Man; His Problem and the Answer

Galatians 6:14 — When people look at the world today, they see a world that is torn apart by much grief, suffering, and loss. And yet, they often fail to see the reason behind the pain that exists. In this sermon on the glory of the cross from Galatians 6:14 titled “The Glory of the Cross,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones works through understanding suffering and the characteristics of the world to help better comprehend the glory of the cross. He says that the world and what it stands for are the causes of all its tragedies. He defines the world as that which is apart from and/or without God. What are the characteristics of the world? The world is driven by an unquenchable lust and desire, such as for money, power, and sex. These have driven people to live for themselves, and this has led to the sin in the world. It can only be overcome through the cross. It does this by showing what the world really is and how empty its pursuits are. In His ministry on earth, Jesus made this a central part of His ministry, emphasizing things that were total opposites from the world. Everything that is opposed to God will suffer eternal destruction, and this is the glory of the cross—it is the only thing that satisfies, and it is the only salvation.

Galatians 6:14 — What is the central message of the gospel? In this sermon on Galatians 6:14 titled “The Offence of the Cross,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the cross and its centrality to the good news of Jesus Christ. How one responds to the cross, he says, determines how they will spend eternity. Paul says that the cross is either an offense or something to glory in, and if either of these reactions are not caused, then the cross has not been preached accurately. Why is it offensive? Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides three reasons. First, it cuts across human pride and preconceived notions of one’s ability to be in control of their destiny. Second, the natural person wants to be saved by ideas and philosophies, and the cross is not that. Third, the cross appears to some to be immoral— the idea of an innocent man dying for those who have done wrong is scandalous to many. Yet, it is the crux of the cross. The cross levels the playing fields between all people—the wealthy, the poor, the academic, and the layperson. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that Christians are those who do not merely accept the fact of the cross, but rather glory in it because of what they see—the obedience, sacrifice, and love of Jesus. It is everything to the person who has seen it and this is why the cross is central to the gospel.

Galatians 6:14 — 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.

Galatians 6:12-13 — The certainty of the gospel is the foundation for the Christian life. In this sermon on Galatians 6:12–13 titled “Built on Sound Foundations,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows why the assurance all believers can have in the gospel is central to the Christian hope. God reveals Himself and His plan of salvation through His true word, the Scripture. Humanity is not left wondering what they must do to be saved, for holy Scripture says that all who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus will be saved. Christians ought not to be led astray by false teachings that say they cannot know what the gospel is. Scripture stands above all human reason and institutions; it stands above all other sources of authority. Furthermore, Scripture tells facts that really happened. It tells that Jesus of Nazareth lived and died for sinners, but it also tells that He rose from the dead in victory over all sin and death. God’s word calls all to believe in the gospel for the forgiveness of sins as the only path to true and lasting peace with God.

Galatians 6:7-8 — The world is full of so much suffering. Why are things the way they are? Why is evil present? In this sermon on Galatians 6:7–8 titled “Sowing and Reaping,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones provides answers to these difficult questions that have haunted people for millennia. Ultimately, all the bad seen in the world traces back to the Garden of Eden and people being deceived by Satan. What were they deceived about? First, people are deceived about themselves. They think they are powerful and smart enough to figure everything out without the help of God. Second, they are deceived about God. People not only doubt the existence of God, but also His ability to work in the world with the amount of evil that is present. Third, deception has occurred regarding life in this world. Satan has convinced humanity that there are no absolute moral standards and consequences, and that this life is the only one—thus, there is no need to worry about the consequences actions have, because all need to have as much fun as they can before they die. Because people are deceived in these areas, they sow according to the flesh. To combat this, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that all must believe and understand that God has created everything for a reason and that lives have consequences now and into eternity. This, he says, is how one understands evil in the world and the message that can undo it.

Galatians 5:11 — The main thrust of the gospel is the cross. In this sermon on Galatians 5:11 and 6:14 titled “Glory in the Cross of Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the different reactions to this that people have and the consequences that come with each one. There are only two possible responses. Either people accept Christ and His sacrifice, or they see it as offensive. This offense is deeply divisive and angering, something that pushes people away from God when they let it take root in their hearts. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that if one merely has pity after hearing the gospel message, then they have not heard the true story of the cross. It is either an offense, or glory is found in it. This leads to an interesting question—why does the gospel produce two opposite reactions? Why is it offensive? Ultimately, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, it is because it proclaims that all equally are sinners and that they cannot save themselves, a truth that is very humbling. This destroys pride because it means that the smartest and strongest people are all on equal footing before the Lord with those who are poor and uneducated, something that is difficult for many to accept. Yet, what a silly reason this is to keep someone from having eternal life through Christ. The gospel alone is to be one’s glory.

