Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

How can one know the love of God? In this sermon on Ephesians 3:18–19 titled “Able to Comprehend,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches how the apostle Paul speaks of the knowledge of God’s love not simply as intellectual comprehension, nor as a result of abstract thought. But there is a real experience of God’s love and presence in the life of believers that creates this intimate and personal love of God and Christ Jesus. This is true of all biblical truth. For the word of God is a living and active source of teaching, rebuke, and reproof in the life of all God’s children. This is why the love of God that comes from knowing Him is not reserved for the scholars and thinkers of the church. True knowledge and worship of God is never a matter of the intellect alone, but it requires every human faculty. For ultimately this love is only received by grace through the working of God’s Holy Spirit in the lives of fallen men and women. For this reason, no one has any grounds for boasting in themselves. To do so would be to deny that it is entirely of God’s grace. This is both a humbling and an encouraging teaching because it shows how great God’s love is. It tells of what He has done in renewing hearts so that His people can receive this love.

What is foundational to a Christian’s life? Of all the traits that believers are aiming for, what is one of the most important, key characteristics that is supposed to define a follower of Jesus? In this sermon on Ephesians 3:17 titled “Grounded in Love,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states that the answer is love and explains why this is the case. Paul wrote that Christians are to be rooted and grounded in love, and this love must be foundational to a Christian’s life. The higher a building is, the deeper and stronger its foundation must be, and the same is true with one’s life. Building this foundation takes time and as Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds, there are no shortcuts in the spiritual life. One of the ways to grow in this area is in how one relates to God. If the Christian only thinks of God in intellectual ways, they will never experience the fullness of the riches of knowing Him, and it is this that He intended to naturally flow out into other relationships. How important is love to a believer’s life? A distinctive that sets Christians apart from nonbelievers is that they are called to love their enemies, and thus, love plays a vital role in the witness to unbelievers. It also has an impact on how one handles the circumstances of life because if they are rooted in Christ’s love, they are resting in His sovereignty and plan for the world.

How can one have an abundant life in Christ? What is the secret to living life to its fullest? In this sermon from Ephesians 3:17 titled “Rooted in Love,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones takes the listener through a section of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians to answer these questions. In this section, Paul is praying that Christians will know and seek Christ Himself, not solely the blessings that He offers. The Christian’s primary ambition in life, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, should not be to aim merely at a good life since all religions have a version of this. Rather, the Christian should have a holiness that flows out of their relationship with Him, and this happens when He dwells in the heart. What occurs when the Christian allows this to take place? As Paul prayed for his readers, they become rooted and grounded in love. The language he uses reminds the readers of a tree and just like the roots of a tree, their love is to grow deeper and stronger every day. “Knowledge,” Paul says, “puffs up, but love builds up.” One’s knowledge of God must drive them to an increased love of God since God is love (1 John 4:8). Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages Christians to grow in love and reminds the listener of why this is so important for the Christian life.

When Scripture speaks of believers being indwelt by Christ Jesus, it is referring to a real experience, not simply an emotional reaction. In this sermon on Ephesians 3:17 titled “The Heart Prepared,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones brings this foundational truth to bear because it is something all believers should experience as they grow in maturity, faith, and understanding of Christ. There is no special indwelling only for ministers and preachers, but this is something all Christians can and should experience. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that this is not an experience of faith, as opposed to true and tangible experience. He looks to many ordinary saints throughout the many centuries of the church as testament to this truth. We see men and women who had a real, life-altering experiences of this indwelling. However, like all aspects of the Christian life, it is not something humans do apart from the grace and power of God. For it starts with salvation and conversion, and is a part of the ongoing work of sanctification in the lives of believers. This great truth should encourage all Christians to seek growth in Christ and to come to know Him more and more as they live in faith and love.

All Christians should seek to know and love God more. In this sermon on Ephesians 3:17 titled “The Indwelling Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that part of this pursuit is what he refers to as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This indwelling should be thought of differently from the sealing of the Holy Spirit that all believers experience when they are saved and regenerated. This experience of the indwelling of Christ is one that comes when Christians seek to cultivate deep and abiding love for Christ and his word. It is not a one-time experience or action, but it should continue throughout the life of all believers. This relationship can be thought of as a mystical union whereby Christ and the believer are united in a special and mysterious way. This is an objective experience that is not simply emotional, but it is born out of a real knowledge of who Christ is and what He has done in His death. Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions that this great truth should not promote feelings of spiritual superiority in believers, but it should strengthen all believers in their pursuit of Christ in this life. This is not a special experience reserved for the spiritual elite, but it is something that all Christians can experience by the power of the Holy Spirit.