The Right Diagnosis
A Sermon on 2 Timothy 1:12
Originally preached April 26, 1964
Scripture
12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Sermon Description
The Gospel is what enables living well in the midst of difficulty. In this sermon on 2 Timothy 1:12, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones poses these questions: what is the Gospel, and how does it impact the Christian? Paul’s main principle in this passage is that everything must be examined, including our lives, in the context of the whole collection of Scripture. Just as a doctor would want to address the root cause of an issue instead of merely trying to fix the symptom, so too, the Christian must look to Scripture and see the roots of the sin and seek to weed it out instead of attempting to merely fix the outward manifestations of the issue. Our framework for understanding this depends on our view of life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the biblical view with the unbiblical, which is based on the principle that everything is constantly in flux and that life is a random accident. In contrast, God’s plan has a purpose and is not based on blind chance — it provides hope and rest, and best accounts for the condition of the world today. For Christians, this provides the hope and foundation needed to face difficult times.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by posing the question of what life and the world are about. Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents two views: the non-biblical view that life is an accident and meaningless versus the biblical view that life has meaning and purpose under God.
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The non-biblical view cannot adequately explain the origin of life or the order and design in the universe. It suggests there is no ultimate purpose or meaning to life. This view leads to cynicism and despair.
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The biblical view is that God created the heavens and the earth. The Bible begins by declaring the existence of God, not arguing for it. God's existence can be seen in nature, reason, morality, and ontology. However, the ultimate proof is God's revelation of himself in history.
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The Bible teaches that God is triune: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is eternal, glorious, holy, just, powerful, wise, loving, merciful, and compassionate. He has a plan and purpose for creation.
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God created a perfect world, but sin and evil entered through the fall of Satan and man's rebellion. This explains the imperfection and suffering in the world. However, God did not abandon the world. He is still in control and working out His purposes.
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God called Abraham and made a nation of Israel to influence the world. God revealed His character and power through Israel's history. God also gave prophecies of the future through Israel.
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There are two types of history: the history of man's actions and the history of God's interventions. God's interventions culminate in the sending of Jesus Christ to save the world.
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God will ultimately end history and the world, not man. The gospel provides the only hope and meaning in life. To understand life's problems, one must start with God and believe in the whole gospel.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers: "For I Know Whom I Have Believed"
What is the key verse that Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on 2 Timothy 1:12: "For the which cause also I suffer these things. Nevertheless, this I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." He emphasizes the importance of understanding this verse within its context, noting that "nothing is more dangerous than to extract texts out of their contexts."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones stress the importance of context when studying Scripture?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones stresses context because isolated verses can be misunderstood or misapplied. He states that this particular verse "can only rarely be understood if it is taken in its own context and setting." By examining the surrounding passages (verses 6-14), we better understand Paul's message to Timothy about facing fear with faith and maintaining sound doctrine.
What was Paul's personal situation when he wrote these words to Timothy?
Paul was writing from prison with "his life in the hands of one of the most capricious despots and dictators that the world has ever known, the emperor Nero, who might decide at any moment to put him to death." Despite this dire situation, Paul remained confident and unshaken in his faith, which is what makes his testimony so powerful.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define Paul's statement "I am not ashamed"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul uses a figure of speech called "litotes," where a negative is used to express a positive. When Paul says "I am not ashamed," he doesn't merely mean he's not embarrassed by the gospel but rather that he is "exalting in it," "very proud of it," and in "a gloriously happy condition." It means Paul hasn't been put to shame or found his faith inadequate in his trials.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the two fundamental worldviews?
He identifies two fundamental worldviews: 1. The non-biblical (or extra-biblical) view - Based on speculation, sees the world as an accident or chance, with no ultimate purpose or design. 2. The biblical view - Sees the world as created by God with purpose and design, with God still actively involved in his creation.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones argue that starting with specific problems before understanding the whole is problematic?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses a medical analogy to illustrate this point: "The great principle outlined here by the apostle... is that there is nothing more fatal in life than to start with particular problems and to discuss them immediately and directly." Like a doctor who must understand anatomy before treating symptoms, we must understand the whole biblical worldview before addressing specific problems. "The individual problems of life can only be understood in the light of the whole problem."
What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' critique of modern approaches to moral and social problems?
He criticizes modern approaches for forgetting first principles and fundamental questions. Using juvenile delinquency as an example, he notes that commissions study whether it's caused by poverty or affluence, but they don't ask the fundamental questions: "What is man? Why does anybody want to behave like that?" He states, "The whole tragedy of the modern age, the whole confusion of the modern men, is due to the fact that he's in too much of a hurry."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe God's relationship to history?
He describes two types of history: "the history that God permits, and the history that God produces." The first is "what man does in his folly," while the second is "the intervention of God." These two histories will continue until they eventually "coalesce and there will be an end." He emphasizes that "the world is not an accident. It didn't start as an accident. It won't end as an accident."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say gives him hope despite the problems of the world?
He finds hope in God's continued interest and involvement in the world: "I know of nothing that enables me to live tonight but this, that God so loved the world that he sent into it... his only begotten son." It is the knowledge that God is sovereign, that Christ has come, and that God is "still interested, still concerned" that provides the foundation for facing all of life's problems.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what is required before our individual problems can be solved?
Before we can solve individual problems, we must accept the complete gospel worldview: "The vital question is, do you believe the gospel? Don't start with yourself. Start with yourself in the light of God if you like. Start with God and see yourself under God and then believe the whole revelation and you will find peace and rest for your soul." He argues that personal problems can only be properly addressed when placed in the context of God's larger story.
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.