The Gospel of Peace
A Sermon on Romans 10:15
Originally preached Dec. 6, 1964
Scripture
15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Sermon Description
What is the nature of true peace? Many say that peace is simply the absence of war or conflict. In this sermon on Romans 10:15 titled “The Gospel of Peace” however, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that there is a better peace that God gives. The Bible says that all are in sin and wholly corrupt. They fight each other because they are sinners who are alienated from God. This wrong relationship with God is the source of all strife and hostility amongst people, and until people are made right with God, they will not be made right with one another. This is why God not only provides a way for all to be redeemed from their sins, but also to restore their relationship with God. This right relationship is what gives true and lasting peace because it gives the knowledge that God loves humanity and has died for all. This peace shows that one can rest in God and not themselves. It shows that while this world is passing away, one has hope in the world to come when Christ returns to bring the new heaven and the new earth. What does this mean for believers now? This means that they should not look to any other source of peace than what God has given in His Son.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon focuses on the phrase "the gospel of peace" from Romans 10:15.
- The sermon aims to explore what the Bible says about the Christian gospel and message.
- There is confusion about what the gospel is which leads to unhappiness. We must go to the Bible to understand the gospel.
- The gospel was preached by Jesus and the apostles. Their preaching brought the church into being.
- Jesus came to bring the gospel of peace. The angels announced "peace on earth" at his birth. Jesus often spoke of peace.
- The world lacks peace because it lost it due to sin. Sin leads to a wrong relationship with God, fear of God, and being afraid of life.
- Sin gives us a wrong view of ourselves, putting ourselves at the center. This leads to seeking happiness in the wrong ways and broken systems.
- Sin leads to a wrong view of life, seeking pleasure over righteousness. It leads to jealousy, envy, and hatred of others.
- The world's ways of finding peace through circumstance changes do not work. Only the gospel can give true peace.
- The gospel gives peace by changing us, not the world. It deals with the cause of lost peace: sin.
- The gospel reconciles us to God through the cross of Christ. We have peace with God through faith in Christ.
- The gospel gives us a new nature and view of self, overcoming selfishness. It helps us see others with compassion.
- The gospel gives a peace that persists despite circumstances. We can have peace in tribulation and even death.
- The gospel offers the peace of God that surpasses understanding. We have access to God through prayer.
- Nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. We have hope of heaven.
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.