The Condition of Modern Man
A Sermon on James 4:13-16
Originally preached Dec. 8, 1957
Scripture
13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even …
Sermon Description
What does the Bible say about the world’s problems? The world gives many diagnostics to explain its many ills. The rationalist says that humanity’s biggest problem is that people do not use reason. Others say that people have yet to overcome their base desires. But what does the Bible say? According to God’s word, why do people kill one another and oppress each other? In this sermon on James 4:13–16 titled “The Condition of Modern Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on the passage to find answers to these questions. Here it is seen that humanity’s problem is that people are greedy and love themselves. It is out of this self-love that they fight and kill their fellow humans. But this is only symptomatic of the deeper problem of the fundamentally fallen nature. People not only sin, but they are sinful. What is the answer to this great dilemma? How can sinful people overcome this hatred of God and the word, and be saved? The answer is Jesus Christ. In spite of fallen humanity’s hatred towards God, God sent His only Son to die in the place of sinners. This sermon confronts all with the biblical command to repent and believe upon the name of Jesus.
Sermon Breakdown
- The Bible is the word of God because it always has the perfect word for any situation, it's description of human nature is always accurate, and it accurately diagnoses human pride as the root cause of human problems.
- Men views himself as intelligent, educated, and in control of his life. He makes boastful plans for the future without considering God or the uncertainty of life.
- The truth about men is that he is ignorant about the fundamental realities of life. He is ignorant about tomorrow, the nature of his own life, God's sovereignty, and true gain.
- Man's life is like a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes. It is frail and uncertain.
- God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Men must humble himself before God, confess his sins, and draw near to God.
- True gain is knowing God, having fellowship with Him, and inheriting eternal life. Material gain is fleeting but God offers incorruptible riches.
- Men should consider life's uncertainty, humble himself before God, and settle his eternal destiny before it's too late. Life is short and uncertain so he should act now.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers on James 4:13-16
What is the main theme of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on James 4:13-16?
The main theme is the contrast between man's view of himself (prideful, self-sufficient, planning without God) versus the true view of man (frail, temporary, dependent on God). Lloyd-Jones examines how modern people boast in their self-sufficiency and make plans without acknowledging God, while remaining ignorant of life's brevity and their dependence on divine sovereignty. He uses James 4:13-16 to show that our lives are merely "a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe the Bible is the word of God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides three reasons why he believes the Bible is God's word: 1. The Bible always has "the perfect word and the only appropriate word to say" for any situation 2. The Bible's description of man is always up-to-date and relevant regardless of time period 3. The Bible consistently identifies man's foolish pride as the root cause of his troubles, which proves true throughout history
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe modern man's view of himself?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes modern man as someone who "rejoices in his boastings" or "boasts in his arrogance." Modern man believes he has surveyed life with his great intellect, evolved a philosophy of life, and is proud of his achievements and knowledge. He sees himself as competent to order his own life without God, declaring "I am the master of my fate." This leads him to plan his life with complete confidence and certainty, focusing on material gain while believing he knows what's best for himself.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the primary things modern man is ignorant about?
According to Lloyd-Jones, modern man is ignorant of: 1. Tomorrow - he doesn't know what will happen the next day 2. The nature of his own life - that it's "a vapor that appears for a little time and vanishes away" 3. The Lord and His absolute sovereignty - that God controls everything 4. True gain - focusing on material possessions instead of spiritual wealth
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe as true gain?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones defines true gain as "the life of the soul, not the life of the body." True gain includes: - Knowing God and having fellowship with Him - Receiving forgiveness and reconciliation with God through Christ - Enjoying holiness, sanctity, and truth - Having the fear of death removed - Inheriting an eternal inheritance that is "incorruptible and undefiled" that cannot be destroyed - Possessing "everlasting and eternal bliss" after death
What event prompted Dr. Lloyd-Jones to deliver this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones mentions a significant event that occurred during the previous week that was "preaching in a way that I can never preach." While he doesn't explicitly name the event, he states, "All I'm anxious to do is that you all hear that sermon, that we all hear the voice of God speaking to us through that event." This recent tragedy appears to have highlighted the brevity and uncertainty of life, reinforcing the message of James 4:13-16.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the frailty of human life?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes human life as extremely frail and tenuous, comparing it to "a little silken cord" that may snap at any moment. He mentions several factors that demonstrate this frailty: - The delicate balance of our bodily functions - Susceptibility to disease, including sudden illnesses like polio - Vulnerability to accidents - The certainty of death coupled with the uncertainty of when it will occur - Life being "but a vapor that appeareth for a little season and then vanisheth away"
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones urge his listeners to do at the conclusion of his sermon?
At the conclusion, Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges his listeners to: 1. Stop boasting and rejoicing in their self-sufficiency 2. Draw near to God, confessing their sin and failure 3. Cast themselves upon God's mercy in Christ 4. Settle their eternal destiny immediately ("Settle it now") 5. Recognize life's brevity and uncertainty 6. Gain knowledge of God that will sustain them throughout life, carry them through death, and be enjoyed for eternity
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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.