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Sermon #5511

What is Christianity?

A Sermon on Romans 8:3-4

Originally preached Dec. 16, 1956

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Scripture

Romans 8:3-4 ESV KJV
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk …

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Sermon Description

What is Christianity all about? Many have a sentimental view and say that Christianity is about nothing more than love. Others say that Christianity is about morality and good works. In this sermon on Romans 8:3–4 titled “What is Christianity?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that both these answers are wholly inadequate understandings of biblical Christianity. Christianity begins with an understanding that humanity is fallen and in sin; people are unable to know God and serve Him rightly. All are under the condemnation of God’s law because they have rebelled against their maker. In response to this sinful nature that is in all people, God has sent His Son to die upon the cross of Calvary so that all who believe might be forgiven of sin and inheritors with Christ. This message of atonement and redemption is in contrast to all sentimental and shallow distortions of Christianity. But it is the message of Jesus Christ dying that alone can bring true salvation and peace. There is no other message of salvation from sin and true redemption than what can be found in the Christian gospel of God’s grace. This is the only redemption from the curse of the law and God’s righteous condemnation. This is the only means of salvation that God has made so that sinners can be redeemed.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The Christian message is primarily a matter of history. It is a record of certain facts.
  2. The Christian message gives us an explanation of the meaning of the facts. True history consists of facts plus the explanation of the facts, the meaning of the facts.
  3. The Christian message is good news because of the state and condition of mankind apart from it.
  4. Man is under condemnation and the wrath of God, full of sin and evil, unable to deliver ourselves, unable to get out of the fetters and chains, unable to find liberty.
  5. The law could not deliver us out of condemnation. The law was perfect but man was too weak to keep it.
  6. In the midst of our failure and shame and helplessness, God announces that he's going to do something, and then he does it. The Christian message is not primarily a call to us to do anything. It is primarily a proclamation of what God has done for us.
  7. God sent his own Son, his unique Son, his only begotten Son out of heaven into the world.
  8. He came in the likeness of sinful flesh. He had a truly human nature but without sin. He experienced all the infirmities that result from sin but had no sin.
  9. He came for sin, to deal with the problem of sin.
  10. He condemned sin in the flesh. He took our sins upon himself and God condemned them and punished them in him.
  11. By his death, he bore the punishment for our sins. God's law is fully satisfied.
  12. If we believe in him, we know our sins are forgiven. There is no more condemnation. We are made children of God and heirs with Christ.
  13. We have a new life, a new strength and power, a new understanding, and a faith to see through death to the glory beyond.
  14. Christ will sustain us, strengthen us, and enable us to follow him. He will take us through death and present us faultless before God. We will reign with him.
  15. This is the message of Christmas. Have you realized the truth of this and found Christ to be the most wonderful thing? If not, you are still under condemnation.

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.