The Call of the Gospel

A Sermon on 1 Peter 2:9-25

Originally preached April 1, 1962

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Scripture

1 Peter 2:9-25 ESV KJV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you … But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (ESV)

9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people …

11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Sermon Description

In this sermon on 1 Peter 2:9–25 titled “The Call of the Gospel,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on Peter explaining to his fellow Christians the importance of their position with God. They are not just anybody, but they are chosen and called by God to be His people forever. Dr. Lloyd-Jones expands upon what it means to be called by the gospel. How does a person know if God is calling him or her? Dr. Lloyd-Jones breaks down the differences in callings. There is the “general” call, which pastors do when they preach the word. But there is also the personal call of the gospel. This personal call, he says, occurs when the listener understands that the message is meant for him or her in particular. The listener might feel disturbed or uncomfortable with their present way of living. They might now feel as if they do not know what to do. They feel the burden and weight of their sin and are humbled by it. They realize that they are in need of a savior. Dr. Lloyd-Jones closes by offering to all who hear this great gift of peace, forgiveness, and everlasting life.

Sermon Breakdown

The sermon focuses on 1 Peter 2:9, specifically the last part of verse 9: "That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."
The sermon discusses how God calls people out of darkness (sin and ignorance) into light (salvation and knowledge of God). This call disturbs and convicts people of their sin.
The call of God is effectual - it actually saves people and changes their lives. Not all who hear the gospel call are saved, only those who respond in faith.
The call of God leads to belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and only Savior. People come to see that Jesus died to save them from their sins.
The call of God leads to coming to Christ. People come to Christ to thank Him, surrender to Him, and follow Him.
Those who come to Christ want to hear His voice and word continually. They grow in their knowledge of God.
The sermon ends with an invitation to come to Christ for salvation.

Sermon Q&A

Understanding the Call of God According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

What does it mean to be "called out of darkness into God's marvelous light"?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being called out of darkness into God's marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9) refers to the effectual call of God that transforms a person from their natural, spiritually dead state into becoming one of God's people. This call goes beyond the general gospel call that everyone hears; it's a powerful, supernatural work where God's word comes "in such power and might and demonstration of the spirit that it has made this vital change." It quickens the spiritually dead person, puts life into them, raises them up, and makes them "new people in a new world."

How does someone know if they have received God's effectual call?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several signs that indicate a person has received God's effectual call:

They experience a disturbance in their life - something that upsets the rhythm of their normal existence
They begin to think seriously about themselves and their spiritual condition for the first time
They realize that God's message is speaking to them personally, not just generally
They become aware they are being "dealt with" by God
They are convicted of sin and stop defending themselves
They develop genuine concern about their spiritual state
They feel utterly helpless to save themselves
They become ready and anxious to listen and be taught about salvation

As Lloyd-Jones puts it: "The man who's being called of God is a man who's come to such a realization of his plight and condition, is at a hopelessness and desperate position that he wants to listen."

What is the relationship between believing and coming to Christ?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that genuine belief leads to action - to "coming." He says:

"He not only believes this word, but he trusts it. He accepts it and he acts upon it. Doesn't stay there in the darkness saying, 'yes, that sounds very wonderful.' No, he does something. He commits himself. There's a trusting involved. It isn't a mere intellectual ascent to truth. It's a committal of yourself."

The believer responds like the prodigal son who didn't just think about home but said, "I will arise and go to my father." True belief involves both turning away from darkness and coming to a person - Jesus Christ himself.

What does a person do when they truly come to Christ?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, a person who truly comes to Christ:

Comes to thank Him for what He's done - "Have you ever thanked the Lord Jesus Christ for what he's done for you?"
Comes to surrender themselves to Him - "He comes to him in order that he may give himself to him"
Realizes they have been "bought with a price" and are not their own
Desires to be with Christ and follow Him
Wants to hear more of Christ's voice and teaching - "desires the sincere milk of the word"

The culmination is expressed in the hymn Lloyd-Jones quotes: "I am coming, Lord, coming now to thee. Wash me, cleanse me in thy blood that flowed on Calvary."

Why is understanding this call so urgently important according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that nothing is more important than knowing you belong to God's people, especially in troubling times. He states: "My dear friend, we are living in days when nothing matters, it seems to me, except that a man should know that he belongs to the people of God." This is because when "this whole world dissolves" - when everything falls apart - only those who are God's people "shall never be confounded." Only those who have responded to God's call and come to Christ will have eternal security and peace regardless of what happens in the world.

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.

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