Christ's Sacrifice Condemns Sin
A Sermon on Romans 8:3-4
Originally preached Feb. 19, 1960
Scripture
3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not …
Sermon Description
Just how does Christ’s death condemn sin? In this sermon from Romans 8:3–4 titled “Christ’s Sacrifice Condemns Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the death of Christ is not only the foundation of justification before God, but it is the source of sanctification. Sin can only be fully and finally overcome by Jesus’s death on the cross in humanity’s place. While the Bible is clear that no one can ever be perfect in this life, this does not mean that Christians are not always being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Those who say that they are Christians while living a life totally devoid of the fruits of the Spirit are living a lie. For all those that are justified by Christ are sanctified by his Holy Spirit. This sermon brings the timeless message of the need of salvation and Jesus Christ the Savior. It not only tells of sin, but also of God’s grace in giving His only Son that Christians might be justified. This sermon asks all the questions: “do I believe in Christ for my justification? Am I trusting in him alone?”
Sermon Breakdown
- The law could not condemn sin in the flesh. It could only express God's disapproval of sin.
- God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin. He condemned sin in Christ's flesh.
- Christ fulfilled the righteous demands of the law by His perfect obedience and bore its punishment for sin. We are justified and no longer under condemnation.
- We are also sanctified and enabled to walk in newness of life through union with Christ. We are freed from the law and sin's dominion.
- Christ had to come in the flesh and die for sin so we could be freed from the law. Only then could we be united to Christ and have His Spirit work in us.
- The law aroused and inflamed sin in us. By dying to the law through Christ, sin loses its power over us. We can now bear fruit for God.
- Christ bore our sins in His body so we would die to sins and live for righteousness. He redeemed us from sin to purify us as His own people.
- God's purpose in sending Christ was not only to justify us but also to sanctify us and fulfill righteousness in us as we walk by the Spirit.
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.