Galatians 4:4-9 — Christians can sometimes feel as if they are trapped or in bondage. In this sermon on Galatians 4:4–9 titled “A Spirit of Adoption,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones helps the listener understand the reasons for this feeling and the truths that help correct it. What are some reasons that people have this feeling even though they have been freed from sin? Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that some of this can be attributed to poor teaching within the church. Additionally, some people know it intellectually but have not applied it. This all brings the believer back to understanding why Jesus came. First, to redeem those who are under the law since they cannot do this themselves. Second, so that they could be adopted as His children. Those who believe in Jesus have been adopted into His family and have received the inheritance that comes with being a child of God. How does this “spirit of adoption,” as Paul refers to it, manifest itself? First, Christians are delivered from this bondage and may still sometimes feel trapped by it. Second, they are known by God. And third, relationship with Him is personal, like a father to his child. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages perseverance in the walk with Jesus and throw off the chains of sin that often entangle.

Galatians 4:4-6 — When we think of Christmas, we usually tend to associate it with Scripture passages from the books of Luke or Matthew, but are there other passages in the Bible that shed more light on what happened that day when Jesus Christ became a man born in Bethlehem? Preached just a few days before Christmas, this sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones draws truths from Galatians 4:4-6 that are crucial to our understanding of the celebration of Christmas. First, all three members of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit— are involved in our salvation. Second, the focal point of all of this is the coming of Jesus into the world, the reason behind the celebration of Christmas. Paul says that Jesus was “sent forth”— a phrase that has caused many questions throughout the centuries among New Testament scholars, but Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides answers to help us understand what this means. Third, what does Paul’s statement of “the fullness of time” mean? Is it in an evolutionary sense that the present is better than the past? No! Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically demonstrates that it means God is in control of time and that God has predetermined all of the major events having to do with our salvation. How does this apply to us as we think of Christ’s coming? Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds us that ultimately, because of God’s sovereignty, our worst time is his best time, and we can rest in that.

Galatians 1:21-24 — Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones opens his sermon by reading from Galatians 1:21-24. Within, Paul addresses the early church, giving a brief overstory of his life, explaining how he used to persecute the church. But after his conversion, when Christians saw him preaching the faith he sought to destroy, they glorified God. This personal history Paul gives, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, is important for many reasons. Firstly, it gives an account of a great historical mover. Even secular thought cannot deny the influence of Paul. But secondly, Paul’s account reveals the power of Christ in a person’s life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points back to perilous moments in Paul’s life, the times he was incarcerated or beaten. But he did not turn from the faith. He praised God, from whom he drew his strength. This is how the Gospel can change a person’s life, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says. Christianity is more than a religion of morals. True Christianity changes a person. He or she becomes a new creation. The early church saw this within Paul, and they praised God for it. Dr. Lloyd-Jones closes his sermon by offering this life changing Gospel. For it is through the Good News that men and women understand Christ’s love and lasting peace.

Galatians 1:8 — Opening his sermon, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reads from Galatians 1:8. Within, the apostle ridicules the early church for believing another gospel, a gospel from man. But Paul makes himself clear: whoever teaches a different gospel from what Christ revealed, be it an angel or man, let that person be accursed. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that even today, false gospels are preached by men all over the contemporary world. The Bible is put on a shelf, and people forget its sound doctrine. The Christian message is adapted to fit man’s view of the world. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains the perilous problem with this practice. When man changes the Christian Gospel, or creates his own, he removes God from the picture. With God gone, man must rely on himself for his salvation and redemption. But, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, the truth of the Bible has revealed that man will never be enough. It is not man who can save his soul but the blood of Jesus Christ. That is the true Gospel. The beauty of the Christian Gospel is that Christ comes to us in our sin, and He offers whoever believes upon Him unmeasurable grace and eternal life.