The Power ... unto Salvation
A Sermon on Romans 1:16-17
Originally preached March 23, 1956
Scripture
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is …
Sermon Description
In the sermon “The Power… unto Salvation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues his series on Romans 1:16–17 and shows why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The same motivation that fueled Paul flows to the Christian today. The gospel that Paul was sharing was unlike any other message the Romans had heard. It is the power of God that enables the Christian to rejoice in hope because He made a way of salvation, is preparing a home in Heaven for the believer, and frees them from all condemnation. The efficient and sufficient work of Christ means His people are His workmanship, His chosen people predestined for His purposes. What hope does the Christian have because the Lord is for them and is justifying them; who then can be against them? The Christian should not be ashamed because this gospel will produce this work and is guaranteed to end in glorification. All are hopeless without salvation but, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, thanks be to God for the saving power of His gospel.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is announcing the theme of Romans in verses 16 and 17.
- Paul gives reasons for not being ashamed of the gospel. The first is that it is good news.
- The second reason is that the gospel is about salvation, which is comprehensive and complete.
- The third reason is that the gospel is God's way of salvation, not man's way.
- The fourth reason is that the gospel is powerful. It is the power of God.
- The gospel is not just a message about God's power, but is itself God's power producing salvation.
- The gospel is God's mighty working in us unto salvation through the gospel.
- The gospel works and succeeds where human efforts fail. It cannot fail.
- The gospel is absolutely certain to achieve God's purposes. Nothing can separate us from God's love and salvation.
- The gospel is God's power to predestine, call, justify, regenerate, sanctify, preserve, and glorify.
- The gospel is effective and efficacious because it is God's power.
- The gospel is not just the letter, but the Spirit gives life. Mere knowledge does not save.
- Christ and the Spirit are also referred to as the power of God. They work through the gospel.
- An illustration of the relationship: The gospel is the prescription, the work of Christ is the medicine, and the Spirit applies the medicine.
- Paul feels compelled to preach the gospel because he knows it is the power of God unto salvation. He is a debtor to all people.
- The gospel is for all people, both Jew and Gentile. Both need it equally.
- The gospel offers hope for even the most desperate sinners. There is no one outside the reach of God's salvation.
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.