Changed from Glory into Glory
A Sermon on Romans 6:22
Originally preached March 13, 1959
Scripture
22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Sermon Description
It should be unthinkable to the Christian to return to their old life. In Romans 6:22, Paul emphasizes a depiction of what it is like to be in Christ Jesus and it is a simple argument to those who consider themselves a Christian. In the sermon from Romans 6:22 titled “Servants of Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones underlines that a Christian is one who has undergone a profound change, because only a Christian can truly discuss a true difference between their past and present. That is because a Christian has been set free from sin. God regenerates and creates the Christian anew. A Christian has the power to resist the devil while a non-Christian does not. Sin becomes just a nuisance in the daily life, not a master. Once a Christian grasps that they are now enslaved to God and righteousness, they realize that they truly have no right to continue on sinning. The result of this great change is a fruitful life in Christ. If there is no fruit, one is not truly a Christian. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages the listener to analyze their life and actions to determine if they are living in a fruitful life as slaves to righteousness.
Sermon Breakdown
- The Christian has undergone a profound change. There is a contrast between "then" and "now".
- The change is complete and absolute. There is nothing in common between the non-Christian and the Christian.
- The change is something that happens to us, not something we do. We have been freed and enslaved to God.
- Being freed from sin means we are no longer under its reign, rule, or tyranny. We are outside its territory and jurisdiction.
- Sin is no longer the Christian's master, just a nuisance. The Christian is on top, sin is underneath.
- When Christians sin, it is because they have foolishly listened to a voice they do not need to listen to. They can resist the devil, and he will flee.
- Christians have been translated to God's kingdom. The devil cannot touch them.
- Realizing we are slaves of God is the key to holiness and sanctification. We have no right to live for ourselves or sin.
- Christians have fruit unto holiness. Fruit is the result of the change, not the means to everlasting life.
- All Christians have fruit. Without fruit, there is no Christianity. Fruit means becoming less guilty of sin and more devoted to God.
- Holiness is progressive. Christians should become increasingly holy over time, though they still stumble. Falling does not mean returning to the beginning.
- The first result of the change is fruit unto holiness. The end result is everlasting life.
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.