Sanctification
A Sermon on Romans 13:11-14
Originally preached March 17, 1967
Scripture
11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us …
Sermon Description
Justification by faith alone has been called the great doctrine on which the church stands or falls. With the emphasis on justification, many Protestants are guilty of neglecting the important doctrine of sanctification. As Christians strive to rightly understand what the Bible teaches about sanctification, there are many unique challenges this doctrine presents. What is the relationship between faith and works? Does the law have any role to play in the Christian life? How does right motivation affect one’s works before God? In this sermon on Romans 13:11–14 titled “Sanctification,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions and more. He also alerts to the dangers of antinomianism and legalism. These two defective beliefs work in tandem as people either think the law does not concern them or they reduce the Christian life to outward practice of the law. In this sermon on sanctification, Dr. Lloyd-Jones not only warns about the dangers of an imprecise understanding of sanctification, but also positively makes a biblical case for grounding good works in faith in Christ Jesus. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones uncovers the symptoms of false beliefs about sanctification while providing the biblical treatment that will lead Christians to truly grow in their relationship with God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage introduces an additional thought to heighten the force of what Paul has been saying.
- The passage reminds us of the New Testament way of dealing with conduct. It never deals with conduct alone but always provides reasons and motives.
- The passage reminds us that we do not live this way to become Christians but because we are Christians. Our conduct is based on our position.
- Our conduct is based on our understanding of that position. Paul assumes we have knowledge of what he has said in Romans 1-11.
- The passage reminds us of the importance of doctrine. Doctrine and practice cannot be separated.
- Understanding the relationship between doctrine and practice avoids the dangers of antinomianism (neglecting the law) and legalism (relying on the law).
- Antinomianism arises from:
- Intellectualism: relying on orthodoxy alone
- Misusing the doctrines of grace as an excuse for sin
- "Believism": saying you believe is enough, no need to change life
- "Take it by faith": claiming to have sanctification without evidence
- Mysticism: focusing on feelings and neglecting life
- Overemphasis on phenomena like spiritual gifts while neglecting decency
- Legalism arises from realizing the danger of antinomianism and swinging to the opposite extreme.
- The passage teaches us to live the Christian life based on objective truth, not subjective experiences. We start with truth and apply it to ourselves.
- Paul's method of teaching sanctification is to present arguments and truths to be put into practice, not offer an experience to be taken by faith.
- Paul uses fear, conscience, reason, and love as motives to encourage sanctification.
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.