Not of This World
A Sermon on John 17:25
Originally preached Dec. 25, 1960
Scripture
25O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
Sermon Description
Why did Jesus come into this world? In this Sermon on John 17:25 titled “Not of this world,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers this question by explaining that Jesus is not of this world, but simply laid aside his glory to accomplish his task on earth. Jesus did not come into the world to create peace, but to divide the world into two groups; the people who do not know God, and those who do whom he labels “these” in this verse. The world lives for pleasure, and is guided by the desires of the flesh, but “these” know God, who Jesus is, and why he has come into the world. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the world is full of unhappiness, and is so unhappy because they do not know God. Once you have a glimpse of God you do not need anything else. He further analyzes the reason Jesus came into the world by explaining the two “Christmas gifts” he has given to the believer: the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. “These” have the gifts and are satisfied with these gifts. They are not of the world and will spend eternity with God in glory, because, Jesus came into the world to give us his gift of glory.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon focuses on John 17:25 which reads "O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me."
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes taking Jesus' life as a whole, not just focusing on certain parts like his birth or teachings. His life, death, and resurrection were all part of God's greater purpose.
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Jesus divides humanity into two groups: the world and "these". The world refers to those living apart from God, focused on worldly pleasures and pursuits. "These" refer to believers who know Jesus was sent from God.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses why the world is unhappy, divided, and sinful. It's because the world does not know God, the truth about themselves, God's laws, or that they are under God's wrath.
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Jesus came to reveal God to the world and call believers out of the world into relationship with God. Believers have received forgiveness, eternal life, knowledge of God's name, separation from the world, and sanctification.
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Though believers face tribulation, Jesus prays for them, gives them his joy and glory, and dwells in them. One day believers will behold Jesus' glory.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls listeners to rejoice in knowing God through Jesus and the blessings and hope they have received. The world remains ignorant of these truths.
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.