The Authority of the Gospel

2 Corinthians 4:1-7 — Do you know the power of the Holy Spirit and what it means to walk according to the Spirit rather than the flesh? This is the all-important question that Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones asks in this sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:1-7. He says that the Holy Spirit is what enables all believers to live a life that pursues Christ Jesus and holiness. It is the Spirit that breathes new life into unbelievers, making them new creations in Christ. It was the Holy Spirit that transformed the first Christians from fearful disciples of Jesus into bold preachers of His death and resurrection. Sadly, many men and women live a life devoid of the power of the Holy Spirit. They live a life of lust and passion for what is unholy and profane. They do not care about their souls, but only the temporary pleasures of this world. This life of the flesh leads only to death and destruction in hell. In contrast, the life in the Spirit leads to forgiveness in Christ and eternal life in His presence. Those that believe in Christ Jesus are forgiven from all sin and judgment, and are made children of God in the power of the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 — What does it mean to be a Christian? Many believe that being a Christian is about the family of origin, or the church of one’s baptism. But in the sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:1–6, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows why this is wholly opposed to what Scripture says about the nature of Christianity. To be a Christian is to be born again; it is to receive a new nature through faith in Jesus Christ. Just as God spoke in the beginning and there was light, it is also with salvation, God speaks through His Spirit to make dead sinners new. Christianity is not about social change, but it is about the miracle of the salvation of souls. The Church must proclaim the gospel to all so that they might know Jesus as their Savior. Only Jesus can free humanity from their sin and immorality, and only Jesus can free sinners from their ignorance and make them children of God. This message asks the question: Do you know Jesus? Have you received new life in the gospel or are you still in sin and death? This sermon is a call to believe in the only savior, Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 — What is the power of Christianity? The Bible is clear that it is not human wisdom or ingenuity, nor is it found in anything that people do. The power of the gospel is found in Jesus Christ alone. When Paul came to the Corinthians, he says that he came preaching Christ and Him crucified. By preaching in the power of Christ, the Christian shares the light of the knowledge of the glory of God and not their own efforts. When Christ is preached, Christians preach the only hope for this world because God can only be known through His Son. In this sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:1–6, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells of the great need for Christ, and that it is Christ alone who can make the world right. Jesus alone is the power of God to save sinners and bring them to God. This sermon forces the question: do I know God? Do I seek to glorify God above all things? For there is no greater need than to know God and to know that all sins are forgiven. This gospel is the only true and lasting hope in this world, and it is this hope that Jesus gives.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 — What is Christianity? Many see Christianity as nothing more than another philosophical or political view. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 4:1–6 titled “The Gospel of the Glory of Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains why this is completely wrong. He says that Christianity is about the person and work of Christ. It is about what God has done to save sinners doomed to death. Jesus is not just another religious teacher, but He is the perfect imprint of God’s nature, God Himself. Since He is God, He is glorious and perfect, but as a man He died in the place of sinners so that all who believe in Him might be saved from sin. Jesus is worthy of all praise and glory, and demands all human worship. It is Jesus who is supremely revealed in Scripture, and it is Jesus that will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. This sermon is a call for all men and women to forsake their sin and come to Jesus. He invites all sinners to leave behind their evil ways and come to Him for their righteousness. There is nothing more to do other than to come to Jesus and be saved.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 — What is the only hope for the world? In this sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 titled “A World in Darkness,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the only hope for the world is not modern science or learning, nor is it politics and philosophy; it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only this message of true salvation and forgiveness of sins can bring hope to a world that is in darkness and rebellion against God. The Bible says that all who are born in sin are born in ignorance and blind to the truth of God. Because of this blindness, people are content to sin and live a life that is wholly opposed to God and His righteousness. How then can sinners be saved if they are blind? It is only by grace that anyone can be set free from darkness and come to know God. This is the glory of the gospel: God saves sinners by giving His Son to pay the wages of sin. There is no other way of salvation than to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This sermon asks everyone the question: “have you believed in this gospel?”

