From the MLJ Archive on Oneplace.com

Romans 8:32 - It is instinctive to try to spare loved ones from pain and suffering if at all possible. Yet one reads in Romans 8:32 that God the Father did not spare His Son from suffering; rather the Son was delivered up for unworthy sinners. Can such a statement by the apostle Paul be the apex of the glory of God? Can the truth of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and the appeasement of the Father’s wrath truly be God’s most glorious display of His love? This is the argument of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on Romans 8:32 titled The Sufferings of Christ. He meticulously examines each word in this theologically-rich verse by the great apostle. Every word, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is of upmost importance in expounding the wondrous truth of God’s grace in this text. Dr. Lloyd-Jones not only makes a case for the Father graciously giving up His Son for the salvation of sinners, but he sheds light on the true agony and grief Christ felt in His sufferings. While some want to minimize Christ’s cry of dereliction, Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims the glory of God in the suffering of the Son.

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Romans 8:32 - Can God’s love for His children ever change or lessen? Is there any power that can pluck the believer from God’s hand? In this sermon on Romans 8:32 titled God’s Work is Certain, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on the apostle Paul’s teaching of final perseverance for the saints. Paul demonstrates in his argument that God’s love cannot possibly fail or lessen for His children. This faithful love that does not lessen has implications for God’s disposition towards believers - if God is for us and His love is certain, then who or what is capable of taking us from God’s hands? The answer is no one and nothing. The impossibility of God’s love changing towards His children is important for it has further implications regarding the Christian’s salvation. Just as certain as God’s unchanging love is towards His Children, so is it thus inconceivable for God to fail to continue his work in believers from justification on to glorification. His work and his love are certain and secure, thus providing full assurance of the final perseverance of the saints.

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Romans 8:31 - If God is for us, who can be against us? Paul starts a new subsection in his letter to the Romans by claiming this promise. In this sermon on Romans 8:31 titled God is for Us, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones unpacks this promise showing how Christians can truly rest in this absolute truth. There is not a matter of if or but; it is absolute certainty that the Lord is on the side of His children. By opening this new subsection, Paul is about to answer potential questions that may arise from his previous teaching. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones outlines several questions that Paul is going to answer before they cause dissention among the Romans. Paul brings this great doctrine in the scheme of ordinary, everyday lives. This one verse is once again proving Paul’s point that Christians have been saved and their salvation is secure in Jesus Christ. Because of that union with Christ, they have the Holy Spirit working in them and helping them toward future glory. This affirms that the Lord is in fact for the believer so there is no other power, circumstance, or person that could ever truly overcome them. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains this in great detail and tells Christians to rest assured in this great promise.

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Romans 8:28-30 - In this sermon on Romans 8:2830 titled Eternally Secure (2), Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues to press the issue of the final perseverance of the saints by examining the flaws exegetically and theologically. He even questions, what if his opponents are correct? What if a regenerated, born-again Christian finally did go to perdition and fell away from their position in Christ? Are there any negative implications for this apostasy position? Dr. Lloyd-Jones carefully and consistently works out the meaning of his opponent's position with regards to the ultimate purpose of salvation itself. While Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s opponents would rightly affirm that salvation is about forgiveness of sin and they can now go to heaven, he suggests that is not the ultimate purpose of salvation. The main purpose of salvation is the glory of God, the vindication of His glory, and the sovereignty of the character of God. This ultimate purpose, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, changes everything, namely the assurance of the outcome of God’s glory. Moreover, there are opportunities for pride as those who deny the final perseverance of the saints are forced to deny that it is ultimately God who causes endurance until the end, and instead must affirm that there is some quality inside those who are received into glory that is different from those who fall away. There is great comfort in knowing that the God who began the believer’s salvation will truly see it completed to the end. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages believers in the great truth of eternal security.

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Romans 8:28-30 - What does the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints have to do with identity as the body of Christ? Very much, says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in his sermon on Romans 8:2830 titled Eternity Secure (1). One must be careful to remember that Christ did not come to just save isolated individuals but instead came to redeem His people, the church. The spiritual union between the church and Christ is modeled after the essential union between the Father and the Son. So, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, it is absurd to think Christ’s love for His church can be frustrated somehow as if the Father’s love for the Son could be disrupted. Part of the assurance is based on the glorious truth that Christians are those the Father has given to His Son. It is impossible to imagine separation or falling away if one remembers that Christ died for the church in order to redeem it, perfect it, and present her to God the Father. Moreover, argues Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is the fact that perseverance is guaranteed based upon the teaching of chastisement. God refuses to leave His children alone. He will be faithful to discipline in order to conform His children more and more to the image of His Son. In the end, they are secure in Christ. Praise should erupt to the God who calls, keeps, preserves and will never forsake.

