MLJ Trust Logo Image
Search
Sermon #5532

The Reality of Sin

A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Originally preached Nov. 22, 1953

Share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Play Sermon
btn-play
Download Sermon Add to Queue Add to Playlist

Scripture

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV KJV
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And …

Read more

Sermon Description

Believing there is no need for a savior is the greatest idol of all; it is the idol of self-satisfaction. The Bible declares that there are none who are righteous, not even one. As one faces the holiness of God, one finds themselves unsatisfied and deeply in need of change. Where, in this chaotic world, do sinners find hope? In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 titled “The Reality of Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the gospel of Jesus Christ provides real hope. Too often, Christians focus on curing the symptoms of sin, but ignore the disease. They view Jesus as a helper, a mere counselor. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the hope of the Corinthian Christians was much more: they were washed. These early believers were sick with sin. The gospel did not merely treat symptoms; the gospel addressed the whole person. The gospel dealt with the disease. They were washed and changed. All today are sick with sin and need to be washed, sanctified, and set apart. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones not only exposes sin, but points the listener to the power provided in Jesus’s name. Through the power of the gospel, all may be changed. Christians were once dead in their sins, but they have been washed clean.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The gospel deals with moral problems by focusing on people's relationship with God, not by concentrating on particular sins.
  2. The gospel is surprising and different from anything else. No one would have anticipated it or thought of it.
  3. The gospel brings hope, power, and radical change. It transfers people from darkness to light and from Satan's kingdom to God's kingdom.
  4. The gospel works through the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
  5. The gospel deals with the root problem of sin, not just the symptoms of particular sins. Sin is the underlying disease, and sins are just symptoms.
  6. Getting rid of one symptom does not cure the disease. Substituting one sin for another is not a real solution.
  7. All sins are manifestations of being in a wrong relationship with God. The real problem is separation from God.
  8. Psychoanalysis and psychotherapy have failed to provide real solutions. They cannot change people in the radical way the gospel does.
  9. The terms "washed," "sanctified," and "justified" describe the benefits of the gospel.
  10. "Washed" means forgiven and cleansed from sin and guilt. Jesus washes us in his blood.
  11. "Sanctified" means set apart from the world and separated unto God. Christians are made citizens of God's kingdom.
  12. "Justified" means God considers Christians as righteous as Christ. God looks at Christians as if they have never sinned.

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.