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Sermon #5228

As A Tree Planted

A Sermon on Psalms 1:3-4

Originally preached Jan. 20, 1963

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Scripture

Psalms 1:3-4 ESV KJV
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. (ESV)

Sermon Description

In light of the emptiness of the ungodly life, how can one become godly, blessed, and happy? How can one truly live the “more abundant life” that Christ came to give? In this sermon on Psalm 1:3–4 titled “As a Tree Planted,” many think they are Christians, but in this inspiring discourse, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones distinguishes the person who is unquestionably “in Christ” from those who merely deceive themselves. No one is born a Christian or can make themselves a Christian. A Christian is the work of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction, revelation, repentance, and conversion. It’s God’s doing and one can only experience the new birth into a new life as the result of the operation of the Spirit. Only then will one experience the happiness God intended for people to know in Him. The true Christian has no need to fear whatever comes in life. The true Christian is like a tree. God is the “Planter” of the tree. He selects the location of the tree so that the tree will bear good fruit, in its season, and without withering.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. No one is a Christian by nature or birth. You must be born again.
  2. People are not Christians because they are ignorant of themselves and the Christian life. There are two errors: thinking you know yourself and Christianity.
  3. The difference between the godly and ungodly is like a tree and chaff - profound.
  4. The ungodly are like chaff: useless, lifeless, rootless, fruitless. The godly are like trees: alive, rooted, fruitful.
  5. To become like a tree (godly), something must happen to you. God must act upon you.
  6. Becoming a Christian is not natural growth or something you do yourself. God plants you.
  7. Planting represents regeneration, new life from God. The Holy Spirit acts upon you, disturbs and convinces you of sin, shows you Christ, and gives you new life in Christ.
  8. Christians are planted in Christ, receiving life from him, as a tree by a river. Christ is the source of life and fruit.
  9. The results of being planted in Christ:
    • Restored to function as intended: bearing fruit, helping others. Fruit of the Spirit.
    • Regular life, not by fits and starts. Bearing fruit in season.
    • Life not withering under any circumstances. Drawing from the endless supply of Christ.

Old Testament

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.