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Sermon #5261

Salvation Impossible to Man

A Sermon on Isaiah 1:9

Originally preached March 10, 1963

Scripture

Isaiah 1:9 ESV KJV
If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah. (ESV)

Sermon Description

There is no escape from the penalty of sin. Scripture says that everyone has sinned, and eternal punishment is the only just response by a holy God. In this sermon on Isaiah 1:9 titled “Salvation Impossible to Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows the severity of sin and how no one is able to change anything of their own accord. Humanity deserves total destruction because of their sin. All have all rebelled against God and are unholy. They have no plea and because God is holy, He cannot allow His presence to be tainted by sin. Through His word and what He has revealed in it about sinfulness and the Savior He sent for humanity’s sins, no one has excuse. God is justified in His judgment of sinners. Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds that on their own, no one can do anything about their own salvation. Just one sin is enough to separate people from God so all are left incapable of doing enough good works to save themselves. Thus, human salvation is entirely of God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks a crucial question: “are you resting in and trusting on Jesus for your salvation?” Only by believing in Jesus’s sacrifice for one’s sins can they be made right with God. Looking at one’s sin and at what Scripture says regarding the solution leads to repentance today.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. Sin merits and deserves the punishment of total destruction.
  2. Men is totally unable or incapable of doing anything about his own salvation.
  3. Man's salvation is entirely of God.

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.