November 1959

In this sermon on Ephesians 5:19 titled “True Melody,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds what he calls the characteristics of Christian music based on this Scripture passage. He says that for Christians, worship music is not about sensory experiences, but Spirit-filled worship and praise of God the Savior. It is not done for human entertainment or for the sake of showmanship, but it is about exalting God and His great Name. For this reason, it is not to be done flippantly or in a crass manner, but the who is worshipped should inform how the church worships. True Christian worship in a church is to be done as a congregation and community of believers who have come together. It is not a time for individuals to demonstrate their musical prowess and ability, but it is time for all Christians to sing as a unified body. Because Christian worship takes place in a church, it is to always be subject to the preaching and teaching of God’s word. To do otherwise would be to commit the great error of the Roman Catholic Church and others and replace the proclamation of God’s word with something else, whether it be music or sacraments. True worship is always done in light of God’s revelation of Himself and of His will to His people.

The gospel tells how people can be delivered through repentance. In this sermon on 1 Peter 1:22 titled “Obedience to the Truth,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones appeals to the listener to obey God’s truth, for it is far greater than the law. To not repent is to disobey—this is sin. The essence of sin is a refusal to believe God. If a person does not submit to the gospel, its truth will confront them in eternity. All should obey this truth as it is the way of salvation. The work God wants His people to do is to believe in Him whom He sent. Do not resist the free gift of God in Jesus Christ—no one can fulfill the law by their own works but should submit themselves to His righteousness. The mystery of the gospel is profound, but it must be believed. God justifies the ungodly, not the righteous. Everyone should believe this message now and come exactly as they are: “All the fitness He requires is to feel your need of Him.”

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is fixated on helping his listeners understand the difficult teaching of the apostle Paul’s in Romans 7:15-25. The spiritual identity of the man presented by Paul in Romans 7 is a most perplexing passage. In previous sermons, Dr. Lloyd-Jones has been methodically building his case on the man’s spiritual identity. He is one who knows that the law is good. This man agrees with the law that he is a sinner. Now the man states that he delights in the law. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues, these things cannot be said of the unregenerate man. But does this mean that Romans 7 refers to the regenerate man as the Reformed tradition holds? Humbly, the Doctor demurs from men he holds in high estimation. Instead, being bound to the text of Scripture, Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that while this man does indeed affirm the spiritual nature of the law, he also says there is a battle raging within. Moreover, the man in Romans 7 says he is brought into captivity. What do these elements mean for the spiritual identity of the man in Romans 7? Listen as Martyn Lloyd-Jones untangles and explains this most intriguing passage of Scripture.

What is the role that singing is supposed to play in the church? What are the Lord’s instructions for how He is to be praised through song? In this sermon on Ephesians 5:19 titled “Worship in the Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions and more. In this passage, Paul is concerned with how the Holy Spirit is manifested when believers gather together for worship. But what is his intent in this section? Is it meant to prescribe the exact style of worship that every church should have? Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses Scripture to provide helpful commentary on why this is not the case. Paul here is calling for a unified expression of joy through singing, specifically through “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” Though they might sound as if they are the same, Dr. Lloyd-Jones is careful to show the differences. A psalm is a sacred song intended to be sung with the accompaniment of a musical instrument. A hymn is a song of praise to God. Finally, a song is an ode or lyric, which is why Paul describes it additionally as needing to be “spiritual.” Dr. Lloyd-Jones ends with a note on the permanence and importance of singing in the lives of believers, drawing on thousands of years of church history to show why this should have such a vital place in the spiritual walk of Christians.

How does Christ change someone? In this sermon on 1 Peter 1:18–23 titled “Born of the Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches how all who believe in Jesus are born again through the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the great doctrine of the new birth. What does it mean to be born again? At natural birth, all are born in sin. But at spiritual birth, Christians are born into a new life in Christ. The Holy Spirit works to change God’s people from unholy sinners, to righteous, forgiven men and women in Christ. There is no longer any condemnation or judgment for those in Christ, for Jesus by His death has cleansed from all sin those who believe. The glorious truth of the gospel is that it brings new life and a new nature. God’s chosen are delivered from the law, the flesh, and sin when they believe in Jesus. To believe in Jesus is to trust that He died and rose from the grave, paying the wages of sin so that any sinner might have new life and be reconciled to God. Listen closely as Dr. Lloyd-Jones unfolds the saving truth of the gospel.

What is the spiritual identity of the man? Is he regenerate? Unregenerate? Or carnal? This has been the burning question Dr. Marytn Lloyd-Jones has been asking of Romans 7:15-25. After having carefully worked through several verses already, in this message Dr. Lloyd-Jones continues to aid his listeners through this difficult passage. Looking at the larger context of Romans, Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds us that Paul is not merely telling us about his personal experience in Romans 7. Instead, Paul is defending his view of the law. As the apostle is neither denouncing the law nor attributing the responsibility for sin to the law, the question remains: how does sin come to pass then? In answering this question, the apostle Paul makes one of the most daring statements in all the Bible. Paul asserts that sin dwells in me! In other words, sin takes up residence in each person. As such, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, we must realize that sin is not just outside but is part of our very nature. Listen as he explains the power of sin, the dual nature of man, and how this all connects to finding out the spiritual identity of the man in Romans 7.

