I Will Plead With You
A Sermon on Jeremiah 2:9
Originally preached Nov. 6, 1960
Scripture
9¶ Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.
Sermon Description
How bad is sin? While many look at sin as something trivial and light, God does not. In this sermon from Jeremiah 2:9, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on the great truth of God’s judgement against sin, but also God’s great love for sinners. The great truth of the Gospel is that though man is sinful and abominable before God, God is patient and slow to anger. This is seen in the history of Israel. They continually rebel against Him and spurned His love. Yet He still comes to them and offers grace and forgiveness. Though He has every right to condemn them, He extends grace and mercy. As Dr.Lloyd-Jones proclaims, Jesus Christ gives mercy to all, not only the people of Israel! For God has made a way of salvation for all who believe in Him and repent of their sins. Jesus is God’s ultimate display of mercy towards sinners. Do you know the grace of Jesus Christ? Are you forgiven of all your sins? In this sermon, you will hear the glorious truth of the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins.
Sermon Breakdown
- God says he will plead and argue his case against the people through the prophet Jeremiah.
- The word "plead" here refers to a legal disputation or controversy, not just an appeal. God will state his case against the people.
- The first thing we see in God's pleadings is the utter unreasonableness of sin. There are endless arguments against sin.
- Sin cannot be defended intellectually or by looking at its consequences. There is no argument for sin.
- We also see the deep-seated and stubborn character of sin in the pleadings. Sin has continued from generation to generation. People do not learn from experience or the past.
- Sin is a problem of the heart, not just a surface level issue. It requires a new heart and a right spirit.
- God uses both words and actions to plead his case. He reasons through words and also acts by interfering in people's lives.
- God's pleadings reveal his character. We see his condescension in pleading with sinful humanity.
- We see God's compassion. He does not desire the death of the wicked but that they repent.
- We see God's longsuffering. He has pleaded with past generations and continues to plead with current and future generations.
- We also see God's righteousness and justice. Though longsuffering, he will eventually bring judgment. His patience is not to be taken for granted.
- God pleads to open people's eyes to the truth about themselves and bring them to repentance.
- God also pleads to justify himself when he brings judgment. No one will be able to argue against him.
- People who end up in hell will be there despite God's love, mercy, grace, compassion, warnings, and offer of salvation in Christ. They have no excuse.
- We must consider God's pleadings, see we have no case against him, and submit to him in repentance and faith. Otherwise we will be left speechless before him in judgment.
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.