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Sermon #8506

The Final Judgment

A Sermon on the Final Judgement

Originally preached May 27, 1955

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Sermon Description

All people have thought about the end of time and what will happen at that point. What does Scripture teach? In this sermon on the final judgment, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains the final judgment as the final solution to the world’s trials, yet many people run to temporary fixes while ignoring this key doctrine. Some reject the idea of this judgment because they cannot reconcile it with the truth of God being loving. Others, however, reject it because they don’t see the need for it since their fate will already have been determined on earth. However, Scripture is clear that it is the day when the verdict will be announced, not determined. It will be a very public event. What is its purpose? Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that it is ultimately about the glory of God. Many people wonder about who the judge will be, but Dr. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates from Scripture that it will be the Lord Jesus Christ. He will judge not only humans, but also the angels who rejected Him in the beginning. What about verses that refer to other judgments? Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions and more, using the topic of the final judgment as a means to help the listener grow in their appreciation of the glory of the Lord.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins with Dr. Lloyd-Jones explaining that the first part of the recording is missing. He says that he has been preaching through Christian doctrine and has arrived at the doctrine of the last judgment.
  2. He says that a lack of understanding about the last judgment is why people today lack interest in doctrine and do not flee from the wrath to come. The popular view today is universalism - that everyone will be saved.
  3. Some dislike the idea of judgment and think God is only love. Some think punishment is only remedial. Some evangelicals think our fate is decided in this life by faith in Christ, so why is a final judgment needed?
  4. Lloyd-Jones clarifies that the final judgment does not determine our fate but only announces the verdict. Our fate is decided in this life. The final judgment will happen at the end of time when Christ returns.
  5. The purpose of the final judgment is the glory of God - to assert his glory before those who have not given him glory. The glory of God the Father, Son, and Spirit will be displayed.
  6. There are many Scriptures that teach a final judgment, like Acts 17:31, Hebrews 9:27, and Revelation 20:11-15.
  7. The judge will be the Lord Jesus Christ, as shown in Matthew 25:31-32, John 5:22-23, 27, Acts 10:42, 17:31, Philippians 2:10, and 2 Timothy 4:1.
  8. Those to be judged include believers, unbelievers, and fallen angels, as shown by the resurrection of all, the two books opened in Revelation 20, and 2 Peter 2:4.
  9. The judgment of rewards for believers, mentioned in Luke 12 and 1 Corinthians 3:15 and 2 Corinthians 5:10, may happen at the final judgment or later. All will be happy but there will be differences in rewards.
  10. Unbelievers will go to hell, the second death. Believers will enter the new heavens and new earth, living in glorified bodies with no sin or suffering, as described in Revelation 21 and Isaiah 11 and 65. We will live in God's presence and glory.

Great Biblical Doctrines

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.