Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Luke 1:54-55

What is the main focus of Mary's Magnificat according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Mary's Magnificat focuses on the manifestation of God's character in the coming of His Son into the world. As he states, Mary sees "the thing that overshadows everything else is the manifestation of the character of God in the coming of his son into this world." She praises God with her whole being, magnifying His name and recognizing the various attributes of God's character revealed through the incarnation.

How does the incarnation represent God's faithfulness to His promises?

The incarnation represents God's faithfulness to His promises as it fulfills what He promised to Abraham 2,000 years earlier. Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes this point saying, "The incarnation is the supreme example of fulfilled prophecy, or if you prefer it in a more experimental phrase, it is the supreme example of God's faithfulness to his promises." Mary recognizes this when she says "He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy to Abraham and to his seed forever."

What principle does Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlight about God's timing in fulfilling His promises?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlights that God has His own chosen time for fulfilling His promises, which often differs from our human timing expectations. He states, "There is nothing which is quite so foolish as to judge God in terms of our time measurements and our calendars." He points out that 2,000 years passed between God's promise to Abraham and the incarnation, and there had been 400 years of prophetic silence before Christ came. Lloyd-Jones affirms, "He's got his own appointed due moment. And when it comes, he does what he said he'd do."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe God's method of working throughout history?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes God's method of working as one where He makes promises, seems to forget them, allows apparent defeats to His people, gives periodic encouragement, and fulfills His promises in His own time. He says, "God seems to forget, doesn't he? He seems to forget what he's promised... He allows apparent defeats to take place even to his own people... But to save us from a final despair and utter hopelessness, he gives periodic encouragements." This pattern is seen throughout Scripture and church history.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the universal scope of salvation?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that God's promise to Abraham included blessing for all nations, not just the Jews. He states, "Not only that they, the literal physical seed, should be blessed, but that all the nations of the earth should be blessed through this person, not to the Jews only, but also to the Gentiles." He affirms that "You and I would never have been Christians, but for this it isn't confined to the Jews," and notes that "If we are Christians, we are of the seed of Abraham."

How does the incarnation serve as a guarantee for the future according to the sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the incarnation guarantees the fulfillment of all God's future promises. He states, "The coming of Christ is the guarantee of the fulfillment of all God's promises to all the seed." He explains that "What God did when he sent his son into the world is an absolute guarantee that he will do everything that he's ever promised to do." This includes promises about personal sanctification, glorification, Christ's second coming, and the ultimate establishment of God's kingdom.

What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' perspective on the exclusive nature of salvation?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that salvation comes exclusively through Jesus Christ. He states, "There is only one way of salvation, and that all salvation and every aspect of it comes in this one way. In Jesus Christ, the son of God and him crucified." He further emphasizes, "You don't know God apart from Jesus Christ. You are not reconciled to God apart from him... There is only one way to God. It is in Jesus Christ and him crucified."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones apply this message to the discouraged Christian?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones applies this message by encouraging Christians not to be discouraged by present difficulties or apparent delays in God's work. He reminds them that God's pattern is to work in His own time and that the incarnation proves His faithfulness. He states, "If you are struggling against sin... Here's the answer to you. He which hath begun a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." He encourages believers to trust God's promises despite current appearances, just as God fulfilled His promise to Abraham after 2,000 years.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about revival in this sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that revival comes in God's timing, which cannot be predicted or programmed. He states, "That's the marvelous thing about revival... you can never prophesy them. You can never predict. There's always an element of surprise. Just when you think all is hopeless and you're giving up, God comes, and he doesn't come when you think he's going to." He encourages continued prayer for revival, seeing even small encouragements as evidence that God is still at work.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the future of the church based on God's promises?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones assures that despite current difficulties, the church has a glorious future because of God's promises. He states, "The church is in eclipse at the moment. But what's it matter? It's God's. And the church is going to be brought to the place which God has purposed." He describes Christ's eventual return, the final judgment, and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom where believers "shall share in the glory and the triumph of the son of God," affirming that "God's promised this" and will fulfill it just as He fulfilled His promise in the incarnation.