Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Moral Righteousness and Salvation in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the most ridiculous criticism against the Bible?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the most ridiculous criticism against the Bible is "the criticism that because it is an old book, it has no longer anything to say that because it's old, it's out to date and not relevant to the present position." He strongly challenges this notion by emphasizing that the Bible is "always contemporary, always up to date, always has the exact and the precise word to say at any particular juncture or stage in the long march and history of the human race."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean when he says "be not deceived"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "be not deceived" is a warning against the terrible danger of being misled about moral and spiritual truth. He states that "the whole story of the human race has gone wrong because men has been deceived by the devil." He identifies several modern deceptions, including the ideas that: the Bible is outdated, moral ideas constantly change with no absolute standards, morality can exist without godliness, death is the end with nothing beyond it, and God is entirely love with no judgment or punishment.

What specific sins does Paul list in the passage that would prevent people from inheriting the kingdom of God?

Paul lists several categories of sinners who will not inherit the kingdom of God: "fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners." Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses this list to demonstrate the timelessness of the Bible, noting that these same sins are prevalent in modern society, showing that human nature hasn't fundamentally changed over 2,000 years.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the only thing that matters to God?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the only thing that matters to God is righteousness. He states, "In the sight of God, there's only one thing that matters with respect to men... it is righteousness." He clarifies that righteousness means character - "what I am" rather than wealth, education, ability, or social standing. He defines it as living "to the glory of God and to keep his commandments," being "upright... pure and clean and honest and noble."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the gospel solution to man's unrighteousness?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the gospel solution is not mere denunciation of sin, moral exhortation, education, or simply professing belief in Christ. Instead, the true gospel is a message of transformative salvation through Christ: "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." He emphasizes that this cleansing and transformation is God's work, not self-improvement: "You've been washed. You haven't done it. You've been washed. You've been sanctified. You've been justified." This salvation comes "in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the power of our God."

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticize those who claim to believe but continue living in sin?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes those who claim to believe in Christ but continue living in sin because he views this as "antinomianism" - a false understanding of salvation. He warns against those who say, "I took my decision for Christ. I gave myself to Christ" but then "think that puts them right" so "they can live as they like." He refutes this by pointing out Paul's warning: "the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Dr. Lloyd-Jones insists that "merely to say that you believe is not enough" - true salvation produces transformation.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones respond to the claim that education is the key to solving society's moral problems?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones directly challenges the claim that "the strength of a nation depends on its education" and that "education is the key to unlock the storehouse of the future." He points out the irony that those who are highly educated can still be "moral failures" and that some of "the best educated people are the ringleaders in vice and evil." He insists that education alone is insufficient to solve moral problems because it doesn't address the fundamental issue of sin and the need for spiritual transformation through Christ.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the main cause of Britain's moral decline?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies the main cause of Britain's moral decline as the attempt to separate morality from godliness. He specifically mentions people who "hold on to the ethic" of Christianity while rejecting its doctrines. He states: "Men have fondly believed that you could hold on to these good things that had been taught by Christianity while shedding the whole basis of Christianity." He contends: "The modern position is demonstrating to us in a particularly painful, poignant manner that you cannot have morality without theology, that if you shed the doctrine, you'll soon lose your morality."

According to the sermon, what is the proper Christian response to moral failures in society?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the proper Christian response to moral failures is not self-righteous condemnation but compassionate offering of the gospel. He states: "We don't denounce sinners. We save them. We don't point a finger of scorn at them like a pharisee. We go to them and say, look here, you can be delivered out of this." He emphasizes that Christians who have themselves been cleansed by Christ "will have a little bit of sympathy with fallen men and women... You'll be sorry for them. You'll pray for them. You'll want to tell them the message that they can be delivered."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define the process of salvation described in 1 Corinthians 6:11?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones defines the process of salvation described in 1 Corinthians 6:11 as involving three elements: being washed, sanctified, and justified. He explains that being "washed" means being cleansed "from the filth of sin." Being "sanctified" means being "separated from the world unto God by the Spirit." Being "justified" means receiving the "righteousness of Christ" to stand before God. This process is not self-improvement but God's work "in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God," accomplished through Christ's death on the cross and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.