April 1961

Why is true assurance so central to the Christian life? Followers of Christ can and should know that they are now children of God and have been set free from sin and death. But, as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains in this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “True and False Assurances,” there is a false assurance that leads to death. This is when people who do not know Jesus and who do not believe in His gospel are blinded by the devil and tricked into believing that they are saved. All Christians must examine themselves to see if they truly know God. Many in the church have given only an intellectual assent to the gospel, while others are so caught up in an emotional experience that they have deceived themselves. The answer is to look to Scripture and its main descriptions of what it means to be a true Christian. This sermon contains the timeless message of the need not only of salvation, but also of a true and biblically grounded assurance that should give all of God’s children a lasting and steadfast hope in Jesus Christ.

How can one know God? In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 2:1–16 titled “Revealed by God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains how this seemingly simple question has immense significance for one’s life. If God could not be known, how could anyone understand the gospel and be saved? Thankfully, God has revealed Himself to humanity. No one has to discover God through science or philosophy, but God made Himself known in Scripture and in Jesus Christ. In this sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows the great need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Science cannot give this knowledge because it only tells about this world. Christians then have nothing to fear from modern humanity and its claims of intellectual superiority, because true knowledge of God is a gift through His Word, not simply another truth to be discovered. The story of Nicodemus illustrates this well. The Lord Jesus says that it is the Spirit that shows God. It is a supernatural act of God that allows fallen sinners to come to a knowledge of a holy God. There is no more important truth than the gospel of salvation from sins.

In Romans 8:18, Paul says that no present trial or suffering is to compare with the glory that is to come. What would enable a person to say that? In this sermon on Romans 8:18 titled “A Share in the Glory,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains this view of Christians in two viewpoints. There are certain sufferings that only Christians have but a Christian also has a hope that is to come and this outshines any hardships they are currently experiencing. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that a Christian has a correct view of time and their life in this world. There is a distinct separation of time in this present world and then there is eternity with Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also says that the Christian has grasped Scripture in light of what is to come. A Christian should continually declare the name of the Lord and do His will until that day comes; everything one does should be done in light of that great day. The future glory is already here but has not yet been revealed. Christians do not belong to this present age but are citizens of another age and eagerly awaiting that day. Those who are in Christ will not be spectators but actual partakers of that glory.

Why is it important to have a biblical understanding of humanity? Many people both inside and outside the church have a flawed view of humanity that either overemphasizes the spiritual nature at the expense of the physical nature, or vice versa. They downplay the need for spirituality and replace it with modern psychology. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Physical, Psychological, Spiritual,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the Bible teaches that people are body, mind, and soul. They are more than the matter that they are made of, but the human body also affects its spirit. There is a great danger to turn all sin issues into problems of psychology. They say that a person’s problems are never a result of their sin but are a result of their circumstances. The Bible tells something different. According to the Bible, people are sinful and willingly rebellious. They have rejected God. The answer is in the gospel of Jesus Christ for the redemption of sins. This does not mean that all problems are the result of sin, but it does mean that all problems find their ultimate answer in the gospel. This sermon points all to the glorious truth that Jesus is a sufficient Savior.

Christianity is always contemporary since Christians live in this world too. What differentiates the Christian? People have mastered many things in this life, but they cannot master the lust in their own life and mind – all are failures, none are righteous. People proclaim what they are by what they glory in. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached this sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:31 titled “To Seek and to Save” after the first man had gone into space. One can hear the boasting of humanity over the course of history. What does the Christian glory in? Christianity is not just an intellectual knowledge; it is an actual boasting in the Lord. Learn that to glory in any person is merely self-worship. There cannot be two things glorified because to glory in one is to crucify another – God and self cannot both be exalted. There is nothing special about a person in themselves, but there is every reason to glory in Jesus Christ alone – He is not an ordinary man. The world is as it is because it is not glorying in Christ. People come from earth and go to heaven; Christ was sent from heaven and came to earth. Learn of the purpose of His coming and rejoice in Christianity’s message.

How should Christians react to suffering? This is a difficult question, but it is also an important question. All who live in this world suffer from the effects of sin and death. Even Jesus Himself suffered while He was on earth. In this sermon on Romans 8:18 titled “Reactions to Suffering,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns against the wrong reactions to suffering in life. Whether one is angry at God or doubts His goodness, the Christian is prone to lose their trust in the face of suffering. But the Bible tells that suffering is never purposeless, nor is suffering the ultimate fate of those who trust in Christ. The greatest hope is not in worldly social reform or in political campaigns, but it is in the reality that Christ has died for His people and is making all things new. Rather than looking to themselves in times of suffering, the Christian must look to Christ who has died in their place so that they might be redeemed from sin and its curse. This hope is only possible for those who believe in the gospel.

