The Unchangeable Message
A Sermon on Jude 1:3
Originally preached Oct. 29, 1961
Scripture
3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Sermon Description
The Bible is an ancient book with an unchangeable message that is at odds with the modern mindset. With advances in scientific knowledge and a general sense of progress in the world, many people will have nothing to do with what they consider to be a hopelessly outdated book. In this sermon on Jude 1:3 titled “The Unchangeable Message,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones posits that while the Bible is an ancient book, it is perfectly relevant for every age. The message of the Bible seeks to offer solutions to life’s most pressing questions and fundamental issues that transcend time. Moreover, there is no hope apart from the unchangeable message about God found in this book. The problem is people think they know the true nature of the Bible, but they have misunderstood its content and source. They suppose it is merely a book about history and moral maxims and not centered on God and His purposes in the world. Modern people are obsessed with the thoughts and ideas of humanity, but the unchangeable message of the Bible claims to be a revelation from God himself. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones anticipates and answers many objections by modern people in this message on Jude 3. The power of the Bible’s message for the modern age is its finality; the unchangeableness regarding God and what He has done in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to bring humanity into relationship with Himself.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage Jude 3 refers to "the faith" which was once delivered to the saints. This means the Bible contains one unified message from beginning to end.
- The Bible is not a collection of moral teachings, histories, and Jesus's story. It has one overarching message about God's plan for the world.
- This message is clear and can be taught. It is defined in creeds and can be defended. Christianity is not just a feeling but a body of doctrine.
- The Bible's message comes from God, not human discovery. It was delivered to men through revelation and inspiration.
- God chose Israel to reveal truth to the world. He showed his power through events and gave the law and prophets his words. Jesus claimed to be God and spoke with authority, giving the ultimate revelation.
- The apostles received the faith from Jesus and passed it on. They did not invent it but delivered what they had received.
- The Bible's message is unchangeable and final because it is from the unchanging God. It reveals God himself, who does not change.
- The Bible addresses man's unchanging problem of his relationship to God. Man is still in the wrong with God, and knowledge does not fix this.
- God's acts in Jesus to remedy this relationship were done once and for all. Jesus died and rose once, and will come again once. These acts are final and unrepeatable.
- Christianity relies on what God has done, not what we do. Jesus did everything necessary to save us, and nothing needs to be or can be added. His work is finished.
- Only the Bible and its message of Jesus stand amid the flux of theories and ideas. It alone is unchangeable truth from God.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Contending for the Faith in Jude 3
What is the main theme of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Jude 3?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on the latter part of Jude 3: "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." His sermon addresses the relevance of the Bible in the modern world, countering the claim that the Bible is outdated. He demonstrates that the Bible contains a timeless, unchangeable message from God that is just as relevant today as when it was written, and that Christians must defend this faith against those who would dismiss it.
Why do many modern people reject the Bible according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, many reject the Bible because they consider it an old book that is outdated and irrelevant to modern problems. Their argument is twofold: first, they believe modern problems are entirely different from those of biblical times; and second, they assume that because of the Bible's antiquity, it must be hopelessly behind the times. They compare it to outdated textbooks that have been superseded by newer knowledge and developments.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the argument that modern problems are different from biblical times?
Lloyd-Jones argues that this claim displays a complete misunderstanding of human problems. He states: "The problems of mankind this evening are exactly and precisely what they've always been." While technology and specific circumstances may change (like bombs versus pikes), the fundamental human problems remain constant. Human nature hasn't changed; people still face the same basic issues of life, death, meaning, relationships, and most importantly, their relationship with God. As he puts it, "There is nothing new under the sun."
What does Lloyd-Jones say is the true nature of the Bible's message?
Lloyd-Jones explains that the Bible isn't just a collection of histories, ethical teachings, and examples, but contains one unified message running from beginning to end, which he calls "the faith." This faith is God's plan and purpose for the world. It's not vague or nebulous but a clear, definable teaching that can be stated in propositions, defended, and contended for. It's this unified message about God's relationship with humanity and His plan of salvation that gives the Bible its timeless relevance.
What is the source of the Bible's message according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the Bible's content is not human discovery but divine revelation. The word "delivered" in Jude 3 indicates the faith wasn't invented by humans but given to them by God. He explains how God revealed Himself through the nation of Israel, through prophets who received direct messages from God, and ultimately through His Son Jesus Christ. The apostles then delivered what they had received from Christ. The message is God's, not man's—which is what makes it authoritative and trustworthy.
Why does Lloyd-Jones claim the Bible's message is unchangeable and final?
Lloyd-Jones gives several reasons for the Bible's unchangeableness:
- It comes from God who is outside of time and unchanging
- Its primary subject is God Himself, who never changes
- It addresses man's relationship to God, which has remained fundamentally the same since the Fall
- It centers on what God has done in Christ—His incarnation, death, and resurrection—which are "once and forever" historical events that can never be repeated or improved upon
As he puts it: "The Bible is alone up to date. Everything else is temporary...There is only one thing that stands. What is it? God. And what God did once and forever in his only begotten son."
What is the main problem of humanity according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, humanity's main problem is not technological, political, or even moral in the conventional sense—it's our relationship with God. As he states: "Man's real and ultimate problem is his relationship to God. And that is what it's always been." He quotes Job's ancient question, "How can a man be just with God?" to show this problem is as old as humanity itself. All our advancements in knowledge, wealth, and power don't address this fundamental issue of our broken relationship with our Creator.
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.