Sermon Breakdown

1. The sermon picks up with Dr. Lloyd-Jones discussing 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

2. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes this verse was likely an early church creed that Paul is quoting. Paul puts this in terms of his own experience of being called to preach the gospel.

3. Paul considers it the highest honor and privilege to preach the gospel. He says “according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.”

4. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Paul’s glory is in his calling to preach the gospel. Paul can think of nothing higher than preaching the good news of what happened in Bethlehem.

5. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Paul tells us three main things in this passage:

6. The character of the Christian message

7. The message calls for a response

8. What determines if we respond to the message

9. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the character of the message is that it is a “faithful saying” or trustworthy. It is not idle gossip or rumor but fact and history. Paul received the message directly from Jesus Christ, not from men.

10. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the apostles also testify the gospel is fact, not cunningly devised fables. The church is built on the apostles’ testimony. The gospel is trustworthy.

11. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the second reason Paul glories in preaching the message is that it is the “gospel of the glory of the blessed God.” The gospel displays God’s glory like nothing else. Creation displays God’s glory but pales in comparison to the gospel.

12. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the gospel is not a new law with new demands but “good news.” Paul came to people in sin and misery with good news.

13. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the third thing to note is that the message calls for a response. It is “worthy of all acceptation.” This means to fully receive, welcome, and respond to the message. The faithfulness of the message should lead to faith in the message. The gospel takes up the whole person and changes lives.

14. Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks what determines if we respond to the message. He says there are three things:

15. Our view of what happened at Bethlehem. We must see the babe as the Lord of glory, not just an ordinary child.

16. Our view of why Jesus came. He came to save sinners, not just teach or set an example. He came to redeem and reconcile us to God.

17. Our view of ourselves. Only those who see themselves as sinners will accept the message. Those who think they are righteous see no need of a savior.

18. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Jesus came with a deliberate purpose to seek and save the lost, to finish the work God gave him to do. His work was to save, deliver, and set free by removing our sins and reconciling us to God.

19. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the gospel tells us what Jesus has done for us, not what we must do. Jesus reconciled the world to God and became sin for us so we could become the righteousness of God. Jesus tasted death for all and bore our sins in his body on the cross.

20. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says our view of ourselves determines if we accept the message. The Pharisee in Luke 18 did not accept because he thought he was righteous. Only those who know they are sinners accept the message.

21. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by saying Christmas is ultimately personal. Jesus loved “me” and gave himself “for me.” We should each ask if we know Jesus loved us and gave himself for us. Do we have a sense of gratitude and peace because of what Jesus did? We should accept the gift and become children of God.