Peace I Give to You
A Sermon on John 4:28-30
Originally preached Feb. 25, 1968
Scripture
28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
Sermon Description
What is the peace that God gives His people in Christ? Humanity is always searching for something to put their trust in, something to hope in in the face of life’s many hardships. In this sermon on John 4:28–30 titled “Peace I Give to You,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the great doctrine of peace in the Christian life. When sinners repent and believe in Jesus Christ, they are made new and are given new desires and loves. They then love God rather than the world and their hope is in God, not the world. This is very different from the life of the unregenerate. They must always look for something in this world to place their hope. Many look to the philosophy of stoicism, which says that one cannot change their life, so hardships should just be accepted. This is wholly contrary to the message of Christ. Through the gospel Christians can know that they have a Savior who is wholly for them and not against them. This sermon calls all to forsake themselves and run to God as the only stronghold in this life.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon examines the story of the Samaritan woman inviting others to meet Jesus in John 4:28-30. This shows the typical Christian response of wanting to share the gospel with others.
- Christians today are in a similar position as early Christians where most people are uninterested in the faith. The importance of individual Christians is heightened in these times.
- The sermon asks if Christians today are failing to attract and interest others in the gospel like the Samaritan woman. This is an important test of one's Christian position.
- Christians should convey a sense of seriousness, joy, goodness and humility. They should also convey a sense of peace, tranquility and rest in their hearts.
- The world today is restless, troubled and fearful. Christians are to be the opposite by having peace and rest in their hearts.
- Only Christians can have true peace and rest in their hearts through Christ. Other philosophies like Stoicism only offer resignation and repression.
- Christians should convey that they have inner reserves of strength and peace that are independent of circumstances. Their peace comes from God, not their own willpower.
- The Christian's peace and strength comes from being delivered from the world's way of thinking and having an eternal perspective. They have an inward man that is renewed daily by God.
- Examples of Christians with inner peace independent of circumstances include Paul in prison, writing to Timothy from prison and his statements in 2 Corinthians 4 about light afflictions and inward renewal.
- Christians do not just endure trials but are more than conquerors through Christ. Nothing can separate them from God's love.
- When Christians convey this inner peace and strength, the world will be drawn to the gospel. This kind of life can only be found in Christ.
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.