The Lord of Redemption
Originally preached March 27, 1964
Scripture
Sermon Description
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” Here are some of the most glorious words written and found in the Bible. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones displays the truth behind this marvelous declaration. In this sermon on Revelation 5:9–10 and 12, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Lamb (Christ) is to receive the same glory as the Father. This begs the question: why is the Lamb worthy to receive this glory? First, Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents Christ as the Lord of redemption. The work of redemption is His alone. Jesus is the one worthy of opening the book of redemption; only He is able to redeem, and He needs no help. Therefore, the glory belongs to Him. Secondly, Christ is worthy because of the work of redemption. The plan for redemption centered around the cross, nails, agony, and suffering. Jesus submits to the Father’s will. The work of redemption displays the highest point of His obedience, and the lowest point of His humiliation. Yet His death purchased the glory which is to come. The death of Jesus purchased for His people the right to become children of God, forgiveness of sins, rebirth, righteousness, and ultimate glorification. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones declares that Christians have nothing to fear, because the Lamb will triumph. Worthy is Lamb!
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon examines Revelation 5:9-10 which describes the heavenly hosts singing praises to Christ, the Lamb of God.
- The passage shows the glory and grandeur of praising Christ. However, there is a danger of just enjoying the words and music without understanding the meaning.
- The apostle John explains why the heavenly hosts are singing this praise. By following John's explanation, we can understand the meaning and truly join in the praise.
- The "new song" in Revelation 5 contrasts with the "song" in Revelation 4 which praises God as the Creator. The new song is the "doxology of redemption" praising Christ as the Redeemer.
- In Revelation 4, only God the Father is praised. In Revelation 5, Christ is coupled with and shares the glory of redemption with the Father.
- Christ alone is able to carry out God's plan of redemption and salvation. No man, angel or any other being can do it. Salvation is in Christ alone.
- Christ shares the glory of redemption with the Father because the Father gave the work of redemption and salvation to the Son. The Son alone started and will finish the work.
- The first reason Christ is worthy of praise is because He is the Lord of redemption. He alone is able to redeem and save.
- The second reason is because of what enabled Christ to become the Lord of redemption - His person and work.
- Christ is the unique God-man. As God, He is worthy of the same praise as the Father. As man, He is able to redeem humanity. The two natures in one person is the central mystery of Christianity.
- Christ's death on the cross is what makes Him the Lord of redemption. His death was not an accident but the focal point of God's plan of redemption.
- Christ's death on the cross was the highest point of His obedience to the Father. He submitted completely to the Father's will.
- Christ's death was also the lowest point of His humiliation. He endured the depths of suffering and death.
- Christ's death on the cross accomplished atonement for sins. He was the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifices and prophecies of a suffering servant.
- The consequences of Christ's work on the cross are: pardon and forgiveness of sins; the right to be God's people; freedom from the law and sin; ultimate glorification; and the restoration of the whole universe.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers on "Worthy is the Lamb"
What is the central theme of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Revelation 5:9-10?
The central theme of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon is the worthiness of Christ as the "Lamb that was slain" to receive all praise, honor, and glory. He explains that this passage contains "some of the most glorious words that have ever been written" which celebrate Christ's work of redemption. The sermon focuses on why Christ alone is worthy to be the Lord of redemption and how His sacrificial death purchased salvation for people from every nation.
Why does John call this a "new song" in Revelation 5?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that John calls it a "new song" because it differs from the song in Revelation 4. The first song (in chapter 4) is "the doxology of creation" praising God the Father as Creator, while this new song is "the doxology of redemption" or salvation. The new song is distinctive because it includes the Son (the Lamb) in receiving worship alongside the Father, with particular emphasis on Christ's redemptive work through His sacrifice.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, why is Christ alone worthy to be the Lord of redemption?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Christ alone is worthy to be the Lord of redemption because: 1. He alone was capable of carrying out God's plan of salvation 2. No man, angel, or any other being could open the book or redeem creation 3. He is both fully God and fully man - "the two natures in one person" 4. He willingly submitted to death on the cross, shedding His blood as the perfect sacrifice 5. He perfectly fulfilled the Father's will in the highest act of obedience
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the "crucial point" in the history of redemption?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically identifies the death of Christ on the cross as the crucial point in the history of redemption: "The thing that makes him Lord of redemption is his death." He emphasizes that "the cross is the focal point in all his work" and "the most glorious point of all." Lloyd-Jones insists that Christ's death was not an accident or tragedy to be mourned, but rather "the most glorious thing in history" and "the thing prepared before the foundation of the world" as the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
What has Christ purchased through His blood according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Christ has purchased through His blood: 1. Pardon and forgiveness for sinners 2. The right for believers to be the people of God 3. Freedom from the law and condemnation 4. The privilege of believers being kings and priests with direct access to God 5. Future glory where believers "shall reign on the earth" 6. The ultimate restoration of the entire cosmos - "a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness"
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones counter the view that Christ's death was a tragedy?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly counters the view that Christ's death was a tragedy by stating: "The death of our Lord was not an accident. The death of our Lord was not a tragedy. It was not something that we should regret. It is not something about which we should be mournful and spend our time... in 3 hours of misery and of agony and of mourning." Instead, he proclaims it as "the most glorious thing in history" that was "determined before the foundation of the world" as the "crucial point in God's plan of redemption." Christ's death was the means by which He became "the master of redemption."
What is the significance of Christ being portrayed as "a lamb as it had been slain"?
The significance of Christ being portrayed as "a lamb as it had been slain" is that it represents the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies and sacrificial systems. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while John expected to see "a roaring lion in all his might and majesty," he instead saw a slain lamb, showing that Christ's power came through sacrifice. This imagery connects Christ to the Paschal lamb of the Exodus, the daily temple sacrifices, and Isaiah's prophecy of one "led to the slaughter." The lamb imagery emphasizes that Christ is "God's sacrifice" who bore "the iniquity of us all" to secure redemption through His blood.
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.