The Choice that Faces Man
A Sermon on Hebrews 11:13
Originally preached Jan. 3, 1960
Scripture
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Sermon Description
Today, all are confronted with a choice: Will they go with the world or will they go with God? In this sermon on Hebrews 11:13 titled “The Choice that Faces Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines people of faith in this passage. He displays that each of them were, first, confronted with this choice, and second, believed God. The world is under the judgment of God. When this is realized, the Christian runs out of the city of destruction as fast as they can. They see the world for what it is. They see themselves for who they are. This person can no longer remain in this old life of sin. They leave the world and go with God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this person runs out of the doomed world by faith, believing the promises of God. For the believer today, this means trusting God with complete assurance that Jesus Christ died on the cross for one’s sin, and that He was raised to give new life. The Christian now despises their former life of sin and wants nothing to do with it. They no longer live for the wicked world, but live for God. This is what it means to become a Christian—to be justified by faith.
Sermon Breakdown
- These men realized they were confronted with a choice between two possibilities.
- They believed God and his word. They believed what God said about himself, the world, and themselves.
- God said the world is passing, evil, and doomed. The men separated themselves from the world.
- God said all people are born in sin and part of the evil world. The men would share in the world's doom if they stayed.
- God gave promises about Jesus Christ and salvation. The men believed and embraced these promises.
- Faith in the promises governed and sustained the men's lives. They were persuaded by and acted on the promises.
- The men confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on earth. They acted differently and separated from the world.
- The men's hopes and affections were set on the heavenly country and city God promised. They did not belong to the world.
- People must choose between the world or God, heaven or hell, the temporal or eternal. Christians choose God and heaven.
- Christians believe God, act on that belief, and confess they are strangers in the world with hope in God's promises.
- Have you heard and believed God's call? Have you been persuaded and embraced it? Have you confessed you are a stranger in the world with hope in God?
- If so, you need not fear the future and can glory in God. Worldly pleasures fade, but God's people have lasting joy.
- Are you one of God's children with your affections set on heaven rather than earth? It is one or the other.
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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.