Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Romans 8:26-27 — Often when Christians are confronted with problems in the lives of their fellow believers, they glibly offer the common counsel to “pray about it.” But this often misses the point, says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in his sermon on Romans 8:18–25 titled “A Further Work of the Spirit.” It is not that Christians do not know they can pray in times of suffering. Many happily affirm they have full access to God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The problem, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is that they do not know what to pray for. Suffering often blinds the Christian to the right perspective and subsequent groaning can have a detrimental effect upon the Christian prayer life. The Christian does not know what their prayer should be as a result of suffering, nor do they understand what would actually be a blessed outcome from the trial. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones relates Paul’s teaching on the intercession of the Spirit to the larger context of future hope, assurance, and the doctrine of glorification, listen and be challenged as he discusses the exact nature and characteristic of weaknesses that can hinder prayers.

Romans 8:24-25 — Suffering can lead to despair. Many Christians undergoing great trials (especially older saints) desire to “get out” of this life. In those moments when they see the sad state of this world, evil increasing, and the limitations of humanity to change anything, the Christian may be tempted to think, “why doesn’t God take me out of this world?” But is this the Christian position? Is this biblical hope? Further, what does hope look like in practice? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions in this sermon on Romans 8:18–25 titled “Hope in Practice.” He says mere desire to escape this life is contrary to the biblical hope because biblical hope is always positive, not negative. Biblical hope desires to be with the Lord, not merely escape difficult circumstances. By examining the apostle Paul’s words as well as other biblical passages, Dr. Lloyd-Jones characterizes hope as eager or joyful waiting. This means Christians are not to wait passively, but straining and stretching for the glory that awaits. Moreover, he emphasizes the posture of patience in hoping. Listen to Dr. Lloyd-Jones expound the wonderful truth of gospel hope.

Romans 8:24-25 — Suffering permeates this world. Christian or not, all question the purpose of tragedy and suffering. In order to maintain a proper Christian joy in this hopeless world, says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in the sermon “The Sphere of Hope,” the Christian must follow the apostle Paul’s argument in Romans 8:18­–25. One cannot be confused on the Christian’s hope and he explicates the topic in great detail. He explains the difference between objective hope and subjective hope, and argues that the apostle is interested in both. In other words, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, a person who is saved has the grace of hope within them and a hope with respect to something outside themselves. A person is saved in the sphere of hope as well as in the realm of hope. Moreover, one must remember the “tenses” of salvation – past, present, and future. When the Christian does this, they avoid the dangers of having no assurance concerning salvation as well as claiming too much of salvation by saying they have reached full sanctification. The Christian position, Dr. Lloyd-Jones states, is one where the Christian confesses this world is not their home. The reason they can say this with confidence is because they have been brought into the sphere of hope.

Romans 8:18-23 — Speculation about the end of the world and the millennium (Christ’s thousand year reign) has captivated the Christian imagination throughout church history. This, in conjunction with the intermediate state and the eternal state of believers, provokes great discussion among pastors and theologians. Thankfully, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones helps the church by navigating these topics in this sermon on Romans 8:18–23 titled “Death and Heaven.” He pauses his exposition of Romans in order to demonstrate the futility of interpreting Romans 8 as referring to a literal thousand year reign of Christ instead of the future glory when the children of God inherit the new heaven and new earth. Far from reducing the Christian hope to some type of “spiritism” where a non-bodily existence is the goal, the apostle Paul maintains an eternal state where the body will be like Christ’s resurrected body. This is different than the intermediate state, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when after death the Christian goes to be with Christ until the resurrection of the dead. All this, he argues, has practical application as Christians engage the world in politics and, most importantly, as they go through great trials and suffering in this life. Listen to Dr. Lloyd-Jones expound the great biblical truths about death, heaven, intermediate state, glory, resurrection, and the second coming of Christ.

Romans 8:18-23 — Unfortunately many evangelical Christians are confused about the hope of the Scriptures. Many songs, hymns, and Christian books appear to anticipate an afterlife that is purely spiritual and disembodied. The apostle Paul could not present a more contrary hope. In his sermon on Romans 8:18–23 titled “Paradise Regained,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones challenges this inadequate perception of the life after death for the believer. The New Testament, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, knows of bodily resurrection of believers and a glorification of the cosmos as the once lost paradise of Adam is regained and perfected. The church anticipates not only the glorification and a spiritual body but also creation restored and an inherited new heaven and new earth. Creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of decay brought by the fall. Whereas suffering constitutes this life, all suffering, strife, fear, and tears will be no more in the future paradise. Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents the biblical teaching on the future hope by bringing the whole counsel of God to bear upon the coming glory that awaits the children of God. Find out why the Christian can have hope while discouragement, defeat, anxiety, and terror loom around them and can set their affections upon paradise regained.

