Salvation - of God; through Christ
A Sermon on Romans 8:3-4
Originally preached Feb. 5, 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
What is the purpose of God's law and why was it given? From the pulpit of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on Romans 8:3–4 titled “Salvation of God through Christ,” listen as the words of Paul are explained showing what the law could not do, why the law could not do it, how the Lord has done what the law could not, and the result that is produced in Christians. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones walks through these four points in his sermon. The law cannot enable the sinner to fill its own demands, which is righteousness. A believing Christian is no longer under the law or the under the reign of sin, but rather living a life under grace in a new life with Christ. The law fails because it depends on the person and their efforts and they are weak. However, it does show the great need to be delivered from sin. Finally, at the heart of the gospel, God has provided salvation through His own actions. God gave the law, but not in order to save. Christ alone produces the only way of salvation and justification. Dr. Lloyd-Jones continually emphasizes Paul’s point that the law cannot save and that it only allows the Christian to see the sin in their lives.
Sermon Breakdown
- What the law could not do
- The law could not enable us to fulfill its own commands and dictates
- The law cannot enable us to fulfill the righteousness of the law
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The law cannot give us life
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Why the law couldn't do it
- The law had to work through our flesh, therefore it was weak
- The law doesn't change us or give us the right desire
- The law gives us no power, ability or strength
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The law aggravates our problem by inflaming passions and creating desire
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How God has done for us what the law could not do
- Salvation is God's salvation, the result of God's action
- God sending his own son
- Salvation is in and through the Lord Jesus Christ
- God's own son, the eternal son, begotten not created
- Gives us insight into the love of God
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Guarantees our salvation
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In the likeness of sinful flesh
- To be continued next week
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.