March 1966

What is it that puts all people in bondage? In this sermon from John 3:8 titled “A Spirit of Bondage,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that all are under the law of God because they are sinners, and no one can ever do anything to save themselves. How then can sinners be saved? The answer is found in the new birth. This is a supernatural and mysterious work wherein God gives fallen sinners a new nature. This is what Jesus told Nicodemus: “you must be born again.” Just as no one brings about a natural birth, so they also do not bring about a supernatural birth. This new life frees the Christian from the spirit of fear and bondage because they are no longer under the law and condemnation of God. Those who trust in God can have full assurance that Jesus loves them and has died to save them. They can go through life knowing that they have been forgiven of all sin and are now at peace with God. This assurance is not something reserved for only the most mature Christians, but every believer can come to a true and full knowledge that they have been adopted into the family of God.

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on Acts 5:29-32 titled “Two Lines of History,” history can be divided into two categories: the history of humanity and history of God. In the history of humanity, world peace and cooperation are the ultimate goal. This is to be brought about through human means such as education, government, and moral teaching, and these means seek to bring the world to perfection. The other history is that of God and at the center of His story is the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ. He establishes the kingdom of God by His blood and kingship. He will reign over all history as God’s only begotten Son, the prince of peace. In Christ the futility of all the so-called kingdoms of the world is seen, for they are established on nothing but the vain wisdom of the world. This is in contrast to the kingdom of God that is established by the blood of Christ. All must repent of their sins and believe upon the only Son of God who died upon the cross so that sinners could have life.

Liturgical forms of worship in free churches were on the rise during the ministry of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. This tendency hasn’t slowed and continues to this day as evangelicals have a renewed interest in read prayers, prayer books, responsive readings, and vestments. In this sermon on Romans 12:6–8 titled “Worship, Ancient and Modern,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks pressing questions of this movement. When one reads the descriptions of early church life, do they see themselves? Do they find these liturgical elements in Scripture and in what sense is the New Testament teaching binding on worship forms? While the liturgical practice of a prayer book and prescribed prayers each week is often argued on the basis of the Lord’s Prayer, Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges this interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer. But Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s critique of the liturgical movement also takes the listener through church history in order to give a historical context for its development. While Dr. Lloyd-Jones acknowledges that both Martin Luther and John Calvin affirmed the authority of Scripture, it was Calvin who carried that belief beyond the realm of salvation and into church governance and worship. The goal in worship, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, should be to correspond as closely to the picture given in Scripture. Listen to this intriguing and informative message on the history and development of church worship practices.

What role does the Spirit play in the life of believers? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones takes up this question as he preaches from John 3:8 in a sermon titled “The Spiritual Life.” He shows that the Holy Spirit is present all throughout the Christian’s life. This starts with the Holy Spirit bringing about conversion and how He works in the Christian to bring about sanctification and ultimately glorification. The Holy Spirit is also necessary in worship of God. This is what Jesus tells the woman of Samaria when He says that God is looking for those who worship in Spirit and truth. Worship that is devoid of the Holy Spirit is not true worship. The Spirit is also part of reading God’s Word. The only way to truly understand Scripture is to read it with eyes of faith. What does this mean for Christians? One of the most important things is that they must not rely on their own strength but look wholly to Christ and His Spirit. This is one of the most comforting truths in all of God’s word.

What is humanity’s greatest need? The answer is simple: reconciliation with God. In this sermon on Acts 5:29–32 titled “Justification,” the apostles asserted that they “must obey God rather than men.” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the glorious truth that Jesus Christ came into the world and died for sinners to make them children of God. People are naturally born sinful and opposed to God and, therefore, alienated from God and righteousness. But the gospel that the apostles were willing to suffer and die for is the message that Jesus died in humanity’s place if they turn from their sin and trust in Him. Though they have sinned against God, God has sent His own Son to bear their sins. There is no greater truth. What does this mean for every person? The gospel means that people do not have to be judged on the basis of their sinful deeds but by believing in Jesus, they can have His righteousness. Sins are traded for His perfection. This gospel is a call for all to believe. It is a command from God Himself to repent and trust in Jesus for justification.

Do the practices of the early church have anything to say to the contemporary church? How can one explain the obvious difference between what is read in the pages of Scripture regarding the church and the present manifestation of so many contemporary church models? As those invested in the authority and sufficiency of God’s word, evangelicals must be willing to set aside prejudices and look at Scripture with fresh eyes and seek to conform to the picture and pattern found in the New Testament. This is the conviction of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. In this sermon on Romans 12:6–8 titled “Lessons from Church History,” he elaborates on the glimpses of early church life and asks pressing questions about the development of church governance over the past two centuries. Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides an overview and explanation on the accumulation of power by the bishops throughout church history. He also tackles the reactions to centralized power by radical free church groups after the Reformation. The key in all these matters, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is to get back to the Scriptures in all matters of preaching, governance, gifts, pastors, and church life. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds evangelicals that they cannot afford to ignore the doctrine and nature of the church.

