The End of The Age
A Sermon on 1 Peter 1:13-25
Originally preached Nov. 1, 1959
Scripture
13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15But as …
Sermon Description
This world is one of uncertainty. Some lives seem to be near perfect, and some seem to be falling apart. What does the Christian do when the trials of life seem to continually crash like waves against them? Listen to this sermon on 1 Peter 1:13-25 as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones challenges the listener to “gird up the loins of our mind,” as they live in this ever-changing world, and proclaims the hope that Christians have as foreigners in a strange land. The only hope is the return of Jesus Christ that will take place at the end of the age when everyone will rise from the dead to experience judgment. Dr. Lloyd-Jones clearly explains that the judgment comes from a God who is holy and judges each person’s works impartially from the standard of His own holiness. The only way that one can measure up to his standard of holiness is through the Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose again on humanity’s behalf. In this sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds the Christian to remember that this life is short, death will come, but Christ will return. He encourages hope in Christ, for that is the only certainty in an uncertain world.
Sermon Breakdown
- We are merely temporary visitors in this world. Our life is brief and fleeting.
- We are living in the last times, the end of the ages. We are moving towards the final consummation, the end of time.
- Jesus Christ will return and usher in the resurrection of all people, good and bad.
- There will be a final judgment where God will judge all people.
- God is holy. We will stand in the presence of his utter purity and righteousness.
- God's judgment is impartial. He shows no favoritism or partiality.
- We will be judged according to our works and deeds. Our entire life's record is known to God.
- We will be judged by God's holy law which expresses his righteousness.
- We should pass our time on earth in fear of facing God's judgment. Even believers should have a healthy fear of God.
- We are in a position that requires redemption. We need to be saved from God's wrath.
- The punishment for sin is eternal damnation. The sentences passed at the final judgment are eternal.
- People argue God is a God of love, but the Bible clearly teaches God is also a God of justice and righteousness. He carries out punishment against sin.
- The cross of Christ shows God's wrath against sin. Christ died to save us from God's wrath and judgment.
- We must believe in Christ to be delivered from judgment and pass from death to life. He is the only way of salvation.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on 1 Peter 1:13-25: Questions and Answers
What does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones mean by "the time of your sojourning here"?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "the time of your sojourning here" means that we are only temporary visitors in this world. He explains: "You are only in this world for a while. You're merely sojourning here. You're not here forever." He describes our existence as being like living in a tent—temporary, movable, and not permanent. Throughout the sermon, he emphasizes that human life is brief, tenuous, and always moving toward its conclusion, saying it is "like a vapor" or "a breath of air." This understanding of our temporary status in the world should motivate us to seriously consider our eternal destiny.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the "last times" in his sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Bible divides time in a unique way, with Christ's first coming marking a pivotal moment. He states: "The Bible calls this the last time. Why does it call that? Well, it calls it that for this reason that we are living in an age which is going to lead us to the end of time." He contrasts this with the first period of biblical history that was looking forward to the incarnation, whereas now we are in the period looking forward to Christ's return, the end of time, and the final consummation. Lloyd-Jones notes that this understanding gives urgency to the gospel message because we are "moving towards this final consummation, the end of time, when the scroll of time will be rolled up finally, and time shall be no more."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the judgment to come?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that judgment is certain, universal, and impartial. He quotes from Scripture that "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice" and everyone will appear before the judge. He emphasizes three aspects of this judgment:
- It will be conducted by a holy God: "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
- It will be utterly impartial: "without respect of persons," meaning you can't "get round God" through connections or excuses.
- It will judge "according to every man's work" - everything we've done will be exposed and evaluated.
Lloyd-Jones explains that this judgment will occur according to God's law, which is the expression of His holiness, and the sentences pronounced will be eternal—either "everlasting life and glory" or "everlasting destruction."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones urge his hearers to "pass the time of your sojourning here in fear"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges his hearers to live in fear because of the precarious position all humans find themselves in before a holy God. He explains: "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" This fear is appropriate because:
- We are temporary sojourners heading toward judgment
- God's standard of holiness is absolute and we have all fallen short
- The punishment for sin is eternal
- Even Christians should approach God with reverence
He says, "If you have never had a fear of facing God in the judgment, it's because you're appallingly ignorant." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this fear should drive us to take salvation seriously, stating, "I plead with you. I beseech you, think as you've never thought before."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the idea that "God is a God of love" who wouldn't judge people?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones refutes this modern notion by pointing to biblical and historical evidence of God's justice and judgment:
- He reminds that God expelled Adam and Eve from paradise when they disobeyed
- He points to how God punished Israel, His chosen people, when they sinned
- He notes that God disciplined David, despite being a "favorite" of God
- He references the preaching of John the Baptist, Peter, and Paul about "the wrath to come"
Most significantly, he points to the cross: "if you really want to know something about this judgment and its terms, you've got to go and look at that cross on Calvary's Hill." Lloyd-Jones argues that Christ's death proves God's justice, for "He would never have done that unless it was absolutely essential." The cross demonstrates both God's love and His unwavering justice.
What is the ultimate purpose of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' warning about judgment in this sermon?
The ultimate purpose of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' warning is to urge his hearers to embrace the only means of salvation—faith in Christ. He concludes by saying: "There is only one way of safety, one way of deliverance, one way of passing even in this world, from judgment to life. It is to believe this message that Jesus of Nazareth was the son of God. And that he came into this world to save us from the wrath of God against sin."
His warnings about judgment aren't meant to simply frighten people but to drive them to the solution—Christ who "took your punishment and mine." Lloyd-Jones ends with a plea: "In the name of God, I beseech you. Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. It took the death of the son of God to save a single soul. If you're not in him, you see what remains to you."
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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.