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Sermon #3141

At peace with God

A Sermon on Romans 8:5-8

Originally preached March 25, 1960

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Scripture

Romans 8:5-8 ESV KJV
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on …

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Sermon Description

There is a restlessness which surrounds the non-Christian. Listen to this sermon from Romans 8:5–8 titled “At Peace with God” where Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, alluding to holy Scripture, says the person whose sins have not been forgiven is like the troubled sea. Picking up on what perhaps might be an unusual placement of “peace” in this passage, he defends the apostle Paul’s emphasis on peace here and throughout the letter. Dr. Lloyd-Jones is able to connect the theme of peace to justification by faith and the righteousness of God in Romans. Furthermore, he elaborates that before God, a natural person’s position is enmity and not peace. The natural person, who is controlled by a life of sin, is living in dissatisfaction. While they are always trying to find peace and joy, they cannot. However, the result of being governed by the Spirit is life and peace. This person, argues Dr. Lloyd-Jones, understands the meaning of life in this world. They also have an inner harmony, as well as an external harmony with others. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages the listener to find true peace by being governed by the Spirit and able to stand blameless and faultless before a holy and righteous God.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The apostle Paul is amplifying what he said in Romans 8:4 about those who "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
  2. Paul wants to show that the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled in Christians, both now and in the future. This gives assurance of salvation.
  3. Paul shows the difference between those who are "after the flesh" (non-Christians) and those who are "after the Spirit" (Christians). Christians have new life and peace.
  4. Non-Christians are spiritually dead and at enmity with God. They cannot please God or fulfill the law.
  5. Christians have peace with God. They know God as He truly is and love Him. They delight in God's law and are subject to it.
  6. Christians have peace within. They have ended their restlessness and futile searching. They have found truth and understanding in Christ. They have inner tranquility and harmony.
  7. Christians can please God through obedience and good works. Examples are Enoch and Abraham. God is not ashamed to be called their God.
  8. While non-Christians cannot please God, Christians can fulfill the law through the Spirit's work in them. They will ultimately be sanctified and blameless.

The Book of Romans

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.