiful passage about love, Lloyd-Jones calls it "the most alarming and terrifying chapter in the whole Bible" because it serves as an examination tool that reveals what we truly are spiritually. It shows that we can have tremendous gifts, abilities, sacrifices, and knowledge, yet still not be genuine Christians if we lack love. He emphasizes that this chapter wasn't written as beautiful literature but as a practical examination tool to correct believers and help them test their spiritual condition.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the primary thing that matters in a Christian?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "what matters primarily and essentially in the Christian is what he is" - not what he does or what gifts he possesses. He stresses that our very being as Christians, having been born again, is what matters most. The trouble with the Corinthians was that they were so fascinated with their spiritual gifts that they had forgotten who they were as members of Christ's body. Lloyd-Jones says, "The most important thing about every one of us who claims to be a Christian is what we are, not what we do."
According to the sermon, what makes someone truly a Christian?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that what makes someone a Christian is "the new birth and the possession of the new nature" - not natural abilities, gifts, knowledge, or sacrifice. He states: "Christianity is the receiving of the life of God into the soul." This new life comes solely through God's operation by the Holy Spirit, not through human effort. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes, "You can never make yourself a Christian. We are made Christians by the operation of the Holy Spirit of God."
Why is love the only certain proof of genuine Christianity?
Lloyd-Jones explains that love is the only certain proof of genuine Christianity because it's the one thing that cannot be counterfeited. While the devil can counterfeit gifts, knowledge, sacrifice, and even transform himself into an angel of light, he cannot produce genuine love. This is because love is God's very nature ("God is love"), and Christians have been made "partakers of the divine nature." Lloyd-Jones states: "If a man has received this new nature, there is love in him. It's inevitable. If he hasn't received the new nature, there is no love whatever else he's got."
What can Christians mistakenly prioritize over love according to this sermon?
According to Lloyd-Jones, Christians often mistakenly prioritize their spiritual gifts, abilities, theological knowledge, activities, sacrifices, and accomplishments over love. The Corinthians were dividing themselves based on these gifts, with some feeling superior and others feeling jealous. Lloyd-Jones warns that we can have "this knowledge, this learning, this understanding... purely intellectually" without having love, which means we might not be Christians at all despite our impressive spiritual résumé.
What does Lloyd-Jones say about spiritual gifts in this sermon?
Lloyd-Jones clarifies that he is not denouncing spiritual gifts. He points out that Paul tells believers to "covet earnestly the best gifts." The problem is not with the gifts themselves but with how we view them. When we focus so much on gifts that we forget our identity in Christ and neglect love, we've missed what's most important. Lloyd-Jones notes that God can give gifts to people without giving them spiritual life, as happened with Balaam and even Judas Iscariot.
What final exhortation does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give to his listeners?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by exhorting his listeners to "follow after charity [love]" above all else. He encourages self-examination regarding the manifestation of love in their lives, not just knowledge or gifts. He urges: "The thing that should be in our minds above everything else and the thing we must go from this service to talk about and to examine ourselves about is this: Is this the kind of person I am?" He calls believers to make love central and to look for evidence of genuine love in themselves above everything else.
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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.