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Sermon #5567

This Vicious Principle

A Sermon on Galatians 1:3-5

Originally preached Oct. 12, 1958

Scripture

Galatians 1:3-5 ESV KJV
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

Sermon Description

In this sermon from Galatians 1:3–5 titled “This Vicious Principle,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that the world in its very nature is cursed as a result of sin. All struggle to keep a clean mind and a clean heart on this earth because it is under the dominion of Satan. The world will show all it has to offer, but Christians must remember that this world is committed to death and destruction. Dr. Lloyd-Jones instructs fixing eyes on Christ and what is eternal as one sojourns through this world. He tells that Christians must fight against evil in this life because they belong to God and will never truly be home until they reach heaven.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins by explaining that the passage being discussed is Galatians 1:3-5 which talks about Jesus delivering us from this present evil world.
  2. The sermon then outlines some common non-Christian views of the world including that the world evolved on its own, that the world is good and joyful, that the world is improving, and that we should enjoy the world.
  3. In contrast, the Bible teaches that this world is only temporary and will pass away. God created the world perfect but sin entered and now the world is under a curse.
  4. The sermon emphasizes that the world is evil because it does not obey God, it is controlled by Satan, it leads to ugliness, disorder, lawlessness, and unhappiness. There is a vicious principle of evil at work in the world.
  5. The world opposes God and righteousness. It is difficult to live a moral life in the world because of the constant temptations and evil influences surrounding us.
  6. The world cannot be improved and is doomed to destruction. All of human civilization has failed to improve the world. Jesus said the world will be as wicked as in the days of Noah and Lot before his return.
  7. Because the world is in us and we are in the world, we also need to be delivered from the world and its doom. We cannot deliver ourselves no matter how hard we try.
  8. Only Jesus can deliver us from the world. We must cry out to him to save us and separate us from the world though we still live in it. Jesus can free us from the world's control and doom.
  9. In summary, though the world and we are evil, God sent Jesus to deliver us from this present evil world. We must trust in Christ alone to save us.

Sermon Q&A

What Does Lloyd-Jones Mean by "This Present Evil World" in Galatians?

What is the main text that Lloyd-Jones focuses on in this sermon?

Lloyd-Jones focuses on Galatians 1:4, particularly the phrase "that he might deliver us from this present evil world." He explains that he's examining just this one phrase from the larger passage (Galatians 1:3-5) to help his listeners understand what the gospel truly addresses.

According to Lloyd-Jones, what is the common misconception people have about the gospel's view of the world?

Lloyd-Jones identifies several contradictory misconceptions: some think the gospel is too personal and introspective, ignoring world problems; others think it's too focused on politics and social matters; some believe it's too ethereal and doesn't face facts; while others find it too depressing because it focuses too much on life's evils. He argues that these critics all miss the complete picture of what the gospel actually teaches.

How does Lloyd-Jones define "this present world" in his sermon?

Lloyd-Jones defines "this present world" as temporary, not permanent. He explains that God created a perfect world initially, but after man's sin and the flood, we now live in a temporary age that will eventually end. He emphasizes that "present" means this world is only for a while, under God's control, and will eventually be replaced by "the age to come" or "the world to come."

Why does Lloyd-Jones describe the world as "evil"?

Lloyd-Jones explains that the world is "evil" because it doesn't conform to God's pattern, is opposed to God, and is controlled by Satan. He describes it as having a "vicious principle" at work that leads to ugliness, disorder, lawlessness, and unhappiness. He points to increasing immorality, juvenile delinquency, and societal problems as evidence of this evil principle operating in the world.

Can the world be improved according to Lloyd-Jones?

No. Lloyd-Jones firmly states that the world cannot be improved despite thousands of years of human attempts to do so. He argues that while there might be minor surface improvements in some areas, the fundamental evil nature of the world remains unchanged. He cites Jesus's words comparing the end times to the days of Noah and Sodom as evidence that the world will remain evil until its destruction.

What does Lloyd-Jones say is the ultimate fate of this present world?

According to Lloyd-Jones, this present world is doomed to destruction. He states that the Bible "holds out no hope whatsoever for this world" and describes it as "under judgment" and "under the wrath of God." He references 2 Peter's teaching that the world will be destroyed by fire, with the elements melting "with fervent heat," to be replaced by "a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."

How can people be delivered from this present evil world according to the sermon?

Lloyd-Jones teaches that we cannot deliver ourselves from this evil world through our own efforts. He explains that Christ alone can deliver us, as stated in Galatians 1:4: "who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world." He urges his listeners to cry out to Christ who can sever their ties to the world, put them in His kingdom, and separate them from the world's evil grip and ultimate doom.

What is Lloyd-Jones' view on human nature in relation to the world?

Lloyd-Jones teaches that humans are naturally part of this evil world system, with the world "in us" as well as us being "in it." He quotes Paul's words "in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing," describing humanity as "a mass of corruption." He explains that we cannot separate ourselves from the world's evil influence through our own efforts because we are so tied to it and involved in it.

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.