The Cross of Christ: Dr. Lloyd-Jones's Essential Message for Modern Believers
In a world filled with confusion, uncertainty, and spiritual darkness, the message of the cross stands as a beacon of truth and hope. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's powerful sermons on the cross of Christ offer profound insight into Christianity's central truth—a message that remains as vital and transformative today as it was when first preached decades ago.
The Mystery and Power of the Cross
The cross of Christ divides humanity into two groups: those who see its true meaning and those who don't. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains in his sermon "The Cross that Divides," this division stems from the hidden element within the cross itself:
"The whole world this morning can be divided into these two great groups. There are people who are aware of the fact that something happened on that cross on Calvary's hill so long ago, but it means nothing to them. They don't understand it. They don't see it, and there are others to whom it is everything."
What makes the cross so divisive? According to Lloyd-Jones, it contains "the wisdom of God in a mystery"—a truth that cannot be grasped through human wisdom or intellect alone. This mystery can only be understood through divine revelation given by the Holy Spirit.
When we do receive this revelation, we discover that the cross is utterly different from what it first appears to be. What initially looks like weakness, failure, and defeat is revealed to be God's supreme display of wisdom, power, and love.
The Divine Purpose Behind the Cross
In "The Mystery of the Cross," Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores one of the most profound aspects of Christ's death—that it was ordained by God before the foundation of the world:
"Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain."
This remarkable statement reveals that while human hands carried out the crucifixion, it was actually God's eternal plan. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes this divine purpose:
"God had decided to send him to that before the very creation of the foundation of the world. Predeterminate will and purpose of God. A way back in eternity, God had decreed this very thing."
Why was this necessary? Because sin must be punished if anyone is to be forgiven. God's holiness, righteousness, and justice demand it. The cross represents the only way salvation could be accomplished—through the Son taking human nature and bearing the punishment for our sins.
The Transformative Power of the Cross
The cross doesn't merely secure our forgiveness—it transforms our entire relationship with God and empowers new life. In "The Results of the Cross," Lloyd-Jones explores how Christ's death brings us into a relationship of grace with God:
"The death of our Lord Jesus Christ has done this for me. It has laid open to me all the blessings and the benefits which God has to give a human being."
These blessings include:
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Confidence in prayer: "I am able to enter into the presence of God with confidence and boldness and even assurance."
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Knowledge of God's love: "Is there anything in the world that is more precious than that knowledge that the Lord God of the whole universe loves me?"
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A new nature: "This is one of the most glorious truths concerning this faith. It means this that a new principle of life is put into me."
Through the cross, we receive not just forgiveness but a complete transformation—new desires, new outlook, and new power to live differently.
"It means this that I am made a new being, a new person. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live, yet not I. But Christ liveth in me."
The Foundation of Christian Living
For Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the cross isn't merely where the Christian life begins—it's the foundation upon which the entire Christian life is built. In "At the Cross," he warns against the danger of treating the cross as merely a starting point:
"The cross is not merely a starting point. It is something that continues throughout the whole of the christian life... If you, my friend, this morning, have lost your sense of wonder at the cross, if you feel that the doctrine of the cross has nothing to say to you, well, then I think you are in an extremely dangerous condition."
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christians must never move beyond the cross in their spiritual journey:
"The more one understands any part of this teaching, the more one will be helped and aided in understanding the rest, every other part and the whole at the same time. And indeed, I'll go further, and I'll say this, that you cannot understand any particular aspect of this teaching unless you have a measure of understanding of every other part of the teaching."
The cross is essential not only for our justification but also for our ongoing sanctification. It continually humbles us, exalts Christ, and reminds us to look to Him in faith.
Why This Message Matters Today
Why should modern believers pay special attention to Dr. Lloyd-Jones's sermons on the cross? Because in an age of spiritual confusion, the cross provides clarity about our greatest need and God's perfect solution.
In today's world, many seek fulfillment through prosperity, success, or self-improvement. Others drift into relativism, unsure if absolute truth exists at all. Against this backdrop, the message of the cross stands in stark contrast—declaring both the severity of our sin and the magnificence of God's grace.
As Lloyd-Jones reminds us, the cross reveals two wonders:
"Upon that cross of Jesus mine, I at times can see the very dying form of one who suffered there for me. And from my smitten heart with tears two wonders I confess, the wonder of his glorious love and my own worthlessness."
This dual revelation—of God's love and our unworthiness—produces genuine humility, gratitude, and worship. It shatters our pride and self-sufficiency while offering hope beyond anything the world can provide.
Explore These Timeless Sermons
The sermons highlighted here represent just a small portion of Dr. Lloyd-Jones's rich teaching on the cross of Christ. His full series explores many aspects of Christ's sacrifice, including its victory over sin and Satan, its power to reconcile us to God, and its glory that transforms how we view everything else.
In a world of changing values and shifting ideologies, these sermons offer timeless truth anchored in Scripture and illuminated by the Spirit. They remind us that at the heart of Christianity stands not a philosophy or moral code, but a person who died for our sins and rose again.