Explore humanity's ultimate goal through Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ insights on suffering and redemption. He contrasts the biblical narrative with the flawed optimism of evolutionary progress. Discover why the fall of Adam is crucial for understanding salvation, and how creation itself groans in anticipation of future glory. Uncover the significance of the second coming and how believers' redemption ties to the restoration of all creation. Gain hope in the promise that God’s character ensures a glorious transformation awaits.

Romans 8:18-23 — As Christians, no trial or tribulation in this age compares to the age to come. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out that Paul has referenced the doctrine of time and of the last things, and now explains the present age of this universe. In this sermon on Romans 8:18–23 titled “Minimizing Suffering,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Christian should never make light of their suffering because Christians know about the greatness that is to come. In fact, the whole of creation is looking forward to that day. Scripture teaches that all creation has an earnest expectation for the manifestation of God; creation is actually groaning with anticipation for that time. Why would creation also be looking forward to that day? Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that it is because of the fate of creation is linked with that of humanity. Humanity’s sin caused the whole world to be affected by vanity and corruption and creation cannot free itself. It is that sin that causes creation to actually decay and will only be liberated in that day alongside the children of God. In that time, the whole of creation and those who are in Christ will all be redeemed.

Romans 8:18 — In Romans 8:18, Paul says that no present trial or suffering is to compare with the glory that is to come. What would enable a person to say that? In this sermon on Romans 8:18 titled “A Share in the Glory,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains this view of Christians in two viewpoints. There are certain sufferings that only Christians have but a Christian also has a hope that is to come and this outshines any hardships they are currently experiencing. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that a Christian has a correct view of time and their life in this world. There is a distinct separation of time in this present world and then there is eternity with Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also says that the Christian has grasped Scripture in light of what is to come. A Christian should continually declare the name of the Lord and do His will until that day comes; everything one does should be done in light of that great day. The future glory is already here but has not yet been revealed. Christians do not belong to this present age but are citizens of another age and eagerly awaiting that day. Those who are in Christ will not be spectators but actual partakers of that glory.

Romans 8:18 — How should Christians react to suffering? This is a difficult question, but it is also an important question. All who live in this world suffer from the effects of sin and death. Even Jesus Himself suffered while He was on earth. In this sermon on Romans 8:18 titled “Reactions to Suffering,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns against the wrong reactions to suffering in life. Whether one is angry at God or doubts His goodness, the Christian is prone to lose their trust in the face of suffering. But the Bible tells that suffering is never purposeless, nor is suffering the ultimate fate of those who trust in Christ. The greatest hope is not in worldly social reform or in political campaigns, but it is in the reality that Christ has died for His people and is making all things new. Rather than looking to themselves in times of suffering, the Christian must look to Christ who has died in their place so that they might be redeemed from sin and its curse. This hope is only possible for those who believe in the gospel.

Romans 8:17-18 — According to Genesis 1–2, humanity is the crown of God’s creation. Adam and Eve’s innocent state before the God whose image and likeness they reflected represented the tremendous glory given to them. Sadly, all this was affected by the fall. What then is the ultimate goal of salvation? As wonderful as forgiveness of sin may be, is salvation merely that? As gracious as avoiding the eternal wrath of God in hell would be, is that all salvation is about? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says in this sermon on salvation that God should be praised because salvation is so much more. Not only does the Christian attain the original glory of humanity in the garden, but in Christ they anticipate and will receive much more glory than Adam ever experienced – perfection. In this sermon on Romans 8:17–18 titled “Purpose of Salvation,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones lays out the apostle Paul’s argument regarding the glorification that awaits the Christian. Glorification is the Christian’s goal, not mere justification, and not even sanctification. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says a biblical view of glorification is important for Christian lives, especially during times of great suffering. In fact, Paul constantly connects suffering with glory in the life of the believer. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones brings out the great implications and application of this truth for the Christian life today.