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Sermon #5687

Access to God

A Sermon on 1 Peter 2:2-5

Originally preached April 15, 1962

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Scripture

1 Peter 2:2-5 ESV KJV
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like …

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Sermon Description

How does anyone know Christ will accept them? All know what it is like to be rejected by someone, but the great truth of the gospel is that Jesus is merciful and loving. He never rejects those that come to Him. In this sermon on 1 Peter 2:2–5 titled “Access to God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains how Jesus was the friend of sinners and the outcasts in His earthly ministry. What happens when a sinner comes to Jesus? As Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims, Jesus is the only way to God. He is the true high priest who gives access into God’s presence as children of God. Jesus is the only way to God, and He is the only true source of blessing in this life. While many claim to give peace with God through works or merits, Jesus simply asks people to believe in Him. There is nothing anyone can do to save themselves. This leads to the great truth of assurance in Christ. All who believe in Jesus can, and should, be assured that He loves them and has died for them. This is because Jesus is faithful, loving, and gracious. This sermon will help the listener understand the necessity of trusting in Christ as well as the peace it brings.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon is based on 1 Peter 2:2-5. Dr. Lloyd-Jones has been going through this passage over multiple sermons.
  2. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the most important question is how to face life and its uncertainties. The only answer is to be in the right relationship with God.
  3. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the Bible's message is how to be right with God. This was the key to the heroes of the faith in the Old Testament like Abraham, Moses, and David.
  4. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Jesus also showed that the key was being in the right relationship with God. Jesus said he lived by God.
  5. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the key question is how we can get into the right relationship with God. The answer is through Jesus Christ alone.
  6. Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses 1 Peter 2:2-3 which says to desire the pure milk of the word and taste that the Lord is gracious. This shows if we come to Jesus, he will receive us.
  7. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says we know Jesus is gracious through him coming into the world, his compassion for sinners and sufferers, his teaching, and his death on the cross.
  8. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says if we come to Jesus, we will receive blessings and privileges. 1 Peter 2:4-5 calls these "the preciousness".
  9. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the first blessing is access to God in prayer. We need grace to help in time of need, and only God can provide this.
  10. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the Old Testament shows we cannot approach God whenever we want. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and not without blood.
  11. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Jesus is now our high priest. His blood provides the way into God's presence. There is no other way to approach God.
  12. Dr. Lloyd-Jones quotes several passages showing Jesus is the only mediator and the only way to God. Through Jesus, our prayers are acceptable.
  13. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says other blessings of coming to Jesus include becoming God's chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's special possession.
  14. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by appealing to come to Jesus, the living stone, so we can offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus.

Other Sermons

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.