Prophet. Priest and King
A Sermon on John 3:30
Originally preached July 3, 1966
Scripture
30He must increase, but I must decrease.
Sermon Description
The Christian is called to meditate on the Lord Jesus and consider Him coming from eternity to pay their dues and return again to the right hand of God. These things should fill the Christian’s heart and are marks of God’s increasing in the soul, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues. The three wonderful offices that Jesus Christ fulfills are prophet, priest, and king. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, and He holds the key to happiness and life. One of the true marks of maturity as a Christian, Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches, is that God grows bigger in the mind and heart as the Christian grows. Without this, it cannot be said that He is increasing and the Christian is decreasing. Dr. Lloyd-Jones exhorts that the way to cause an increase in the hearts is to ponder Christ often. He fulfills all the wonderful offices and roles of God. In one single offering, Jesus Christ made atonement for sins. There is no need for more offerings, Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns, and those who teach this doctrine are severely mistaken. Christ’s offering transcends and rises higher than any other offering before or after Him. His intercession on the believer’s behalf is continual. His Kingdom cannot fail. Listen in as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims this truth from John 3:30 in this sermon titled “Prophet, Priest, and King.”
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon focuses on John 3:30 which states "He must increase, but I must decrease." This verse highlights that we must focus on Jesus and decrease self.
- The sermon examines how we can know Jesus more through understanding his offices as prophet, priest and king. By understanding Jesus in these roles, he will increase in our lives.
- As prophet, Jesus reveals God to us, teaches us the true meaning of God's law and the way of salvation. No one else can reveal God like Jesus.
- As priest, Jesus' sacrifice is superior to all others. He offered himself as the sacrifice, entered the heavenly holy of holies and intercedes for us. His sacrifice is once and for all.
- As king, Jesus has all power and authority. He showed his power through miracles and overcame death. He now sits at the right hand of God and will return again.
- We must consider and meditate on Jesus in these offices so he can increase in our lives. As we see his greatness, we will decrease.
- The sermon examines Hebrews 7 and how Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek, not a priest like Aaron. His priesthood is superior.
- The sermon contrasts the earthly tabernacle and sacrifices with Jesus as the heavenly high priest and sacrifice. The earthly points to the heavenly.
- The sermon emphasizes how Jesus' sacrifice is once and for all, unlike the repetitive sacrifices of the old covenant.
- The sermon highlights Jesus as the all in all, the alpha and omega, the author and finisher of our faith. We lack nothing in him.
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.