Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

How can one make sense out of the awful state of the world? In this sermon on Ephesians 2:1–3 titled “Original Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones brings much needed clarity to today’s chaos, showing how humanity’s sinful nature is behind the wickedness seen all around. Since human nature is wholly given over to sin, one is unable to do good and obey all that the law of God requires. Those, like the humanist, that claim sin is simply an outdated religious superstition that can be replaced by modern psychology fundamentally misunderstand the extent of humanity’s sin and corruption. The sinful nature is not something that people lack within, but it is active rebellion against God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that sin dominates the very will and the orthodox doctrine of original sin accounts for this sinful nature. It says that when the first man, Adam, sinned, all fell into sin and inherited the corrupt nature. This is why moral reform as a way of salvation is hopeless. If people could keep the law then there would be no need for the gospel and death of Christ. It is only by the saving grace found in the death of Christ that anyone can be delivered from sin and made righteous before God.

What’s the fundamental problem with humanity? Is it a lack of education? Poor policies in the public sphere? Why are humans the way they are? In this sermon on Ephesians 2:1–3 titled “Man in Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the problem is much deeper. The problem is this: humanity is dead. Not physically dead––physically, people are very much alive––but in regards to spiritual things, humanity is born dead. Humanity sees no need for God and disregards His word. Spiritual realities are boring to them and they do not find the Bible relevant. As a result, humanity is shaped by the present age under the spiritual realm of darkness and organize their life apart from God. They do not know it because they are dead. The result is eternal death. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that one must know the depths of this problem. As the problem is much deeper than one thought, the solution must be greater than imagined. The delight in the gospel of Jesus Christ comes from understanding this. They were hopeless and dead. Without Christ, there was nothing one could do. Yet God loved them and He has made them alive.

What is the state of a person before Christ? Is the problem with humanity that it needs more morality or is it much deeper? The apostle Paul explains that humanity’s greatest problem is that it is dead in trespasses and sins. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:1 titled “Dead in Trespasses and Sins,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on Paul’s words and preaches how when the Christian has a strong understanding of the depth of their depravity, it makes the work of Christ all the more glorious. When the Christian sees the severity of their sin and their plight outside of union with Christ, they realize the great power and sovereignty of God in salvation and it inevitably leads to true worship and praise to God for all the grace and mercy that He shows in saving sinners. Because sin is so deadly, only the power of God can save. No one can be unified with Christ by any other means. A true understanding of sin will spur the Christian on to evangelize the lost. They should want others to know of the great salvation that resides in Jesus Christ. The greatest problem with the sinner is not just that they do not come to church on Sunday or that they are not a part of the Christian social club. The greatest problem is that the sinner is alienated from God and under God’s wrath. With this is mind, telling others about Jesus becomes all the more important a task.

Can a Christian ever err by focusing on the future glory too much? Is it possible to spend so much energy looking to the future that they underestimate the present power of Christ? In this sermon on Ephesians 1:19–23 titled “The Final Consummation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on these questions. Some evangelical Christians are capable of forgetting the current rule of Christ. Forgetting that the Son of God is at the right hand of God, in honor and authority, can cause hearts to become anxious about their present conditions. The Christian can forget that God the Father has already handed over all authority over the entire cosmos and He is unfolding history. One must balance their anticipation of Christ’s visible rule with His current invisible reign. There also is great assurance for the church when one contemplates Christ’s current rule over the cosmos. They are reminded that the Father gave over all things to Christ for the church. Therefore, what is true of Christ now is true of His church now. There is no need to vie for a position of honor; the church has that through its union with Christ. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones brings together many important themes of Christian doctrine in order to encourage the saints.

One of the most exalted ways the church is depicted in Scripture is through the metaphor of the body of Christ. Not only is it an exalted picture of the church, but the church as the body of Christ is one of the most intimate metaphors of the New Testament church. In this sermon on Ephesians 1:20–23 titled “The Church Which is His Body,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the metaphor of the body of Christ demonstrates that the church is in union with Christ, Christ is the head or source of the church, and Christ fills His body with life. The understanding of the doctrine of the church would be severely restricted if this picture were not in the Scriptures. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines this metaphor in great detail and with great passion, preaching on this source of unity and holiness. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also challenges a popular view of sanctification which regards any working on the part of the believer as misguided. Listen as these themes are brought together in such a way as to challenge the members of Christ’s body to remember the great source of power as one mortifies sin and resists the devil.