We often hear the phrase “child of God” and consider it another term for simply being a Christian, but what is the true meaning of this phrase, and how do we become one? In Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ sermon on 1 Peter 1:1-25, he discusses how being a child of God becoming a slave to Christ rather than sin. We are all born originally as sinners and cannot escape this bondage on our own. The only way to escape this slavery to sin is to become a “child of God”. But how can we do such a thing? Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that to accomplish this task, we must first be redeemed. We must realize our wretched state, and ask for forgiveness. Only after we do this, can our sins be reconciled by Christs sacrifice on the cross. However, being redeemed is only the first step to becoming a child of God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that we must accept Christ as our new master, because he bought us. We are not made free by Christ, but we are made free from the power of sin. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones puts it, “We are bought by the precious blood of Christ.” Jesus is our new master, but instead of us being his slaves, we become more like his children. God is righteous and just, and he cares for us. He cared for us so much that “He sent his one and only son” to save us from our sinful state (John 3:16). Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes his sermon by saying, “If Christ died to set us free, then we are his. Take up your cross and follow Christ.”

The spiritual identity of the man in Romans 7:14-25 is the driving question interpreters face as they approach one of Scriptures most perplexing passages. After providing an introduction to the passage in the previous message, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones begins to parse out in greater detail his own view of Romans 7:14-25 in this sermon. With pastoral sensitivity Dr. Lloyd-Jones maintains humility when expounding the passage, noting how truly difficult the section of Scripture is. He encourages his audience to not give up on difficult texts. He argues that Paul’s defense of the law remains the key contextual detail one must keep in mind. In this sermon Dr. Lloyd-Jones has his keen exegetical eye set on the phrase “sold under sin.” Of whom is such a statement true? Is this a description of an unregenerate man? Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that it cannot be so due to the fact that an unregenerate man does not affirm that he has such a condition. Is this a description of a regenerate man? Lloyd-Jones says that it cannot be since such a view contradicts Paul’s description of a regenerate man elsewhere in Romans. What is the solution then? Listen to this fascinating sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones as he works through this complex and complicated passage in Paul’s most famous letter

Everyone has different problems and needs, but what is the Supreme need? Dr. Martyn Lloyd- Jones answers this question in his sermon on 1 Peter 1:17, revealing that our true need is “to know God”. To truly show the audience how helpless they are to fill this “need”, he elaborates on man’s inability to satisfy himself, saying, “Man has not the power to truly bless himself.” Whether we have peace, comfort, or good health, we will never be truly satisfied. Dr. Lloyd-Jones then shows us, that our supreme and ultimate need is “to know God”. But why is this our supreme need? Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides three reasons for why a relationship with God is our supreme need. The first, is that God will judge all and it is essential for us to know his commandments and demands so that we are ready for judgement. The second, is that we need Christ because we are all sinners in need of a savior. And the third, is that he alone has the ability to bless us. But how can we know God if he is holy and we are sinners? Dr. Lloyd-Jones, points to Christ as our path to knowing God. “For God so loved the world, that he sent his one and only son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life”(John 3:16). He concludes, saying that all we must do to know Christ is “call on him as the father,” and he will be with us till our final breath.

Faithful Christian interpreters have been puzzled by the identity of the man described by Paul in Romans 7:14-25. What is his spiritual condition? Is he regenerate or unregenerate? Can Paul be describing the spiritual condition of a mature believer? Or might the description be that of an immature believer? Although we must approach every passage of Scripture with care, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones earnestly calls his listeners to come to Romans 7:14-25 with the maximum amount of humility. In this introductory sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides a cogent overview of the various positions, reminding his listeners again and again that it is prudent to adopt an attitude of fear and trepidation since great Christian saints have held differing perspectives. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also provides his audience with a general outline of the entire passage and carefully links Romans 7:14-25 with the theme of the Law found in the previous verses. Finally, he unpacks how Scripture describes the carnal or fleshly man. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones introduces the main contours of the debate surrounding the peculiar identity of the man of Romans 7:14-25.

This world is one of uncertainty. Some lives seem to be near perfect, and some seem to be falling apart. What does the Christian do when the trials of life seem to continually crash like waves against them? Listen to this sermon on 1 Peter 1:13-25 as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones challenges the listener to “gird up the loins of our mind,” as they live in this ever-changing world, and proclaims the hope that Christians have as foreigners in a strange land. The only hope is the return of Jesus Christ that will take place at the end of the age when everyone will rise from the dead to experience judgment. Dr. Lloyd-Jones clearly explains that the judgment comes from a God who is holy and judges each person’s works impartially from the standard of His own holiness. The only way that one can measure up to his standard of holiness is through the Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose again on humanity’s behalf. In this sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds the Christian to remember that this life is short, death will come, but Christ will return. He encourages hope in Christ, for that is the only certainty in an uncertain world.