Enslaved by Sin
A Sermon on Isaiah 1:7-8
Originally preached March 3, 1963
Scripture
7Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as …
Sermon Description
Sin affects everything and its results are seen in many of the difficult daily patterns of life. In this sermon on Isaiah 1:7–8 titled “Enslaved by Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches on sin and how its consequences reach into every area of existence. When disasters strike, people often wonder about the reason behind why something like that happens. Sin alone explains the state of the world as it is in complete rebellion to God and His character. Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds on the attractiveness of sin and how it is endlessly deceptive— Christians know that the wrong choices they make will result in bad things, and yet still choose to do them, even though it never keeps its promises to fulfill. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also points out how sin never gives anything of value but instead robs of what is best. After this, sin leaves the sinner alone and isolated. In contrast, consider the promises and the call to life in the gospels that Jesus extends to those who are lost. Unlike the problems of sin, Jesus promises to never leave His people, and He fulfills the promises He makes. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds unbelievers of the kind of life available in Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The prophet Isaiah describes the terrible condition of the people of Israel.
- Their country was desolate, their cities were burned, and strangers were devouring their land.
- The daughter of Zion was left alone like a cottage in a vineyard.
- Sin always leads to misery. It never gives anything of value and always robs us of precious things.
- Sin leads to loss - it robs us of cities, land, and possessions.
- Sin leads to slavery - we become slaves to sin and the forces of evil.
- Sin leaves us isolated and alone like a cottage in a vineyard.
- The story of Judas illustrates how sin leaves us alone and isolated.
- The death of the ungodly shows how sin leaves us with nothing, alone and afraid.
- In contrast, the Gospel gives us everything and the Giver Himself is the greatest gift.
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.