Knowledge of the Truth
A Sermon on Romans 10:3
Originally preached May 17, 1963
Scripture
3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Sermon Description
What was the main trouble with the Jews that Paul is speaking about in Romans 10:3? It is that they did not have a complete and full knowledge of the truth of God. In this sermon on Romans 10:3 titled “Knowledge of the Truth,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that a precise knowledge of the truth is essential to salvation and Paul is praying and longing for the salvation of the Jews because they lack this knowledge. The Jews may have been nice people and very zealous, but this cannot be mistaken for true Christian faith. Truth cannot be based in subjective terms because the gospel is truly objective. The Pharisees had misinterpreted the Old Testament teaching about the righteousness of God and the righteousness that He demands. This was ignorance on their part. Ignorance means that there is not full knowledge and the Jews were ignorant of the full knowledge of God. This stood in between them and their salvation. Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges the listener to have a precise knowledge because ignorant knowledge is the enemy. Without true knowledge, one will be lost, damned, and outside the kingdom of God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul's concern in Romans 10:1-3 is that the Jews lacked precise knowledge of the truth which resulted in their damnation.
- There is a dangerous tendency today to discount precise knowledge, doctrine and theology in favor of vague spirituality. This is contrary to the Bible.
- Salvation comes through knowing the truth, not through feelings or being a "nice" person.
- The Jews were ignorant of the righteousness that God demands, not the righteousness God provides. They misunderstood the law and God's requirements.
- "Ignorant" means having imperfect or partial knowledge, not complete ignorance. The Jews and Paul had some knowledge but lacked precision.
- We must have precise knowledge of essential Christian doctrines, not just vague feelings. Imprecise knowledge is dangerous.
- What passes as charity today often denies precise truth. This is laxity and looseness, not real charity.
- We must keep to the simplicity of the truth in Christ and be ready to explain the hope within us.
- Enlighten our understanding, O God, and keep us from confusion about this vital matter of truth.
- May God's grace, love and fellowship be with us as we seek to bring others from ignorance to the light of the knowledge of God's glory in Christ.
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.