Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Every day the Christian needs spiritual strength to resist temptation and persevere in righteousness. Every day they need the power of God working in their life. In this sermon on the fullness of God from Ephesians 3:19, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones helps the listener understand this great need from Paul’s words. Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on verse 19 and shows what it means to be filled with all the fullness of God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones helps listeners understand the difference between incommunicable and communicable, giving several examples. God’s incommunicable attributes include His eternity, immutability, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and more. His communicable attributes are His holiness, righteousness, goodness, love, mercy, compassion, and more. Paul is expressing that God’s people are to chase after God’s communicable attributes and strive to exemplify them in their lives. The incommunicable attributes, though inexplicable, allow the Christian to bask in the glory of God’s majesty and incomprehensibility. If one pursues these communicable attributes, they are putting on the new self and chasing after the fruit of the Spirit. Pursuit of these qualities is proof of a regenerate heart and the presence of Christ in their life. In literal terms, being filled with the fullness of God means unity with Christ. The believer is in Christ, and Christ is in the believer. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages the listener with the word of God.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds that the gospel is wonderful because it is not for perfect people, but rather for sinners— for the adulterers, the liars, and the thieves. In this sermon on stealing from Ephesians 4:28 titled “Not Stealing, but Labouring,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on Paul’s exhortation for believers to labor instead of steal. Many think about stealing in terms of simply taking physical possessions. While this is accurate, there is much more that stealing encompasses, such as stealing time from an employer, stealing thoughts, or even stealing ideas. When one thinks of stealing as applicable to anything and not just material possessions, they realize that it is something that they are forced to think about and look for in their own lives. What are some things to consider concerning stealing? First, there is something inherently shameful about it since it involves secrecy and deception. Second, it involves a misuse of a gift or ability that has been given by God, such as using hands to take what doesn’t belong to them, or by using the brain to strategize how one may carry out theft. In addition, it’s lazy and shows a complete lack of respect for the other person. Instead of stealing, Christians are implored to work hard and for the glory of God, recognizing that God has created a dignity that comes along with labor.

A Christian will hear the voice of God and understand His mind by reading His Word. In this sermon on Ephesians 3:19 titled “Preparing for a Guest,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims that this requires both prayer and study to come to a deeper knowledge of God and His word. This should be part of a continual pursuit of God that marks the whole life of a Christian. But Christians must always avoid the temptation to fall into ritualistic practices of reading Scripture and praying as dead acts. Dr. Lloyd-Jones exhorts the listener to cultivate deep and abiding affections for God. This is not as a way to gain favor with God, but instead born out of a heart of thankfulness and love for all that He is and all that He has done in Christ. Ultimately no one is able to seek and worship Him rightfully without the saving work of Christ Jesus being applied by the saving power of the Holy Spirit. Even in the believer’s pursuit of God, they only do so because of what God has already done for them by the grace of His gospel. This should encourage believers to respond with nothing but gratitude and affection toward God for the great salvation and new heart that He has given in Christ Jesus.

Many Christians throughout the centuries have offered varying interpretations of the verse “be angry and sin not.” In this sermon on anger from Ephesians 4:20–27 titled “Sinful and Righteous Anger,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses how Christians should apply this command to their lives. He contends that Paul is not saying that one can be angry as long as they don’t sin— it is not a permissive statement. Rather, Paul is saying that there are certain things where anger is acceptable as long as the Christian does not sin in their anger and give a foothold to Satan. Anger, he says, is a natural capacity given by God against the things that dishonor Him and what He declares to be good. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out, even Jesus is recorded in the gospels as becoming very angry about unrighteousness in the temple. The key to understanding this verse is that anger must be directed towards the things that God hates but ultimately, Paul is calling Christians to avoid sin and to be angry towards it. Dr. Lloyd-Jones declares that anger against sin is being increasingly explained away by the world, but Christians must be faithful to hold it for what it is— an affront against God.

In this sermon on Ephesians 4:25 titled “Putting Away Lying,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says “There is no greater motive to holiness than a proper understanding of the truth.” Yet, he states, “this truth must be applied and not merely theoretical.” Truth is what makes a contrast between Christianity and other worldviews. Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks this question: Is there anything as fundamental to the Christian life as God’s character trait of truth? Multiple verses talk about God’s incapability of lying because of His character, and without this assurance, what He has revealed in His word could easily be doubted since there would be no reason to trust Him. Yet, because He cannot lie, what he says can be believed. Lying is quite serious because it is a direct assault on God’s character. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that nothing is as characteristic of a life of sin as lying, especially since one is lying to themselves about their eternal future. Additionally, lying undermines the local church because it creates mistrust and demolishes the opportunity for Christian bonding and fellowship among believers. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains why truth is so important to the life of a believer and why the pursuit of this will lead to holiness.