From the MLJ Archive

Suffering and pain surround humanity. In this sermon on the fall, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains what God’s word says about the fall and sin. Contrary to many erroneous contemporary views, sin and evil are not eternal principles, nor is sin simply the lack of good. Rather, sin and evil are the result of humanity’s willing rebellion against God. This rebellion brought sin into a perfect world. The Bible gives this story in the first chapters of Genesis in which the serpent deceived Adam and Eve and lured them into temptation. This is not simply a myth used to illustrate the human fall into sin, but it is God’s revelation of a true historical event. In their original state, people had no natural desire to sin, but sin entered from outside through the temptation of Satan. This fall did not change the essence of people, but it changed their relationship with God. Now that humanity has fallen and is estranged from the fellowship of God, all have lost their original righteousness, and their nature has been utterly corrupted. This is why humanity and the world are in such a dire need for the Savior, Jesus Christ.

The doctrine of good angels is one of the great doctrines of the Christian faith.. Angels were created by God before the creation of man, they appear throughout the Bible, and the good angels serve God in many capacities. Listen to this sermon from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones as he explores Scripture regarding angels and the God who created them. NOTE: There is no recording of the subsequent lecture titled “The Devil and the Fallen Angels.”

What are the eternal decrees of God? In this sermon, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines this question by looking at what all of Scripture says concerning God and His works. The Bible teaches that before the world began, God ordained all that would come to pass. The great plan is brought to fulfillment in creation and providence. This decree of God is God’s plan for the world; it encompasses creation, fall, and redemption. Even evil things are under God’s control. But, as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes clear, evil is never caused by God, but only permitted. It is at this point that one must appeal to as the great mystery of God. Finite creatures can never understand, or absolutely comprehend, all that God is and does. Faith requires resting in the mysteries of God. The great mystery of God’s sovereign and absolute decrees must be held to in faith. People cannot trust in themselves, but in God alone. Christians can do this because God is a good and gracious Father who ordains all things for their good and His glory. This doctrine of God’s decree ought to give great hope because Christians know that He is both a loving God and in control of all things.

In Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ sermon on the Scottish Reformation, delivered at Usher Hall in Edinburgh in April 1960to mark the 400th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation, he emphasizes the importance of looking to our past for answers in the present. Many Christians today lobby against using past precedents to teach us, either saying that the past has nothing to teach us in this different time or that the history of the church should not be brought up, lest it cause acrimony. In response to these claims, Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that first, we are not different in nature or being to the men and women of the Reformation and therefore, cannot dismiss their accomplishments, and second, that the past should be explored and understood rather than suppressed. With this said, Dr. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates the two ways that one can view the Scottish Reformation. The first way is to simply explore the events that took place in the Scottish Reformation. The second is by using the actions and events that took place to further our walk with God today. So, what exactly can we learn from the Scottish reformation? Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that the best way to do so is by looking at the men who led such a movement. But who were these men? Well, these were godly men who believed in the sovereignty of God and the need to worship him. These were men who realized Christ’s sacrifice and dedicated their lives to him because of it. For example one of the key figures in the Scottish reformation, John Knox, demonstrated fearless resistance towards the mighty Catholic Church. Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Knox did not stand up against the Church by his own power, but by the power of God. John Knox realized the absolute greatness of God and consequently preached with power. So, we must ask ourselves, Where is the God of John Knox? Where is this God that can give us such power? To this, Dr. Lloyd-Jones replies, he is here and present, just as he was in the time of John Knox. And if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have the same God, we must only realize his greatness and react accordingly.

In the words of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “the reformation changed the entire course of history.” In his sermon on Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores the Reformation in its entirety. In this sermon on Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, he begins by looking into the time before the Reformation. Prior to Martin Luther, the world was controlled entirely by the Catholic Church. Everything from religion, to science, to warfare was under the iron fist of the Roman Catholic Church. That is until Martyn Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of a Catholic Church and began the Reformation. Luther was at this time a Catholic monk and teacher. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones puts it, he did not originally want to break away from the Church of Rome. All he wanted to do was expose the unbiblical sale of indulgences. However, as Luther studied further in the psalms and epistles, he discovered that we are saved, not by works, but by faith. Luther challenged the doctrine of the Catholic church, saying they practiced things that did not correspond to the Bible, but the Church turned a blind eye. Ultimately, Luther left the Catholic Church for it was too power hungry and profitable to abandon its works based model of salvation. Luther, with only the power of God’s word itself, would then go on to lead the Reformation. Martin Luther’s effect on Christianity would be so great that even today we can see its consequences. However, Dr. Lloyd-Jones does not stop there. He also covers the non-historical importance of the Reformation. He asks the questions, “What is a Christian?” and “How does one become a Christian?” But most importantly, what can we learn from Luther’s one-man stand against the largest organization of his time? To this, Dr. Lloyd-Jones replies, “When everything else is gone, the city of God remaineth.” With God, we can do all things; so like Luther we should fear nothing when we are doing the work of the Lord.

