A Life in Christ
A Sermon on Jeremiah 17:5-8
Originally preached May 22, 1955
Scripture
5¶ Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the …
Sermon Description
What is truly in the heart of people? What is the mind really like? In this sermon on Jeremiah 17:5–8 titled “A Life in Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that everyone is born in sin and darkness. This is found all throughout Scripture, beginning with the fall in Genesis and ending in the final judgment in Revelation. So much of the world’s suffering stems from humankind rejecting God and replacing His ways with their own. They scorn the very word of God that offers hope to those blinded by Satan. The wickedness of the human heart can only be overcome by the miracle of regeneration. This transformation turns a wicked enemy of God into a forgiven child of God. It is then that Christians can live as new creatures who seek what is holy, pure, and godly. They no longer walk the broad road of destruction, but now they follow the narrow path with all its hardships and struggle as children of God who faithfully await the return of Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The christian life is a life of form, symmetry and balance in contrast to the godless life which lacks these qualities.
- The christian life gives full scope to the main elements of human nature - the mind, the heart and the will. The godless life lacks this balance.
- The christian life is like Christ himself - balanced in understanding, compassion and will. The fruit of the Spirit manifests this balance - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
- The christian life is protected from the hardships and trials of life. Though difficulties come, the Christian is not dependent on circumstances. His source is Christ.
- The apostle Paul exemplifies this independence of circumstances. Whether abased or abounding, in prison or out of prison, he has learned to be content.
- The christian looks at life differently. He sees the eternal, not just the temporal. He rides loosely to the world and its affairs.
- The christian can face the future without anxiety because his confidence is in the unchanging God, not in himself or circumstances. Nothing can separate him from the love of God in Christ.
- The christian life is fruitful, like Christ's life. It is of value to others, bringing compassion and help.
- The christian life grows more wonderful with time. It continues to bear fruit even in old age, as God works through the life.
- The christian life is a blessed life, as Jeremiah says.
Old Testament
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.