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Sermon #5610

The People of the Kingdom

A Sermon on Philippians 3:20-21

Originally preached July 1, 1962

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Scripture

Philippians 3:20-21 ESV KJV
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)

Sermon Description

Many people believe that through education and government the world will become progressively better. War will cease, and poverty will have ended according to these optimists. However, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues from Philippians 3:20-21 that this misplaced confidence in human goodness and progress is misguided and contradicted by God’s Word. For in Scripture we see that men are perpetually sinful. This is because all men are in the flesh and under sin and the judgment of God. Sadly, many Christians have fallen into a similar error when they say that the goal of Christianity is to make the world a better place by moralism and social programs. They say that by working to make society a better place we will bring the Kingdom of God to earth. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that this is a distortion of the purpose of the church, for the church is not just another institution of social reform, but it has been entrusted to take the Gospel to all the nations. This Gospel is the only means of true transformations because it alone has the power to renew the hearts of men and give them new natures. It alone has the power to overcome sin, the flesh, and the devil.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The Christian's view of life in this world as it is now.
  2. The Christian no longer belongs to this world. Though physically in it, he is not of it.
  3. This world is passing. It is temporary and transient.

  4. The Christian expects nothing from this world. He knows only Christ can solve the problems of the world.

  5. The Christian's hope while he is in this world.

  6. The Christian's hope is the second coming of Christ.
  7. Christ will come visibly and bodily. He will come in glory and power.
  8. Christ will come to judge the world and subdue all things unto himself. He will conquer all his enemies.

  9. Christ will change our bodies to be like his glorious body. He will save us wholly - body and soul.

  10. How the Christian lives in this world.

  11. The Christian lives looking for the savior. He eagerly awaits Christ's return.
  12. The Christian does his best to make the world better but knows only Christ can make it perfect.
  13. The Christian is a stranger in this world. His home is in heaven.

Sermons on the Kingdom of God

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.