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Romans 8:28-30 - By denying the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints, there will be inevitable negative implications for everything else that is true about Christian salvation. Perhaps even more problematic, says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in his sermon on Romans 8:2830 titled The Unbreakable Chain, is the confusion and chaos that is introduced about God by those affirming the apostasy of genuine believers. He examines the harmony of each link in the apostle Paul’s unbreakable chain, noting how each inevitably hangs together. By considering the negative implications for the doctrine of predestination and foreknowledge, Dr. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates the absurd conclusions that must be affirmed about God when one holds to the possibility of a true believer falling from grace. Continuing through the chain of redemption, he argues that those who affirm the apostasy position make God’s call pointless and the doctrine of justification an error-filled action on God’s part. However, the doctrine of rebirth and union with Christ should settle the matter altogether, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones. It is scandalous to suggest that God’s creative work in giving new life and His seating of His people in the heavenly places with Christ can be suddenly undone. Listen to Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s argument for an unbreakable chain in salvation and find encouragement in the blessed doctrine of assurance from beginning to end.

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Romans 8:28-30 - Can Christians lose their salvation? This is a much-debated question in Christianity that has immense significance for all believers. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that while some passages seem to teach that Christians can lose their salvation, this is a misunderstanding. In this sermon on Romans 8:2830 titled The Threefold Purpose, he looks at the warning passages in Hebrews 6 and 8. He argues that these passages do not speak of true Christians falling away but it speaks of those unbelievers who hear the gospel and are in the church, yet reject it. Just as many people in the Bible, such as Judas, are part of the visible church (and even in places of authority), they are shown to not be truly saved. So it is true in all the church. The Bible never speaks of true believers falling away. These are lost men and women who show temporary signs of profession yet fall away. These passages ought to encourage true believers to seek to live a life that testifies to Christ’s power of salvation. Can true Christians fall away from Christ? The Bible’s answer is no since Christ is the perfect Savior who is able to redeem sinners and bring their salvation to completion. As the Savior promised, no one can snatch a child of His from His hand.

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Romans 8:28-30 - The Lord Jesus Christ said there will be those who will say they are His followers but in the end will prove otherwise. The Bible warns about false professions, or as the Puritans called it, temporary faith. How does one understand the warning passages in light of Romans 8:2830 where God is said to be in complete control over the Christian’s salvation from beginning to end? More importantly, perhaps, is how does one respond to the truth of false profession of faith? In this sermon on Roman 8:2830 titled Warning Passages, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones takes up these questions and others as he continues in his examination of the doctrine of final perseverance of the saints and explores the most challenging topic for those who hold the Reformed view: the warning passages. He first outlines his interpretive principles, noting the important distinction between the visible and invisible church. The writings of the Bible are written to the visible church, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, and one must remember that the visible church will be a mixed community of true and false professions. Second, he says, the primary purpose of the warning passages is to test one’s profession of faith in order that they may know whether it is true or false. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones not only identifies the true nature of the warning passages, but offers the church comfort, encouragement, and the God-ordained means to test oneself.

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Romans 8:28-30 - Interpretive principles are not only necessary for proper handling of sacred Scripture, but all who engage the biblical text operate with principles of interpretation. The question is whether they are good interpretive principles or bad ones. In this sermon on Romans 8:2830 titled Applying the Principles, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has provided Christians with principles of interpretation that have proven the test of time within the church. In a previous sermon, he faithfully outlined principles such as looking at Scripture alone, interpreting Scripture with Scripture, and interpreting the more difficult text in light of the unambiguous passages on doctrine. While he has applied these principles throughout his preaching ministry, he pointedly draws upon them in this sermon in order to model an appropriate handling of Scripture for Christians. Moreover, Dr. Lloyd-Jones applies these interpretive principles in the context of one of the most contested doctrines in the Christian church: the perseverance of the saints. There are those who teach that a true believer one born again by the Holy Spirit can genuinely commit apostasy, meaning that they fall away from their faith. This position has established itself though considerable proof texts which Dr. Lloyd-Jones faithfully engages as he continues his number of sermons on Romans 8:2830. Listen as he models and demonstrates charitable engagement with those with whom he disagrees and how he applies interpretive principles in his reading of Scripture.

