From the MLJ Archive

Acts 17:1-4 — How has God overcome death? All people know that eventually they will die, either from disease or some other way. Death is a universal human experience. God’s word teaches that death is not a part of the original creation, but exists only because of sin. In this sermon on Acts 17:1-4 titled “Death is Not the End,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the great truth of God’s conquest over sin and death, and the life that all who trust in God will have. God has overcome sin and death by dying upon the cross to remove the power of sin and its curse, death. All who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ will be forgiven of all unrighteousness. In the last day, when every human who has ever lived will be resurrected, those who are in Christ will not suffer any judgement, but they will be made perfect by the grace of God. The sermon points all true believers to the great hope of the future life with Christ in the new heaven and the new earth. But to those that do not trust in Jesus now, this sermon calls them to repent of their sins and flee to Jesus, the friend of sinners. Christ is the only salvation from death and sin.

Acts 17:1-4 — In this sermon on Acts 17:1–4 titled “It was necessary for the Christ to suffer,” from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, he preaches about Christ being the pivot point of history. More specifically, Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection are the turning point and only hope for humankind. The only way to be saved, Dr. Lloyd-Jones beckons, is through the sacrifice of God made flesh. The greatest offense in the history of humankind is the murder of Jesus Christ. Yet through this horrid event, the curtain was torn and humankind is given access to the Holy of Holies. Dr. Lloyd-Jones thoroughly repeats how Christ must have suffered. This means that the Messiah had to suffer and lose His life in order for anyone to receive life. It is only through faith that people have access to the blessings Jesus Christ has accomplished for humanity. Dr. Lloyd-Jones exhorts that there is no other way to be saved than through the Son of God. He begs his listeners to show their gratitude to Jesus Christ by giving their lives to Him in repentance and praise. The significance of the crucifixion is difficult to comprehend and will not be completely understood on the earthly side of heaven. Repent and put trust in Him and be saved from death.

Acts 9:31 — How is the church built up? In this sermon on Acts 9:31 titled “The Edification of the Church,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the church of Jesus Christ can only grow into godliness if the church looks to His word. By studying Scripture as individuals and as a corporate body, Christians are convicted of their sins and built up in the love of God. Part of being a Christian is becoming like Jesus through study and meditation of the Bible. Whether in times of peace or in times of intense persecution, Christians are given the responsibility of using their time to grow and mature. Dr. Lloyd-Jones exhorts Christians not to be lax in times of peace and prosperity, but to always seek to make use of what God has given them. He points to the early church as an example of what this looks like and as an example that the church of today can emulate. In all times and in all places, the church is called to faithfully obey God and seek to become more like Him. This is true in times of peace, as well as in times of hardship.

Acts 9:6 — “Lord, what will you have me to do?” This reveals the very heart of Paul. In this sermon on Acts 9:6 titled “Face to Face with Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones presses that the beliefs of a Christian’s heart will be proven by what they practice. Before his salvation, Paul, previously known as Saul, went about persecuting Christians. But at salvation, just as every true believer must, he surrendered his will to God instead of arguing against the gospel or searching for loopholes to avoid obedience. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains the powerful peace one receives when they are finally ready to listen and to learn. Just as a child is curious to understand the world around them, so are new believers hungry to understand their Savior. At salvation, Paul saw the utter failure of his efforts. His self-reliance vanished and he turned to God, humbly asking “Lord what wilt thou have me to do?” He surrendered his will to the one glorious Father who died for him and for all. The proof of salvation is in a willing and eager heart to do the will of the Father.

Acts 9:6 — The world wants salvation in addition to the current way of life. It wants to remain in sin while enjoying the hope of heaven. In this sermon on Acts 9:6 titled “When First You Believe,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones dispels this myth by confronting the cold heart that hears of Christ’s work on the cross yet remains emotionally unmoved and entrenched in sin. Salvation involves a grief over sin that demands immediate, eternal separation from God in hell. True conversion requires the conviction of the heart and mind over the grief of sin and the guilt that one cannot escape, and results in a triumphant faith that fears sin because of the price paid by the Savior. The saving truth of the gospel changes everything and leaves joyful praise from a new heart overflowing with the love of God. The proof of salvation flows in obedience to His Word and affection from the King.

