Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Many people vie for the opportunity to be a citizen of a great nation, but Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones dives into the reality that Christians have a far greater privilege and responsibility as citizens of the kingdom of God. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:19 titled “Privileges and Responsibilities,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains the magnificent realities that entail being made a citizen of the kingdom. God is actively pursuing the good of each and every member of the kingdom. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes, “All the resources of the Godhead are for us.” Accordingly, Christians have been given all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places and find their pinnacle in access to God Himself. Dr. Lloyd-Jones turns the sermon to discuss some of the responsibilities of the Christian. By way of illustration, if a person is in the army, they are going to be expected and required to live, look, and act a certain way, and it will be the greatest joy to do so. They want to represent their king and kingdom well. How much greater is the weight of responsibility for the Christian who was brought into the kingdom by the blood of their King?

In a time of instability, it can seem like there is no foundation. Each nation has its own issues and is destined to end at some point. However, is there a nation that will last forever? In this sermon on Ephesians 2:19 titled “Heavenly Citizenship,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out there is a kingdom that will last forever—the kingdom of God— and Ephesians 2:19 gives this hope. According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, if the church understood the reality of their citizenship and the nature of the kingdom, she would be heading towards revival. The church is called to understand the reality of the kingdom and rejoice in it. So what is the nature of this kingdom? According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the kingdom implies that the people contained in it are separate. Also, it means the church is bound by the same allegiance to each other and to the King. However, this is not a kingdom that can be entered into by mere outward allegiance; it takes “new birth” by the Spirit and redemption by the “precious blood of Jesus.” Christians are brought into a spiritual kingdom and birthed into it by the Spirit. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that while it may seem like the church is underwhelming, on the day that Jesus returns and the church is united, that will not be the case.

In this sermon on Ephesians 2:19 titled “No Longer Strangers,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the reality that Christians are citizens of the kingdom of God and “no longer strangers.” Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that the imagery used by Paul (“strangers” and “foreigners”) to describe the past tense for the Christian implies several things. Before salvation, they were around the people of God and may have even seemed to be a citizen of the kingdom, but in reality were not. Many, he concludes, are in the same predicament in the church. They are around the people of God but have no true understanding of the things of God. They may be able to have deep philosophical or theological conversations, but when true religious experience is discussed they feel awkward. Therefore, before one seeks to understand what it means to be a citizen, it is important to come to the understanding of one’s status as citizen or foreigner.

What makes people unified? Is it the way they act? The same interest? In this sermon on unity from Ephesians 2:19 titled “Christian Unity,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states “Nothing else can bring men together truly but this—this gospel.” In Ephesians, Paul is addressing the reality that both Jew and Gentile were side by side in standing before God through Jesus. This reality would have stunned the readers of Ephesians. No “righteousness” that Jews had would earn right standing before God and no lack of religious heritage for the Gentile would hinder salvation through Christ. Their righteousness was as filthy rags before God and all are on the same plane (Isaiah 64:6). All sinners are absolutely helpless before God. However, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes, Christians are those who are agreed upon the cross, know Jesus Christ, and share Christ’s righteousness. Also, Christians are one because they are brought to one Father by one Spirit (Eph. 2:18). Dr. Lloyd-Jones also notes that all who are in Christ are fighting the same battle, have the same struggles, and are able to carry each other’s burdens as they journey through this life. They are also comforted by one savior. Though living this life may be challenging, Christians are marching towards one eternal hope.

What does the Holy Spirit have to do with prayer? In his sermon on Ephesians 2:18 titled “Praying in the Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones seeks to impress on the believer the absolute necessity of prayer and of the role of the Holy Spirit in prayer. According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, praying in the Holy Spirit “is the very essence of prayer.” Also, in light of God’s stunning love that brings His children to Him, “prayer is the supreme activity of the human soul.” Many people think that prayer is as simple as saying “their prayers,” but Dr. Lloyd-Jones critiques the phrase “saying our prayers” as being antithetical to prayer itself. Prayer is much deeper than this simplistic understanding because it is a Holy Spirit-lead endeavor. Dr. Lloyd-Jones goes as far as to say, “The Holy Spirit is as essential to prayer as the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.” According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Jesus died that all might have access to the Father and the Holy Spirit makes real to the believer all that Jesus died for. Both must be held together if prayer is going to be true prayer.