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Romans 8:28-30 - The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is a contested doctrine. Those who hold to the cherished doctrine of assurance must acknowledge the difficult objections posed and not ignore them. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones recognizes this and serves as a positive example of an exegete who does not shy away from engaging the most often-cited Scriptures that seem to contradict his personal beliefs. In a manner that not only demonstrates a responsible handling of Scripture, he also demonstrates humility in his exegetical task. In this message on Romans 8:2830 titled The Biblical Way, Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines his principles of interpretation. He encourages interpreters of the Bible to operate on the principle of Scripture alone. Rather than allowing philosophy to govern one’s interpretation, he argues that the Christian should allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. Furthermore, one should start with the unambiguous proof texts and then deal with the difficult texts in light of the clear statements. He applies these interpretive principles as he works through famous passages like the Parable of the Sower, Hebrews 6, and 2 Peter 2. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones lays out interpretive principles that all Christians should implement in their personal study of sacred Scripture.

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Romans 8:28-30 - What does it mean that God works all things for the good of Christians? In this sermon on Romans 8:2830 titled Helping the Perplexed, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on one implication of this truth: the great doctrine of perseverance. This is the teaching that all who believe in Christ will persevere to the end. Christ will not lose one of God’s children for He is able to bring their salvation to completion. Many reject this doctrine for one reason or another. Some argue that many passages in the Bible teach that Christians who are truly saved can in fact finally fall away from salvation. Others who reject that the Bible is God’s word reject it on philosophical grounds. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that while some passages do seem to teach that Christians can lose their salvation, he argues that this is wrong as the Bible does not contradict itself. He examines many of these passages that supposedly teach that the doctrine of perseverance is false and shows that this is a misreading of these texts. Listen closely to Dr. Lloyd-Jones on how to handle this challenge to eternal security in Christ. He concludes by saying that God’s Word teaches that God is able to save all those whom He has elected to save. There is no doubt that this is a great mystery, but it is one that God has revealed in His Word.

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Romans 8:28-30 - As Christians consider controversial topics such as predestination and election, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds that one must beware of their prejudices. Christians have to keep their minds open to understand what the apostle Paul actually says and teaches, even if at the end they do not agree with him. In light of this reminder, Dr. Lloyd-Jones presses into the topic of predestination and argues that God has marked out His people for His particular purpose and end. Taking it a step further, he asks why does the call come as the middle link in Paul’s great chain in redemption? Why must it come before justification? He shares that it is because justification is by faith alone and God’s effectual call of the Christian must come before or there would be no movement of the person to trust in Christ. Were it not for the power of the Holy Spirit in calling the person to the Lord Jesus Christ, states Dr. Lloyd-Jones, no one would ever believe the gospel. He then elaborates the work of the Spirit by providing biblical evidence on the nature and character of the doctrine of the effectual call of God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones answers several practical objections to this sovereign work of the Spirit. Listen to this sermon on Romans 8:2830 titled Calling: the Middle Link as he gives insight to what he calls the middle link the effectual call of the Holy Spirit.

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Romans 8:28-30 - In this sermon on Romans 8:2830 titled Justified and Glorified, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues to expound the apostle Paul’s golden chain of redemption and comes to the doctrine of justification. He notes there are different aspects of the teaching that many professing believers leave out. For example, justification is not merely forgiveness. Forgiveness of sin is included, but justification is much bigger. Sinners are declared by God to be totally guiltless through the imputed righteousness of Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that understanding justification in this way is not only essential to Paul’s argument, but is vital for understanding union with Christ. If a Christian is justified, they are in Christ and incorporated into Him. Furthermore, Dr. Lloyd-Jones recognizes how the apostle moves from justification to glorification in this golden chain, noting the implied presence and importance of sanctification for the believer. The Christian has the greatest confidence and assurance of eternal future because Paul depicts glorification as guaranteed. They are certain of glorification because it is bound up in God’s plan. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones walks through one of the apostle Paul’s famous passages for comfort and assurance.

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Romans 8:28-30 - The believer in Christ is caught up in a grand trinitarian story between the mutual glorification of the Father and the Son. This cosmic story of God’s glory bestows unbelievable benefits upon unworthy sinners. When the Christian is united with Christ, all God purposed is guaranteed and the Son will be glorified in the salvation of His people. In this sermon on Romans 8:2830 titled To Glorify Christ, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones connects God the Father’s grand purpose in the glorification of His Son to the ultimate grounds of assurance. Dr. Lloyd-Jones assures that based upon the apostle Paul’s words, every detail in the believer’s salvation foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification will be accomplished in perfect detail. Furthermore, Dr. Lloyd-Jones works through the biblical texts across the New Testament and comes to a clear definition for the controversial term foreknowledge. With consistency and care, he argues that the term means God setting His love upon His people. Moreover, there is very little difference between the biblical teaching of foreknowledge and the doctrine of predestination. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives believers unlimited grounds for assurance.

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