The Gospel's Supernatural Nature: Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Divine Intervention
Understanding the Miraculous Character of Christian Salvation
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in his powerful sermon "But God," emphasizes that the Christian gospel is fundamentally supernatural and miraculous in nature. It is the power of God unto salvation. For Lloyd-Jones, any attempt to remove or downplay the supernatural elements of Christianity essentially removes the gospel itself.
Lloyd-Jones directly challenges those who try to make the gospel more "presentable" to modern audiences by minimizing its miraculous aspects. He states emphatically, "My dear friend, if this gospel were not miraculous, it wouldn't be a gospel. When you realize the true state and condition of men, you won't have any difficulty in accepting miracles."
The doctor uses two biblical examples to illustrate his point about the supernatural nature of salvation: Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel and Nicodemus's conversation with Jesus. In both cases, the individuals struggled initially because they approached divine truth from a purely human perspective.
Looking at the case of Nicodemus, Lloyd-Jones explains how this learned religious leader couldn't grasp the concept of being "born again" because he was thinking in purely natural terms. The doctor quotes Jesus's response: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again."
For Lloyd-Jones, this interaction perfectly illustrates the fundamental problem with modern approaches to Christianity that try to explain everything in natural terms. He asserts, "You're trying to understand miracles. You're pitting your little pygmy mind against the infinite and the absolute and the eternal."
The Necessity of Divine Intervention
Lloyd-Jones argues that the supernatural nature of the gospel isn't just an optional add-on but is absolutely essential given humanity's condition. He states, "Man is in such a position that nothing but a miracle can possibly save him. And thank God the announcement of the gospel is that the miracle has happened."
According to Lloyd-Jones, this supernatural intervention is necessary because:
- Humans are spiritually dead and cannot resurrect themselves
- The problem of sin requires divine solution
- Natural human efforts cannot produce spiritual transformation
- Only supernatural power can create new spiritual life
Modern Application
Lloyd-Jones's teaching has significant implications for contemporary Christianity. His insistence on the supernatural nature of salvation challenges:
- Liberal theological approaches that try to naturalize the gospel
- Seeker-sensitive methods that downplay miraculous elements
- Contemporary attempts to make Christianity more "reasonable"
- Purely psychological or sociological explanations of conversion
The Doctor's Warning
Lloyd-Jones warns against the tendency to make Christianity more palatable to modern sensibilities by removing its supernatural elements. He sees this as a fundamental denial of the gospel's power and essence.
For modern churches and Christians, Lloyd-Jones's message carries particular relevance in an age of increasing secularization and naturalistic explanations. His insistence that true Christianity must maintain its supernatural character challenges both liberal and conservative approaches that might minimize the miraculous.
Practical Implications
For Lloyd-Jones, understanding the supernatural nature of the gospel should lead to:
- Greater dependence on God rather than human methods
- Recognition that conversion is God's work, not human persuasion
- Confidence in the power of the gospel message itself
- Less emphasis on making the message "acceptable" to modern minds
Legacy and Contemporary Relevance
Lloyd-Jones's emphasis on the supernatural nature of Christianity continues to influence Reformed and evangelical thought. His clear articulation of why the gospel must be supernatural provides a robust theological framework for:
- Understanding conversion
- Approaching evangelism
- Maintaining doctrinal integrity
- Resisting cultural pressure to naturalize Christianity
Dr. Lloyd-Jones's teaching on the supernatural nature of the gospel remains particularly relevant in our scientific age. His insistence that true Christianity must embrace its miraculous character provides a crucial corrective to both liberal and conservative tendencies to minimize the supernatural aspects of faith.
Q and A
What is the Christian method of salvation?
Salvation is entirely God's work, not a human method. Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones states emphatically: "It is all of God from the very beginning to the very end... Salvation entirely, altogether from Alpha to Omega is of God. It is all of grace." He would reject any notion of a human "method," stressing that spiritually dead people cannot initiate their own salvation. As he says, "How can a man who's dead decide to accept Christ? What utter nonsense."
What is true Christian salvation?
According to Lloyd-Jones, true Christian salvation is:
- A supernatural, miraculous work of God in spiritually dead sinners
- A complete transformation from death to life ("You hath he quickened, who were dead")
- The result of God's rich mercy and great love, not human effort
- Something that leaves the recipient amazed and unable to fully understand themselves ("I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me")
What are three Christian beliefs about salvation?
Based on this sermon, Lloyd-Jones emphasizes these core beliefs:
- Salvation is entirely supernatural and miraculous - "Man is in such a position that nothing but a miracle can possibly save him"
- Salvation comes from God's sovereign grace alone - "It is all of grace. And His alone must be the glory"
- Salvation transforms completely - from spiritual death to new life in Christ, seated "in heavenly places in Christ Jesus"