Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones - The Latter Years
A Tribute by Iain Murray
Scripture
Sermon Description
This historical address, delivered by Iain Murray a few months after the death of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in 1981, reflects on the life and legacy of this great preacher of the gospel. Mr. Murray, a close friend of Dr. Lloyd-Jones and his official biographer, shares personal memories and insights from the final months of Dr. Lloyd-Jones's life. He emphasizes Dr. Lloyd-Jones' deep faith, his preparation for death, and his lifelong commitment to biblical truth. Mr. Murray recounts how Dr. Lloyd-Jones viewed his declining health as an opportunity to prepare spiritually for eternity, rather than lamenting his inability to preach. He highlights Dr. Lloyd-Jones's continued devotion to Scripture reading, prayer, and theological reflection even as his health failed. The address provides glimpses into Dr. Lloyd-Jones's thoughts on death, the sovereignty of God, and the importance of ministers being well-prepared to feed their congregations spiritually. It also touches on key moments in Dr. Lloyd-Jones' life and ministry, including his conversion, call to ministry, and influential tenure at Westminster Chapel in London. Throughout, Mr. Murray emphasizes Dr. Lloyd-Jones's unwavering trust in God's providence and his desire to face death with Christian testimony. The sermon serves as both a tribute to Dr. Lloyd-Jones and an exhortation to other ministers to follow his example of faith, diligence in study, and focus on eternal realities. It provides a deeply personal and moving portrait of one of the 20th century's most significant preachers in his final days.
Sermon Breakdown
- The significance of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' passing in 1981, marking the end of an era, similar to the deaths of George Whitefield in 1770 and Charles Spurgeon in 1892.
- Lloyd-Jones' gradual withdrawal from public ministry due to declining health, allowing time for preparation for death.
- Lloyd-Jones' desire to face death victoriously and bear testimony, rather than slipping through it.
- The importance of believing the Bible's promises about death and eternity.
- Lloyd-Jones' thankfulness for the guiding hand of God's providence throughout his life and ministry.
- The sovereignty of God in calling Lloyd-Jones from a promising medical career to the ministry.
- Lloyd-Jones' faith in God's truth and standing firm amidst theological drift.
- The seriousness of death and the need for ministers to anticipate it with a sense of eternity.
- Lloyd-Jones' final days and peaceful passing, exemplifying his readiness to meet the Lord.
- The impact of Lloyd-Jones' life and ministry, and the responsibility to pass on his legacy.
Tributes to Dr. Lloyd-Jones
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.