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 — What authority comes with the gospel? What authority did the apostles have to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ? In this sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 titled “The Authority of the Gospel,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the authority of Scripture and how God uses His word to command the church to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. The gospel is not the product of clever human reasoning or philosophy. It is the work of Jesus Christ that is revealed in holy Scripture. No one can find it by searching for it, but they can only know the gospel because God has graciously chosen to reveal it through His revelation. This is why the church of modern times must be like the apostles and proclaim the gospel to all; they must share the good news that Jesus has died for sinners and rose from the grave for their justification. This sermon calls all to examine themselves to see if they have believed in this message of salvation from sins. There is no other way to be saved than by believing in Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 — In this sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 titled “In the Sight of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones speaks of Paul’s concern to defend both his ministry and his calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ. There were those in the church at Corinth that opposed Paul and thought he had a weak presence. According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, it is important that Paul defends his apostleship as God used the apostles to give the Scriptures, and they were foundational to the early church. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, Paul is not only defending his ministry, but he is also fighting for the validity of the gospel message that confronts the world. When Paul does defend his ministry, he appeals to the calling that he received from the risen Lord. Paul makes it clear that his authority does not come from people, but from God. Therefore his message is also from God. The church would do well to look to the example of Paul who defends his message not by boasting in himself, but by boasting in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:18 — What does it mean to reflect the glory of Christ? In this sermon from 2 Corinthians 3:18, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on this question. He says that man was created good and in the image of God. But man was tempted to sin by the serpent and rebelled against God. While man is still in the image of God, he is nevertheless full of sin and immorality. But in the Gospel, God has sent His only Son in order that the grip of sin upon all of creation might be destroyed and sinners would be adopted into the family of God. God is recreating humanity according to the image of Christ Jesus. What does it mean to reflect the glory of God? It means to be conformed to the image of God. It means to turn away from oneself and trust wholly in Christ. It means that all who believe now seek righteousness and holiness in all aspects of their lives. Do you seek the glory of Christ, or are you still in sin? This sermon calls each and every one of us to ask ourselves this question.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 — How has God overcome death and sin? According to holy Scripture, it is by dying upon the cross in the place of sinners and rising from the dead. For sin can only be removed by a sacrifice, and Jesus dying upon the cross was the sacrifice for the sins of all who believe. He rose from the dead as a proclamation that He has overcome death Himself, and that all who believe in Him will also rise from the dead. In this sermon on death from 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 titled “The Conquest of Death,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on this great theological truth that also has profound implications for everyday lives. It gives hope and purpose knowing that there is life after this, because Jesus has died for sinners and saved them from sin. How is one to respond to the message of the gospel and Christ’s victory over death by the resurrection? Believers must forsake their sins and come to God. They must repent and believe in Jesus because He has truly overcome all evil and sin. Jesus alone can save sinners. For the resurrection is not merely something sentimental, but it is the power of God over all evil. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation for all hope in this life.

1 Corinthians 15:47 — What does it mean that Jesus is the second Adam? Adam was the first man and head of all of humanity. But when he sinned, he brought sin upon all his descendants, and this sin meant that all were destined to die. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:47 titled “The Second Adam,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains why Jesus is the only hope for the world because He is the new Adam. Just as Adam brought sin and death, Jesus will bring life and forgiveness of sins. As Adam was the head of the old humanity, Christ is the head of the new humanity and all of the new creation. The only way to be freed from sin and its consequence—death—is to believe in Jesus. All those that trust in Jesus will be perfected in the last day, freed from all sin and judgement. Jesus is the true light of the world and He alone can save sinners and make them right with God. This sermon calls all to forsake sin and come to Jesus. He alone makes all things new by His death and resurrection. He alone can reverse all the effects of the fall and Adam’s first sin. Jesus alone saves.