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Sermon #5561

A Knowledge of God

A Sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Originally preached June 25, 1961

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Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ESV KJV
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (ESV)

Sermon Description

How can finite people know the infinite God? As Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims in this sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, there is no question more important to answer in this life or the next. Humanity was created to know their creator and to love Him, but because of sin and rebellion, they are alienated from God. Some say that the answer to this dilemma is to use reason to know God, as this has been the answer of the many wise people and philosophers over the ages. Others recommend mysticism where humans commune with God through religious practices and experiences. However, the biblical answer is found in the nature of God’s revelation as God spoke through the prophets and apostles in Scripture. This means that humans cannot rely on themselves to know God, but by looking to what God has said concerning Himself. There is no place for humanity’s autonomous reason or immediate religious experiences once they understand that God has made Himself known in Scripture and in His Son, Jesus Christ. God must be looked to not only for knowledge of Himself, but also to know Him as Savior and Lord.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins by introducing the text from 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 which states that God has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ.

  2. The sermon highlights how life has become precarious and uncertain in today's world. Death is inevitable for all.

  3. The sermon states that the only way to face death and have assurance of the afterlife is through the Bible and its message. All other worldviews are speculation.

  4. The sermon outlines two types of knowledge of God: knowledge of God after the flesh (wrong view) and knowledge of God after the Spirit (right view).

  5. Knowledge of God after the flesh comes through tradition, philosophy, and mysticism. These views see God as an abstraction, ultimate being or force. They believe God is passive and unconcerned with the world.

  6. Knowledge of God after the Spirit comes through revelation in the Bible and Jesus Christ. God reveals himself as a personal, holy, loving, and gracious God. He is the creator and sustainer of the world, and will judge the world.

  7. God displayed his grace by sending Jesus Christ to die for sinners and reconcile them to God. Salvation is God's work from start to finish.

  8. The proper response to God's grace is amazement, reverence, awe, gratitude, and praise. We have no claim on God and deserve only judgment.

  9. We must submit to God, acknowledge our nothingness, and cast ourselves on his mercy to be saved.

Sermons on Knowledge

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.