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Sermon #5399

He Opened Their Understanding

A Sermon on Luke 24:45-47

Originally preached Jan. 18, 1959

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Scripture

Luke 24:45-47 ESV KJV
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from …

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Sermon Description

The central message to the Christian faith has been a matter of confusion from its very inception. Think of the disciples becoming troubled over Jesus’s teaching about His death and the mocking of both Jews and Greeks as the early church preached about the death and resurrection of the Messiah. Consider further modern men and women redefining the Christian faith through denial of the necessity of atonement for sin and the bodily resurrection of Christ. Confusion about the gospel of Jesus Christ is pervasive throughout the history of the church. Why does every generation object to the gospel and can anyone have a true understanding of the cross? In this sermon on Luke 24:45–47 titled “He Opened Their Understanding,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tackles these questions and others in this message. Listen as he answers popular objections to human sin, the wrath of God, and the justice of God. Find encouragement as Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls believers to remain faithful to the gospel message which is rooted in the Old Testament Scriptures. Find out why the Lord Jesus Christ Himself said His death for sin was essential. If ever there was a time to make the primary matters of Christianity clear, it is today. Dr. Lloyd-Jones cuts through the confusion and gets to the heart of the gospel in this exposition of Scripture.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon focuses on Luke 24:45-47 which details Jesus opening the disciples’ understanding of the Scriptures and explaining that the Christ would suffer, die and rise again according to the Scriptures.
  2. There is confusion today, as in Jesus’ time, about the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Many stumble over this central message.
  3. People expect and want something different from Jesus and Christianity. Some want political enlightenment or philosophy. Others want moral teaching. But Jesus’ death and resurrection is central.
  4. The message of the cross cuts across human ideas of salvation and man’s ability to save himself. Man thinks he can pull himself up and just needs instruction, but he needs forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
  5. The Scriptures, especially the Old Testament, point to Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. The disciples should have understood this.
  6. Jesus’ death was necessary and essential. He came into the world to die. It was prophesied and foretold.
  7. Man’s greatest need is forgiveness and remission of sins. Sins separate us from God, and we cannot remove them ourselves.
  8. God could not simply forgive sins freely. As a just, righteous and holy God, He must punish sin. The punishment of sin is death.
  9. Jesus died as a sacrifice, the Lamb of God, to bear our sins and be punished in our place. God poured out His wrath on Jesus, so He could forgive us.
  10. Jesus was not just passively resisting or conquering enemies. He was dying for our sins according to God’s will.
  11. We must preach repentance - acknowledging our sin and helplessness - and remission of sins in Jesus’ name. People must believe in Jesus’ atoning death.
  12. The Sermon on the Mount cannot be lived without the Holy Spirit. We must start with repentance and faith, not with the Sermon on the Mount.
  13. Have you repented, seen your need, and believed in Jesus as the One who died for your sins? That is Christianity.

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.