Think About Good
A Sermon on Luke 3:1-2
Originally preached Dec. 18, 1955
Scripture
1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2Annas and Caiaphas being the high …
Sermon Description
God’s law was given after the fall of humanity and His communication with humanity continued until it suddenly halted for 400 years. Silence for 400 years left humankind waiting for God’s word to come again. In this sermon on Luke 3:1–2 titled “Think About Good,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses the message that broke this silence. God’s revelation is the exact opposite of discovery: humanity does not have access to anything that was not first revealed by God. Learn about spiritual history and how this always works exactly according to God’s plan. Redemption and the scheme of salvation were in the mind of God even before the world was formed. The hand of God runs throughout Scripture alongside the plan and history of humanity. See how the Old Testament is constantly pointing forward to Christ Jesus and how sin demands punishment. Humanity’s sin is such terrible rebellion that God cannot simply pretend He has not seen it. Jesus Christ came to taste death for everyone. Indulging in temporary pleasures of this earth will have devastating eternal effects. There is great hope that comes with this gospel of freedom through Christ, but it is one that must be embraced in this lifetime.
Sermon Breakdown
- God made men perfect and placed him in paradise where he communed with God.
- Men disobeyed God and fell into sin, misery and became captive to the devil.
- God did not abandon men but promised a redeemer (the seed of the woman) who will defeat the devil.
- God called Abraham and made a nation (Israel) through whom the redeemer will come.
- God gave Israel the law and prophets but they failed to keep the law. The prophets called them to repentance and pointed to the coming redeemer.
- For 400 years, God was silent. During this time, Greek and Roman empires rose and failed to solve men's problems.
- God spoke again through John the Baptist calling people to repent and believe in the coming redeemer - Jesus.
- Jesus is the redeemer promised to Abraham and prophesied by the prophets. He came to die for our sins and give us new life.
- We must repent of our sins, believe in Jesus and surrender to him to receive new life and escape judgment.
- Jesus will come again to judge the world. Those who believe in him will be gathered to him but unbelievers will be condemned.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Luke 3:1-2
What is the significance of God's word coming to John in the wilderness according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, God's word coming to John in the wilderness demonstrates that God's activity, not man's, is what truly matters. This event represents divine revelation (not human discovery) and shows God breaking into human history according to His perfect plan. The sermon emphasizes that "the word of God came unto John" just as it had previously come to others like Abraham and Moses when they least expected it. Lloyd-Jones highlights that this occurred "in spite of the conditions prevailing" with corrupt rulers in power, showing that "God acts, and he acts in spite of men and in spite of circumstances."
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as mankind's fundamental problem throughout history?
Lloyd-Jones identifies that mankind's fundamental problem throughout history is that "he does not listen to the word of God." He explains that this problem began in Eden when man rejected God's word and believed the devil's suggestion instead. Despite God giving humanity multiple chances and opportunities, man repeatedly fails because he is "bound" and "fettered" in sin. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that despite cultural and governmental advancements like those of the Greeks and Romans, "the problem of men remained exactly what it had always been ever since men fell in the garden of Eden."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the two parallel histories running through the Bible?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes two parallel histories running through the Bible: "the history of man himself, men in sin" and "this history that God has been producing." The first shows humanity's persistent failure, sin, and inability to improve itself despite various opportunities. The second shows God's sovereign plan of redemption working inexorably toward its goal - the coming of Christ. Lloyd-Jones explains that God's history consistently shows Him intervening, overruling, and controlling events to fulfill His redemptive purposes, even during times of apparent silence like the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the Greek and Roman civilizations during the 400 years of silence?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that during the 400 years of divine silence between Malachi and John the Baptist, the great Greek and Roman civilizations flourished, with their remarkable advancements in philosophy, culture, government and law. However, he notes that the Bible barely mentions these achievements, which he calls "the most remarkable bit of divine humor." Despite these "unsurpassable efforts on the part of men," Lloyd-Jones states that they "didn't touch" the fundamental problem of sin. He quotes Paul's assessment: "The world by wisdom knew not God." Lloyd-Jones describes this period as God allowing humanity to demonstrate what it could accomplish on its own, only to reveal its complete failure to solve humanity's moral and spiritual problems.
What is John the Baptist's role in God's plan according to the sermon?
According to Lloyd-Jones, John the Baptist is "the last of the great prophets" and "the forerunner" who was miraculously born and prepared by God specifically for his mission. John's role was to point to Christ, proclaiming that "all God's purposes are culminating in this person." Lloyd-Jones explains that John was "nothing but a voice... crying in the wilderness" who recognized his place as merely "the herald" announcing the coming Messiah. John's message was to "prepare a highway" for the Son of God, calling people to "repent" and "think again" about their relationship with God. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that John understood his secondary role, declaring "He must increase as John and I must decrease."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the only hope for mankind today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones declares that "our only hope tonight" is that God continues to reveal Himself and act according to His redemptive plan. He dismisses appeals to "the Christmas spirit" or human efforts to improve society, stating: "Man is incapable of applying what is called the Christmas spirit. Men in sin can't do it." Instead, true hope comes from God sending "his own son into the world to save, to seek and to save that which is lost." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that salvation comes only through repentance and faith in Christ, who can "give you a new nature" and "fill you with the spirit of God." He concludes that our only hope is to "be separated to Christ" and "thereby escape the wrath which is certainly to come."
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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.