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Sermon #5583

The Means of Salvation

A Sermon on Galatians 6:14

Originally preached Oct. 20, 1963

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Scripture

Galatians 6:14 ESV KJV
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (ESV)

Sermon Description

What is at the heart of the Christian faith? In this sermon on Galatians 6:14 titled “The Means of Salvation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that it is the cross of Calvary where Jesus died for sinners. The gospel shows that the whole life of Jesus looked forward to the greatest act of love and compassion that the world will ever know when God’s only Son died in the place of wicked sinners. This death on the cross is what Christ came to do, and it is the culmination of His earthly life. Also, the apostle Paul shows that it is the cross that brings salvation and forgiveness of sins. It is not the works of human merit or the flesh that make people right with God, but it is God suffering in the place of sinners that brings salvation to all who believe. What does this mean for Christians today? This central gospel message is still the only way of salvation and restoration of God. Human fundamental needs never change; they are still rebels that must be made right with God. The blood of Christ is still the only way that anyone can be freed from sin and made an inheritor in the new life of salvation of Christ.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. Life in this world is an extremely serious matter. It is not something light or trivial. There are moral laws and consequences in operation, and we will all stand before God in judgment.
  2. The most important question in life is how to sow to the Spirit. How do we live so that we reap blessing and eternal life?
  3. There are contradictory voices claiming to preach the Christian message. We must determine which is the true message.
  4. The true Christian message is the preaching of the cross - the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. This was the message preached by Paul and the other apostles.
  5. The preaching of the cross has never been popular. It was a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks. But Paul gloried in the cross.
  6. Paul gloried in the cross because it is the means by which we are saved. "By whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
  7. The death of Christ on the cross was not an accident or tragedy. It was essential for salvation. Jesus came deliberately to die.
  8. All people have sinned and fall short of God's glory. But God is just and holy, and He must punish sin.
  9. On the cross, God laid our sins on Jesus and punished them in Him. Jesus bore our punishment and took our guilt. The law was satisfied.
  10. We only have to believe this message to be saved. Nothing else. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
  11. This message can save the worst of sinners. No one is beyond hope. All who believe are justified from all things.
  12. Do you glory in the cross of Christ? Do you want to hear more of this message? Beware if you do not.

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.