The Bible and Death
A Sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:1
Originally preached May 28, 1961
Scripture
1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Sermon Description
How can the Christian face any and all trials that may come in this life? In this sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:1 titled “The Bible and Death,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd tells how Christianity is not a vague spirit and religion but that it must be taught. He shares the reason for both preaching and listening to the gospel of Christ. The Bible alone causes people to truly face the question of death. Nothing is as absolutely certain as death. Every person that lives is born to die. “Here is the one question and the one answer which can never be corrected,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones says. Christianity is not speculation, but it is a revelation from God. Paul is simply an ambassador for Christ; this is not a human idea. Christians are merely representatives of God. Other philosophies and religions have no answer. The incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ are absolutely essential. The Christian knows when they die in this body that they will be alive unto God. It is only when one knows how to die that they then know how to live. Listen to this sermon to gain this certainty through Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon introduces the theme of facing death and what comes after from 2 Corinthians 5:1.
- The sermon emphasizes how practical and relevant the Christian gospel is, especially regarding life's hardest realities like death.
- The sermon highlights how the Christian message provides concrete answers, not just theories or feelings. These answers are based on the facts of Jesus's incarnation, death, and resurrection.
- The sermon contrasts the Christian message with other worldviews and religions that provide no real answers about death and the afterlife. They offer only speculation, escapism, or resignation.
- The sermon presents the Christian hope as knowing what will happen after death because of what God has revealed in Jesus. This hope removes the fear of death and gives purpose for living.
- The sermon pleads with listeners to be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus. This is the only way to face life and death with hope and purpose.
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.