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Sermon #5242

True Religion

A Sermon on Psalm 84:1-12

Originally preached June 23, 1957

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Scripture

Psalms 84:1-12 ESV KJV
To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds …

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Sermon Description

A false outworking of faith is the result of a faulty foundation. In this sermon on Psalm 84:1–12 titled “True Religion,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues a consideration of preliminary considerations of utmost importance as answered by the psalmist. First, through a brief discussion of what true religion is, and second through an evaluation of what the final authority of faith is. With faith, there must be a leaving and a taking up, a denial and a following. Today, some people want the benefits of religion, but in their own way. Find out the relationship between a faith that works and a faith that is built on truth. Are these two interchangeable? If one has a faith that works, does that determine its trueness? Dr. Lloyd-Jones directly addresses this issue and reminds his listeners that religion should most certainly be practical. False peace will let one down when they need it most, but the truth and promises of God are certain because of the character of God that they derive from. If one wants the blessings, they must accept the truths. To get God’s peace, they must take His wrath against sin and come to the altar in Christ.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The psalmist tells us about the blessings of the godly life and the religious life.
  2. The psalmist makes it clear that God is everything to him. He has forsaken the world for God.
  3. To know God's blessings, you must make God the chief thing in your life.
  4. On what grounds should we commit ourselves fully to God? What is the ultimate authority?
  5. The psalmist's confidence comes from the character of God, not his feelings.
  6. Many today want the benefits of religion but not the doctrines or theology. They just want to feel better.
  7. There is an element of truth that religion should be practical, but that does not mean doctrine and truth do not matter.
  8. It is wrong to say religion is justified by efficacy alone, not truth. That is a false deduction.
  9. Truth and efficacy should not be put in contrast. They belong together.
  10. Efficacy alone is not a good standard because many false teachings and cults can produce results and temporary peace.
  11. A false peace is dangerous because people think all is well when it is not. The real issues are not dealt with.
  12. A false peace will fail in the final crisis. Feelings will not help then, only the truth.
  13. The psalmist's confidence comes from truth about the character of God.
  14. To know God's blessings, believe in the eternal God, the judge of all, who hates sin.
  15. Also believe God has provided salvation in Christ, and God's promises to those who believe.
  16. We know the truth about God through revelation in nature, history, the Bible, and Christ.
  17. The Christian life is based on truth, the facts of Christ's birth, miracles, death, resurrection, ascension.
  18. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came, proving the truth of Christ.
  19. The Christian stakes everything on these truths and finds God efficacious as a result.

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.