Understanding Spiritual Depression and Victory Over Sin According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the main cause of spiritual depression in this sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, spiritual depression often stems from "that sense of failure and of frustration that often arises in the life of the Christian because of the problem of sin." He notes that "probably nothing brings people to us more frequently than some problem connected somehow or another with failure in the living of the christian life. Some falling into sin, some sin that harasses and bothers and gets this individual down constantly, in spite of all efforts and endeavors."

What is the key to understanding Romans 6 according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "the key to the understanding of this chapter, as it is indeed the key to the understanding of the entire christian life, is the doctrine of the union of the Christian with the Lord Jesus Christ." This union means that everything that happened to Christ has happened to believers who are "in Christ" - they have died with Him, been buried with Him, and risen with Him.

What does it mean to "reckon yourselves to be dead to sin" in Romans 6:11?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, to "reckon" ourselves dead to sin doesn't mean "to act as if this were true" when it isn't. It's not psychological self-persuasion or "make belief." Rather, it means "to realize that it's true," to "grasp it, lay hold upon it, and truly to realize it in my constant thinking as well as in my living." It's about embracing the reality that because we are in Christ, our old nature has truly died with Him.

Where does sin still operate in the life of a Christian according to this sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that sin still operates "in what the apostle calls our mortal body." He states, "The old man has gone. Yes, but sin is still here in my body, in my physical being, which includes, remember, my mind and my understanding as well as my physical processes, my instincts and all these things." He notes that "the body still is not redeemed," which is why Paul speaks of "waiting for the adoption...the redemption of our body."

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones reject both perfectionism and defeatism in the Christian life?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects perfectionism (the idea that Christians can be entirely free from sin in this life) because Paul clearly teaches that we must continue to "mortify the deeds of the body" and that sin remains in our mortal bodies. However, he also rejects defeatism because the Christian "is not one who goes through this life mourning and defeated and grumbling." The truth is between these extremes - sin remains in our mortal bodies but will not have dominion over us.

What does Romans 6:14 mean when it says "sin shall not have dominion over you"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this is "a categorical and an absolute statement," not a conditional one. It's not saying that if we do certain things, then sin won't dominate us. Rather, it's "an assertion" and "a proclamation" that "our victory as Christians over sin is absolutely certain." This certainty comes because we are "not under law, but under grace," meaning we are in God's purpose and He is "bringing many sons unto glory."

How does being "under grace" rather than "under law" affect our relationship to sin?

Being under grace means we are "in an entirely different position" where we're "no longer vainly trying to make ourselves better by applying law." Instead, we're "rejoicing in God's free favor," having received forgiveness and Christ's righteousness as a gift. We have "new desires" where God's law is "written in his mind and imprinted in his heart." Most significantly, we are those "whom God himself is bringing unto glory" and "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

What practical steps does Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggest for gaining victory over sin?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several practical steps: 1) "Realize the truth about ourselves in Christ" - our union with Him in death and resurrection; 2) Understand where sin operates (in our mortal bodies); 3) "Realize the certainty of our victory over sin"; 4) "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body"; 5) "Yield not your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin"; 6) "Yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead"; and 7) "Mortify through the spirit the deeds of the body."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain why so many Christians remain spiritually depressed?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that spiritual depression among Christians is often due to "ignorance of the scriptures." He notes that "if a man doesn't live in the scriptures, well, he's bound to be depressed, he is bound to fail, he is bound to be miserable. We can't live without it. It's our food." Many Christians miss the truths about their identity in Christ and continue to struggle because they don't understand or apply the biblical teaching about their union with Christ.

What is the relationship between spiritual depression and Christian witness according to this sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that this issue of spiritual depression is important "not merely because it's tragic to think that there should be any Christians in such a condition, but still more because of the failure of such people to witness to the faith and the glory of the faith, especially at a time like this, when the world outside the church is so bankrupt and is looking feverishly and helplessly for comfort and consolation and for light." Spiritually depressed Christians fail to be effective witnesses to a world that desperately needs what Christ offers.