Saved By Grace Alone
A Sermon on Salvation by Grace Alone from Ezekiel 36:35-36
Originally preached July 15, 1956
Scripture
35And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. 36Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined …
Sermon Description
Sin pollutes and perverts—it is an attack on God’s greatness and glory. In this sermon on Ezekiel 36:35–36 titled “Saved By Grace Alone,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones speaks about Israel's example when the heathen looked on Israel’s desolation and mocked God. Humanity is designed to bear God’s image, but sin always distracts from the glory of God and taints the image of God. God’s plan is to punish sin and to restore His people. Listen to this preview by Dr. Lloyd-Jones on the Christian gospel and God’s way of salvation. Salvation vindicates God’s name and displays His glory. Many agencies in this world can give peace, healing, and happiness, but only up to a point. Salvation restores humanity to its created position. Forgiveness is merely the beginning—all the effects of the Fall become undone. God deals with both the guilt and power of sin; Christ bore the punishment. No one can deal with their own sin because they continue in it. The gospel makes the weak strong. Regain not only a knowledge of God, but a communion with Him as His own child. When God works, it is unmistakable to all.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon text is Ezekiel 36:35-36 which speaks of God restoring and rebuilding ruined and desolate places.
- The sermon examines this passage to understand God's way of salvation and what it accomplishes.
- The first principle is that sin is an attack on God and His glory. Salvation restores man to God's intended position and vindicates God's character.
- Salvation puts man back to the position Adam was in before the Fall. It offers forgiveness, deliverance from sin's power and pollution, and restoration of fellowship with God.
- Salvation is not patching up life but a complete restoration of man. It makes man a new creation in Christ.
- The second principle is that God's salvation is unmistakable. The heathen recognize the change in the lives of God's people.
- Examples of unmistakable salvation include Pentecost, healing of the lame man by Peter and John, conversion of Saul, and the Philippian jailer.
- Unmistakable signs of salvation include a new mindset, new moral conception, turning from sin to God, and a new life.
- The third principle is that God's salvation clearly displays that it is His work alone. It shows His wisdom, love, and power.
- God's wisdom is shown in devising the incarnation and the cross as the way of salvation. His love is shown in sending Christ. His power is shown in Christ accomplishing salvation.
- Christians proclaim that salvation is by God's grace alone so that no one can boast before Him. All glory goes to 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.