Romans 1:11-17 — How do you know that you are a Christian? What is a Christian and what does it mean to be a Christian? In this sermon on Romans 1:11-17, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions which are perhaps the most important questions ever. He begins by confronting the fact that we are living in an age of utter confusion, especially in the Church. People claim to be Christians while completely contradicting Scripture in everything they do. That is why it is so important to be certain what a Christian really is. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christianity can be defined in verse 14 of Romans 1; A Christian is a debtor to both the Greeks and the Barbarians, the wise and the unwise. A Christian is someone who has something that others do not have, and feels the need to give it to everyone. They are not someone who hopes and is looking to find the meaning of life and the purpose of life, they are someone who has already found truth, has joy in it, and feels the need to share it with others. Dr. Lloyd-Jones then goes on to tell an analogy about a man who has the cure for a deadly disease in their pocket, and sees a man who has this disease. This man feels the need and urge to give this cure to the other man in need. A Christian is the same because they have the answers in their pocket and feel the need to share it with everyone around them. A Christian does not just feel this need to share it with the intellectual, but also the uneducated, because they all are in desperate situations without Christ. They do not only share it with people who are interested in having this truth, but also with people who have no interest in it at all. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by explaining that the Christian not only has hope, but can give a reason for the hope within him.

Hebrews 2:1-4 — Why do we praise God? Why do we worship him and gather together so often? In Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ sermon on Hebrews 2:1-4, he explains why we worship God in such a way. To answer such questions, Dr. Lloyd-Jones first explains what Christianity is. Many people think that Christianity is simply an activist movement for World Peace and philanthropy; however, that simply is not the case. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that although good deeds are often associated with Christianity, the purpose of the Christianity is to spread the gospel of salvation. It is the mission of the Christian to spread God’s great salvation to the ends of the earth. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states that the reason the masses have not been converted is because we have failed to show them the greatest thing in the world, the gospel of salvation. But many ask the question, how will we get people to listen and value this Gospel as it truly should be? The only way to do this, is to show them their need for salvation. If an unbeliever has no need for salvation, then why should he care for it. To present the gospel of salvation in all its due glory and power, the unbeliever must be made aware of his sin. It is necessary to tell the unbeliever that he is sinful and deserves eternal banishment from the presence of God. Only once this is made clear can the gospel of salvation be presented. Only then will the unbeliever see the true love of God for sending his one and only son to die on our behalf. As Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states, “ The gospels true greatness can be seen only when we realize that the omnipotent God became a simple human for our sakes.”

An address given at the Christian Medical Fellowship Conference in 1974. Due to its length; this address covers 2 CDs.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones served as one of the greatest preachers of his time; however, before he was called to the ministry, Dr. Lloyd-Jones was one of the most respected medical doctors of his time; at one point being the head doctor to the Royal family. In his sermon on body, mind, and spirit, Dr. Lloyd-Jones expresses his concern over the increasing number of psychological illnesses in the medical field. As a speaker at the Christian medical fellowship conference, Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides his solution to the rising depression rates that are crippling the British nation. He first states how the relationships between doctors and their patients is not what it used to be. Doctors no longer visit the homes of patients and therefore, do not have the same intimate relationships with them. This lack of intimacy between the doctor and patient severely hinders the doctor’s ability to diagnose the root cause of one’s psychological illness/depression. This often results in doctors having to take a universal stance on psychological illnesses. According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones there are four opinions on psychological illness that doctors can hold to. The first is that mental illnesses aren’t actually real and that patients must simply toughen up (Muscular Christianity). The second holds that people can take medication’s to help with their illness but are ultimately doomed to a life of depression. The third holds that every Mental illness is spiritual and can be mended with spiritual acts. The fourth believes that Mental illness is spiritual but cannot be solved by Christianity. With this said, Dr. Martyn Lloy-Jones summarizes the four opinions with two basic questions. Is mental illness physical or spiritual? He then expands on these two questions in part B of the sermon.

Hebrews 2:1-4 — Why is it such a terrible thing to reject the gospel? In this sermon, “So Great Salvation,” from Hebrews 2:1–4 titled Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on humanity’s need of salvation and what happens if one rejects it. Salvation is such a weighty matter because of its source: God. If anyone says no to salvation, then they say no to the God who has offered salvation to all who believe. This is why it is such a dangerous thing to spurn God’s gracious gift that He has put forward in Jesus Christ. But those who do accept salvation are given the greatest possible blessing: eternal life and peace with God. The gospel is God’s ultimate gift of grace that alone can free people from sin and judgement. This sermon calls each and every one to examine themselves and ask the question: “have I accepted God’s gift of salvation? Am I trusting in Jesus as my only hope?” This is not an inconsequential question, but it is the most important question anyone can ask, for with the great gift of salvation comes the great penalty for rejecting it.