Union - its Privileges and Purpose
A Sermon on Romans 7:4
Originally preached May 8, 1959
Scripture
4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Sermon Description
Why is the doctrine of union with Christ so important? Many people consider theology to be useless and irrelevant for their everyday life. They want what is practical. In this sermon on Romans 7:4 titled “Union – Its Privileges and Purpose,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on the great theological doctrine of union with Christ and its everyday importance. He says the Christian has hope anew each and every day because they have died to themselves and now live in Christ. The doctrine of union with Christ teaches that they are no longer slaves to themselves, but are now slaves to Christ. They are inheritors of all the promises because they are one in Christ Jesus. This is the pure and unmatched hope of the gospel: God in Jesus Christ for His people. What of those that do not know Jesus? It is only in Christ that anyone can have true hope and all those that reject His gospel reject the only way of salvation. This is why the church must preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The church is not only the bride of Christ, but also the ambassador of Christ in the world. This sermon asks all if they have this hope. Are they now one with Christ?
Sermon Breakdown
- We are considering Romans 7:4, a crucial verse summarizing the Christian faith.
- The Christian life is an entirely new life, a complete change of relationship and motive, enabled by a new strength.
- Certain things had to happen to Jesus - come in a body, die, rise again - for Christianity and Christian blessing to exist.
- Certain things must happen to us - be united to Christ, die to the law, be married to Christ.
- We are married to the risen Christ. We will look at the consequences and privileges of this union.
- The nature of the union: we are one flesh with Christ, members of his body. An indissoluble union.
- Privilege: His name becomes our name - the name above every name. The highest title and dignity.
- Privilege: We have his standing - wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption. We stand in God's presence clothed in Christ's righteousness.
- Privilege: We share his privileges - seated in the heavenly places; access to the Father; service of angels; will reign with him.
- Privilege: We know his love in a unique way. The love of Jesus, what it is, none but his loved ones know.
- Privilege: His care and protection. He provides all we need; commands angels to guard us; is able to keep us from falling.
- Privilege: His desire and purpose for us - to present us faultless before God's glory with exceeding joy.
- The purpose of the union: to bear fruit to God. The fruit is holiness and the fruit of the Spirit.
- We were married to the law but it was impotent to produce fruit. We are now married to Christ who has the power to produce fruit even in us.
- The central object of salvation is holiness. We cannot stop at justification. From the moment of union, the process of sanctification begins.
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.