Separated From God
A Sermon on Colossians 1:21-22
Originally preached Dec. 2, 1962
Scripture
21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Sermon Description
The sinful state of the world can be explained by understanding the truth that humanity is alienated from God. Because of the sin of Adam, the whole human race is subject to corruption and immorality. This is why humanistic approaches to fixing the world are all misguided and will ultimately fail. What then is the cure for human sin and alienation? In this sermon on Colossians 1:21–22 titled “Separated From God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones provides the answer in what God has done for the world in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells that God has sent Jesus into the world to die for sinners and to reconcile them with God. Only this divine love can overcome humanity’s natural hatred of God and His law. Only Jesus can overcome sin and misery by His death and resurrection. Those who believe in Jesus and trust Him for their forgiveness of sins can have full assurance and confidence that God loves them. Believers are to seek to love God and their neighbor; they are to pursue a life of holiness that reflects the God they serve. This gospel is not only the true way of salvation, but it alone can give peace with God in this life and in the next.
Sermon Breakdown
- Men by nature are alienated from God. There is a barrier between God and man.
- Men do not seek God or desire Him. They live autonomous, independent lives apart from God.
- Men are afraid of God in their hearts. They feel He is against them.
- Men are hostile towards God. They hate Him and rebel against Him.
- Men hate God's truth and teaching. They reject the Bible and the Gospel.
- Men rebel against God's law and commandments. They live wicked, ungodly lives.
- Men cannot change themselves or reconcile themselves to God. They are incapable of obeying God or pleasing Him.
- God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to reconcile us to Himself.
- Jesus took on human nature and died on the cross to make us fit for heaven.
- God gives us new life, a new heart, and a new nature through faith in Christ.
- God is sanctifying us through the Holy Spirit to make us holy, blameless, and above reproach.
- God will present us before Himself in glory, perfected and fit to enjoy Him forever.
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.