Do you know the difference between religion and a relationship with God? In this sermon from John 3:8 titled “O God. Thou Art My God (2),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells listeners that to be truly of God is to be born again through the death of Christ Jesus. Christianity is not about mere religion; it is about God’s gift of sonship imparted to the Christian when they are saved. He shares a quote from a Puritan on his deathbed: “God dealeth familiarly with man.” By this, he means that God created His people, God knows His people, and God loves His people. True believers in Christ will delight to know Him and to meditate on Him. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains a crucial difference between philosophy and true Christianity: a philosopher has a dead god, but the Christian’s God is alive. The true person of God loves to meditate on God Himself. The more they grow, the greater the desire to spend their days meditating upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who He truly is, and how He has been revealed in the Scriptures. Toward the end of the sermon, hear Dr. Lloyd-Jones tap his hymnal when speaking of the delight Christians should have in singing the wonderful deeds and attributes of our Savior described within the hymnal’s pages.

What does it mean to follow Jesus? There are some Christians who say that following Jesus is merely an act of profession or bare intellectual assent. The New Testament tells something different about the Christian life. In this sermon on Acts 5:29–32 titled “Repentance – Door to Forgiveness,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches the biblical message that following Jesus means believing Him and repenting of sins. To believe in Jesus is to believe in His message and obey it. According to the Bible, those who live in unrepentant sin and immorality but claim to be Christian are living a lie as there is no forgiveness without repentance. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is clear that repentance is not a work; it is simply what it means to be a follower of Jesus and a Christian. It also does not mean that Christians never sin, but only that they continually turn away from their sins and look to Christ. This is the most important message any can hear because it alone contains salvation. There is no salvation apart from repentance of sin and trusting in Jesus. This sermon asks all the crucial question: “do you believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins?”

Why does God give different spiritual gifts to each Christian? In this sermon on Romans 12:6–8 titled “Lessons From the Early Church,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells that God equips His church in order to strengthen and build it up to accomplish the task of preaching the gospel and disciplining all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is seen in the early church that many of the early believers had different roles and purposes in bringing about the kingdom of God – some as apostles, some as prophets, and others as evangelists. The prophets and the apostles form the foundation from which the whole church was to be built. They wrote Scripture and spoke the very words of God as God’s emissaries to his people. They were often the ones to lay hands on others so that they would receive the power and the giftings of the Holy Spirit, displaying the apostles’ power and authority. Furthermore, some have the specific gift of leading and teaching. These men are called elders, shepherds, overseers, and presbyters. All these titles convey the same role as the leader amongst God’s people. These are the ones whom God has specially gifted to preach the gospel and shepherd the people of God. This is a charge given by the Holy Spirit of God for the glory of God and the edification of the church.

In this sermon on John 3:8 titled “O God. Thou Art My God (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches about the difference between Christianity and religion. He communicates that though religion might look good outwardly, the true Christian will have an inward transformation as well. This inward transformation takes place through the power of the Spirit who goes where He wishes. There is no point, preaches Dr. Lloyd-Jones, in hyper-analyzing where the Spirit comes and goes. Rather, Christians must simply have faith that God will do what He wishes, and what He wishes is best. Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches about the importance of the inward transformation of a person who is truly a believer in Christ. A believer recognizes that faith is not religion, but founded rather in the truth and character of God. In this sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that the greatest enemies of the church are religion and philosophy. These infrastructures contain many people and convince them that their participation and activity is what merits them eternal life. Rather, it is repentance and faith in Christ that brings life. He preaches also that when a person truly longs for God, books do not satisfy them. Books may show them how to further revel in God’s glory, but the true person of God must live a life of submission to Him.

What is wrong with humanity and the world? Many answers are given to this question. Some say it is the low self-esteem or ignorance of humanity but in this sermon on Acts 5:29–­32 titled “Man’s Great Problem,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives a very different answer. He says that Scripture states that humanity’s greatest need is to be forgiven and reconciled to God. Because all have sinned and rebelled against God, they are now an enemy and alienated from God. Humanity was once perfect and upright, but now is evil and wicked. The only answer to this dire situation is not in anything that people can do, but in what God has done. God has sent His only Son into the world to die for sinners. Jesus Christ is both God and man. For this reason He is the perfect mediator between God and humanity. Forgiveness comes only through Jesus Christ; there is no other Savior. God is wholly just in forgiving sinners because Jesus has died and paid the ultimate price for the sins of all who believe. What is the implication of this message? The gospel must be believed by all for salvation. The gospel message of salvation from sin and adoption into the family of God is the most important message one can hear.

How does God ensure that the church is equipped for its mission? In this passage of Scripture, the apostle Paul tells that it is by the Holy Spirit giving gifts to those in the church. Some are given the gift of teaching and others the gift of giving. In this sermon on Romans 12:7–8 titled “Spiritual Gifts (4),” the important thing is that every Christian only seek to use the gifts God has actually given them, not what they want. He says that there is great danger in Christians trying to do things for which they have not been gifted. Those who do not have the gift of teaching ought not to seek to be teachers because they are doomed to fail. Christians are to trust in Jesus that He has granted them the gifts that are best for them and for the church as a whole. God in His wisdom gives all Christians what they need to be faithful servants of Jesus Christ.