The Wonder of the Cross
A Sermon on Hebrews 1:1-3
Originally preached April 12, 1963
Scripture
1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being …
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Hebrews 1:1–3 titled “The Wonder of the Cross,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones exposits the book of Hebrews and carefully explains the great theme of the entire epistle: the glory and preeminence of Jesus Christ. Special attention is given to the latter part of verse three as the author of Hebrew only notes Jesus’s earthly ministry of purification of sin. The purification and cleansing of sin, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, has to be the center of the focus of Christian faith because it perfectly displays the glory and humility of Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also explains the strangeness and the meaning of the cross: the cross is strange to the world because the glory of God is displayed in one of the most humiliating places and symbols in the world. The cross also means to be the fulfillment of all the Old Testament types. In glory and humility, Jesus Christ came to purify and cleanse sins of the world on the cross, putting an end to the Old Testament rituals and offering the ultimate way of salvation. As a result, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, Jesus has now “sat down at the right hand of God,” displaying both His glory as the Son and the finished work on the cross.
Sermon Breakdown
- God spoke through prophets in the past but now speaks through His Son (v. 1-2)
- The Son is the heir of all things, the creator of the worlds, the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being (v. 2-3)
- The Son provided purification for sins and then sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (v. 3)
- The work of Christ on the cross was strange and paradoxical (weakness yet all-powerful, poverty yet heir of all things, shame yet radiance of God's glory)
- The cross was necessary to deal with the guilt and stain of sin
- Christ purged our sins Himself, not through an agent or substitute
- The work of Christ on the cross was completed and finished, not needing repetition
- The depth of the problem of sin is exposed by the cross
- The cross is the only way for forgiveness and salvation
- God is speaking through the message of the cross, calling us to repent and believe
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Hebrews 1:1-3: Questions and Answers
What is the central theme of the epistle to the Hebrews according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the central theme of Hebrews is "the glory and the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ." He explains that the author was writing to Hebrew Christians who were becoming discouraged and looking back to their old religion. The epistle emphasizes that Christ "and he alone is the savior, the only way to God." The letter presents Christ as greater than prophets, angels, Moses, Aaron, and everyone else—He is unique and stands alone.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe Christ's death is singled out in Hebrews 1:1-3?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that of all Christ's earthly activities, only His death is mentioned in these verses. He gives two reasons for this: First, "it is because of what he did on the cross that our Lord has been exalted to sit at the right hand of the majesty on high." Second and more importantly, "this is the key event. This is the vital event." Christ came into the world specifically to die; His death was not an accident or afterthought but the deliberate purpose of His incarnation, as it was "only in this way that your salvation and mine could be made possible."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the idea that Christ came merely to announce God's love?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones refutes the teaching that Christ came simply to announce God's love by pointing to the text which says "when he had by himself purged our sins." He emphasizes that what happened on the cross was not merely an announcement but an action—Christ was "doing something which makes forgiveness of sins possible." He states firmly: "if what happened on the cross on Calvary's hill had not taken place, there would be no forgiveness. The cross, the death upon the cross is essential to forgiveness."
What paradoxes does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify in Christ's crucifixion?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several striking paradoxes in Christ's crucifixion: 1. He was both man and God in one person 2. He was in extreme poverty yet the heir of all things 3. He showed utter weakness yet was the one who made and upholds the world 4. He was condemned as a malefactor yet is capable of sitting at God's right hand 5. He was in utter shame yet is "the brightness of the glory of God" 6. He died yet is "the resurrection and the life"
What does it mean that Christ "purged our sins" according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when Christ "purged our sins," it means "he removed sins by purification. He purified them away. He made expiation." Drawing on Old Testament imagery, he explains that sin defiles us and leaves stains upon our souls. Just as blood was sprinkled in the temple to remove defilement, Christ's blood cleanses us from sin. Unlike animal sacrifices which only temporarily covered sin, Christ "takes away the guilt, he takes away the stain" permanently through His blood. He accomplished this by taking our sins upon Himself and bearing the punishment that was due to us.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize that Christ sat down after purging sins?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws attention to the phrase "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" as evidence of the completeness of Christ's work. He contrasts this with the Old Testament high priests who never sat down in the Holy of Holies because "the work of the high priest was never finished." Animal sacrifices could only purify externally but "couldn't purify nor purge the conscience." Christ, however, "finished the work" completely when He cried "It is finished" on the cross. His sitting down signifies that "every demand of the law has been satisfied" and that His work "never needs to be supplemented" or repeated.
What conclusions does Dr. Lloyd-Jones draw from this passage about sin?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes that this passage reveals "the depth of the terrible problem of sin." The fact that such an extreme sacrifice was necessary shows that "sin is not a slight or a superficial problem" but "rebellion against God" that is "horrible in the sight of God." He also concludes that this is "the only way whereby we ever can be forgiven." He points to Christ's prayer in Gethsemane ("if it be possible, let this cup pass") as evidence that there was no other way for salvation to be accomplished.
What final appeal does Dr. Lloyd-Jones make to his listeners?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones closes with an appeal for his listeners to hear God speaking through the message of the cross. He urges them to understand that God is "a holy and a righteous and a just God" who will judge everyone. The message from God is that all have sinned and "are all damned and lost," but "God hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." His final appeal is: "Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." He emphasizes that "you have nothing to do but to believe that the Son of God purged away your sins on the cross."
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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.