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Sermon #5289

Man; a Slave

A Sermon on Jeremiah 2:14-17

Originally preached Nov. 20, 1960

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Scripture

Jeremiah 2:14-17 ESV KJV
“Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey? The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant. Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the …

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Sermon Description

What is humanity’s problem? What is it about people and the world that accounts for all the ills and trials of human life? The question is present all through human history, yet modern humanity has no answer. In this sermon on Jeremiah 2:14–17 titled “Man, A Slave,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches the biblical truth that each person’s problem is that they have fallen from original righteousness and purity into sin and despair. All are slaves to sin and twisted desires. Scripture tells us that no one is evolving toward a better future, but rather are getting worse. What then is the answer to this seemingly hopeless state? The answer is found in God’s infinite grace given in Jesus Christ. While it is true that humanity can do nothing to help themselves, the gospel is the message that God has acted for humanity. God has sent His Son to die upon the cross as the ultimate price for sin and peace. All who believe in Jesus are freed from sin and made children of God, righteous inheritors of the new heavens and earth. There is no other response to the gospel than to repent of all sins and come to Jesus who calls all to enteral life in His death.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. Man is not now what he once was. Man has fallen from his original state of perfection and communion with God.
  2. Man is now a slave and has been robbed of his best possessions. Man is in bondage to sin and Satan and has lost his original righteousness, purity, and freedom.
  3. Man has brought this condition upon himself by forsaking God. Man's fall and current state is the result of his own sin and rebellion against God.
  4. The world is in trouble because it does not realize the truth about itself. The world fails to recognize that man has fallen and is in slavery to sin.
  5. There are two main views of man's current condition: the evolutionary view and the biblical view. The evolutionary view says man is progressing while the biblical view says man has fallen.
  6. According to the Bible, man was created uniquely in the image of God but now has a darkened understanding, a foolish heart, and a paralyzed will.
  7. Man has been robbed of his mind, heart, will, purity, righteousness, and fellowship with God. Sin has corrupted all areas of man's being.
  8. Man is now disgraced and humbled, often behaving like a beast. The current state of man and the world is one of shame and moral decline.
  9. Man's only hope is in Jesus Christ who came to undo the work of the devil and restore what was lost in the Fall. Only through faith in Christ can man be forgiven, freed, and renewed.
  10. Those who come to Christ are given new life, a new mind, a new heart, and a new will. They are transformed and no longer slaves to sin.
  11. Man must recognize his sin and lostness to be saved. He must see that he has brought this condition upon himself by forsaking God.
  12. God pleads with man through His Word and prophets to return to Him. God's desire is to spare man from judgment and restore him.
  13. The ultimate object of God's pleas and the preaching of His prophets is to save man from calamity and restore him to fellowship.

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.