What is the role of experience in the Christian life? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13 titled “Faith and Experience,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this very practical question by looking at the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He warns of the great danger of reducing all of the Christian life to mere emotions. This is dangerous because it makes the Christian put their hope not in Jesus Christ and His work, but in their own subjective feelings. Christians can become enslaved to passing emotions and desires. The other danger is to reject all emotions as fundamentally deceptive and misguided. Some say that all that is needed is to affirm the truth of Christianity. But the biblical position avoids both these imbalances because it grounds all hope and emotions in what God has done in Jesus Christ. God has declared His people free from sin as His children. This should produce a true and lasting joy that casts out all fear and doubts. Christians can love God and neighbor because God has made them new creatures in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Emotions are the appropriate reaction to the objective work of God. This sermon calls all to ask the question: “do I have this hope in what God has done for me?” There is no more important question any can ask.

In 1961 an incredible feat of man took place when man orbited earth for the first time. This momentous occasion held the world in awe. In this sermon on Romans 7:22-25 titled “Science; Morality and God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones urges the listener to pause and reflect on this historical moment. What does it mean and what is its real significance? How does this moment affect us? Many view this extraordinary achievement as proof of the human capability to liberate itself. If man can succeed in this staggering technological advancement, there must be no limit to his power and capacity to make the world perfect. It causes man to be optimistic of its progress. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out, however, an examination of the history of civilization shows marvelous discoveries by man while also confronting us with a staggering fact — whatever man may do in his brilliance to achieve physical greatness, his achievements give a false optimism for his capacity for moral accomplishment. Man cannot escape the worst compulsions of his own nature. He can defeat gravity but cannot defeat his own moral problems. This false optimism, teaches Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is based on a complete failure of man to understand the Biblical message; it is indicative of the failure to recognize our problem of sin. The Bible tells us physical problems like the problem of gravity is outside of man and can be solved. The moral problem, however, is inside man. This force of sin, the power of the devil is in the world and is beyond the power of man. There is also the inner condition of man, which is sinful and affects the whole of man. Man’s twisted and biased heart is bent against solving moral problems. What then can be done? Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on the power of God unto salvation as the only avenue of deliverance.

According to Genesis 1–2, humanity is the crown of God’s creation. Adam and Eve’s innocent state before the God whose image and likeness they reflected represented the tremendous glory given to them. Sadly, all this was affected by the fall. What then is the ultimate goal of salvation? As wonderful as forgiveness of sin may be, is salvation merely that? As gracious as avoiding the eternal wrath of God in hell would be, is that all salvation is about? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says in this sermon on salvation that God should be praised because salvation is so much more. Not only does the Christian attain the original glory of humanity in the garden, but in Christ they anticipate and will receive much more glory than Adam ever experienced – perfection. In this sermon on Romans 8:17–18 titled “Purpose of Salvation,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones lays out the apostle Paul’s argument regarding the glorification that awaits the Christian. Glorification is the Christian’s goal, not mere justification, and not even sanctification. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says a biblical view of glorification is important for Christian lives, especially during times of great suffering. In fact, Paul constantly connects suffering with glory in the life of the believer. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones brings out the great implications and application of this truth for the Christian life today.

The fact of the resurrection stands at the center of Christianity. The empty tomb is the sign of God’s promise to raise Christ from the dead as a testament to His victory over sin. Yet sceptics scorn the idea of the physical and bodily resurrection. In this sermon on the resurrection from Acts 17:18, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that there is nothing new in their criticisms against the resurrection, for in the days of the apostles there were those who scorned and scoffed at the resurrection. But there is no excuse for rejecting the resurrection because all the evidence is clear: Christ rose from the dead. But it is sin that corrupts and blinds, so humankind is unable and unwilling to believe in Jesus. Humanity’s fundamental problem is that they are sinful. All humanity’s great wisdom and learning is subject to its sinful nature. The only answer to humanity’s problem is the grace of God in salvation. God has appointed His Son as the only way anyone can be saved. The only escape from the judgement of God is through faith in the gospel. This is the most important message that the world can hear. It is the message that Jesus has died and rose from the dead for the salvation of sinners.

Why is it so dangerous to deny the physical and bodily resurrection of believers? There were those in the early church who denied this doctrine. This is one of the reasons that the apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians, to dissuade them of this great error. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:12 titled “A Complete Redemption,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that without the resurrection, there is no hope. It is only in the resurrection that Christ completes the redemption that He began on the cross, and it is only by the bodily resurrection that death will finally be conquered and vanquished. Jesus died to not only save souls, but also to redeem the whole world from the bondage and corruption of sin. By resurrecting the bodies of those that believe, this corruption that began with the sin of Adam is removed. It is a lie of the devil that says Christ will not complete the salvation that He began. This resurrection is no mere spiritual event as some have claimed. The bodily resurrection means that Jesus perfectly saves all those that repent and believe in His gospel. It means that Jesus alone is Savior and Reconciler between God and sinful man.