MLJ Trust Logo Image
Search
Sermon #5400

The Glorious Gospel

A Sermon on 1 Timothy 1:15

Originally preached Dec. 25, 1957

Share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Play Sermon
btn-play
Download Sermon Add to Queue Add to Playlist

Scripture

1 Timothy 1:15 ESV KJV
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (ESV)

Sermon Description

The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was continuously on the lips of the Apostle Paul. He repeats it over and over again in his letters. Why did the early church continue repeating the good news? Why is the gospel so glorious to the Christian that it dominates their existence? In this Christmas message, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at the result of the gospel. Seeing what the gospel brings causes better understanding of why the good news is wonderful. Moreover, as taught by Dr. Lloyd-Jones in this sermon, a Christian properly responds to the gospel by receiving it gladly, yielding to its teaching, and being gripped by its message. It is clear, he says, that anyone who has found the gospel “worthy of all acceptance” will live a life of faithfulness to the Christ who came into this world to save people from their sin. Listen to Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s message on 1 Timothy 1:15 and hear why the gospel ends in a person being entirely changed.

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.

Sermon Q&A

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers on 1 Timothy 1:15

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the character of the Christian message?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Christian message has three key characteristics. First, it is "a faithful saying" - not idle gossip or rumor, but something that is "sure, true, and trustworthy." Second, it is "gospel" or good news - not a new law or mere moral advice. Third, it is "the gospel of the glory of the blessed God" - the supreme manifestation of God's glory that surpasses even the glory seen in creation or the giving of the law.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain what "worthy of all acceptation" means in the text?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "worthy of all acceptation" means much more than mere intellectual approval or assent. He states: "The term means this: to take fully, to welcome, to receive gladly, and therefore to respond to it, and therefore to yield to it." It refers to being "mastered, gripped by it, controlled by it." He emphasizes that "the faithfulness of the message should lead to faith in it" - not just detached consideration but a response that "takes up the whole man and governs and controls the whole life."

According to the sermon, who is the babe born in Bethlehem?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Jesus is not just an ordinary baby. He points to the apostle's use of the word "came" rather than "born" - "He doesn't say, Christ Jesus was born. He says, Christ Jesus came into the world." This indicates that Jesus "came from eternity... from heaven... from the bosom of the everlasting Father." He identifies the babe as "the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one," quoting John's description: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." He is "the Lord of glory, the second person in the blessed holy Trinity."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say was the primary purpose of Christ coming into the world?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones is emphatic that Jesus did not come primarily to teach, to provide solutions to social problems, or merely to set an example. Rather, "He came into the world to save sinners." This was "a deliberate purpose" as part of "God's great plan and purpose of salvation and redemption." Lloyd-Jones quotes Jesus' own words: "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost" and "to give his life a ransom for many." Christ came "to remove our sins, to reconcile us to God, to bring us to God... to bear the guilt and punishment of our transgressions."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say determines whether we fully accept the Christmas message?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies three factors that determine our acceptance of the message: First, "our view of that little babe" - recognizing that He is the Lord of glory who humbled Himself. Second, "our view of why He came" - understanding that He came specifically to save sinners. Third, "our view of ourselves" - seeing ourselves as sinners in need of salvation. He emphasizes that "the only people who give all acceptation to this message are the people who have seen themselves condemned, damned sinners under the holy law of God."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones make the Christmas message personal?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones stresses that Christmas isn't just a general idea but something deeply personal. He quotes Paul's words: "The Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." He emphasizes that understanding Christmas means recognizing that "the Lord of glory, the eternal Son of God, so loved me... He loved me and he gave himself on that cross for me." He challenges his listeners with the personal question: "Do you know that the Son of God loved you and has given himself for you? Have you given this message all acceptation?"

Sermons on the Gospel

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.