Acts 9:6 — The world today is filled with false conversion: people who know about Jesus, but do not actually know Jesus. In this sermon on Acts 9:6 titled “Saul of Tarsus, Christian,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones brings the listener face to face with the saving power of the gospel. It is the gospel that produces contrition, the sense of fear and trembling that comes when sin is exposed, and the need for forgiveness is made clear. More than a temporary emotional experience, true conversion involves the will, heart, and the mind. True repentance abandons the former life and looks back with gratitude and thankfulness for the patience of Christ in saving sinners. The love of Jesus surrounds His child and brings a peace that surpasses all human understanding. The saved child of God now looks at hell and realizes they have been saved from it, by their gracious and loving Lord.

Acts 9:1-5 — The circumstances of life can turn dire in a matter of moments. The facade of life gets ripped away and in an instant, the saving grace of God stands in clear contrast to the path that leads to destruction. Paul was on that path. As he traveled the road to Damascus, God broke through with a blinding light and dropped the persecutor Saul to his knees. In this sermon about Saul on the road to Damascus from Acts 9:1–5 titled “A Fact of History,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains the inward change that happens when one gains a clear view of the Savior’s face and hears the words of Jesus. The hatred, depravity, and desperation that once filled the heart is replaced by peace, contentment, and faith. Outside circumstances cannot change the heart. That is where the gospel does its work. New life begins when the light of Christ tears away the autonomy of life and reveals the desperate dependency on the Savior. It is then that all can know true victory over sin, death, and the devil.

Acts 9:4 — "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" With this question, the notorious persecutor Saul had a face to face encounter with Jesus. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones recounts this divine confrontation that transformed an enemy of the cross into a child of God. When culture screams for autonomy from God, the grace of God rips away the mask of cultural Christianity. Now, as one who is forgiven and at peace with our Savior, the Christian learns to be silent, to listen and to submit to Christ’s will. No one is saved as a family or a nation, but only an individual can be spared from the wrath of God by the conviction of sin and the forgiveness of the Savior.

Acts 5:32 — What is the basis of faith? Many see faith as nothing more than a feeling or something that is chosen to believe against all reason. But in this sermon on Acts 5:32, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that Christian faith is very different from these common misconceptions. The faith that is found in the New Testament, this true faith, is grounded in historical actions of God. It is grounded in the sending of His Son to die upon the cross, and in the sending of the Holy Spirit to empower believers to fulfill the mission of God. These are real events that have changed the course of history and the whole world! Jesus was a man who lived and died, but He was also God and what He has done is the foundation of all faith. His gospel is the only means of salvation and true peace with God. It is this witness of the Holy Spirit that works in time and history to spread the message of Christ through the church to the whole world. The gospel confronts with the vital question: do you believe in Jesus and that He has come and died so that all who believe might be saved?

Acts 5:29-32 — How great is the gospel? To see the transforming and saving power of the Gospel, there is no better place to look than the early church. In this sermon on Acts 5:29–32, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks to the great deeds of the Apostles as they stand against persecution and boldly proclaim the gospel. After the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, Peter, John, and the other disciples have no fear in the face of persecution. They are beaten and imprisoned, but what do they do? They continue to preach Christ and Him crucified. This shows the great power of God, that He can work to change fearful fishermen into bold heralds of the kingdom of God. What does this message have to offer modern Christians and the church of today? The message of God’s faithfulness and the good news of salvation is a timeless message that the church always needs to hear. God has promised that He will give His Holy Spirit to the church, and He will empower believers to take the good news of salvation to the ends of the earth. This is so that all people might know that Jesus is the Savior of the world who has died for sinners so that all who believe are saved and made children of God.