Has God's Life Come Into You?
A Sermon on John 1:12-13
Originally preached April 7, 1963
Scripture
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Sermon Description
There is one fact that must be true of the converted Christian: belief in the name of Jesus Christ for salvation. However, there are many circumstances that surround the conversion of Christians. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones uses John 1:12–13 to explain that while some Christians grow up in a home where the gospel is often taught, others are saved out of an unbelieving family or friend group. He elaborates that each of these Christians face unique temptations to question the legitimacy of their salvation and therefore must apply specific tests to their own life to gain surety of their salvation: “Do you remain unaffected by your knowledge of God, or are you changed and gripped by it? Is your faith something that you use when convenient, or does God’s word master and direct your life?”
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones uses these tests and others to help the Christian assess and test their standing in faith and produce a defensible assurance of faith. Dr. Lloyd-Jones elaborates that the unbeliever is consumed with what they do, whereas the true believer is primarily concerned with what they are. The unbeliever works toward creating an identity. The believer works from his newfound Christian identity toward Christian behavior.
Sermon Breakdown
- Our general relationship to Christianity and its message is a test of whether we are truly Christians. If our faith merely "overshadows" us but does not penetrate us, that is a sign we are not truly Christians. True Christians are controlled by their faith, not in control of it.
- We become less interested in the general, external aspects of religion (denominations, social aspects, preachers) and more interested in spiritual realities and our relationship with God. This is a sign of being a true Christian.
- We become less interested in what we "get" from God and more interested in God himself. We see relating to God as a privilege, not a way to get our needs and demands met. This is a sign of being a child of God.
- We become less negative and prohibitive in our view of faith and more positive and delighted. We do not follow God out of fear but out of love and joy. This is a sign of being a true Christian.
- We become increasingly concerned with the state of our heart and spiritual growth, not just with knowledge or past experiences. This is a sign of being a child of God.
- We delight in spiritual food - God's Word, prayer, fellowship - like a child delights in their father. This is a sign of being a Christian.
Sermon Q&A
What Tests Confirm You Are a Child of God According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What is the main text Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines in this sermon?
According to the sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines John 1:12-13: "But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of men, but of God." This text forms the foundation for his discussion about how one can know they are truly a child of God.
What is the difference between being religious and being a Christian according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes a clear distinction between being merely religious and being a true Christian. He states that a religious person has Christianity as something that "overshadows them instead of penetrating them." For the religious person, faith is external, occasional, and something they control. In contrast, the true Christian is controlled by their faith - it has taken hold of them from within. As Lloyd-Jones puts it, the Christian is "trying to apprehend that by which I have been apprehended" (referencing Paul's words in Philippians 3).
What are the personal tests Lloyd-Jones suggests for confirming one is a child of God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers several personal tests: 1. Being controlled by faith rather than controlling it 2. Becoming less interested in the general aspects of religion (denominations, machinery, etc.) 3. Being more concerned about the state of one's heart than external activities 4. Having a positive delight in spiritual things rather than a negative, fear-based approach 5. Being more interested in the privilege of knowing God than in making demands of Him 6. Having a genuine appetite for Scripture and prayer - finding them as "honey" to the soul
How does Lloyd-Jones describe the relationship between a true child of God and Scripture?
Lloyd-Jones describes the true child of God as having a genuine hunger and thirst for God's Word. He references Ezekiel 3:1-3 where the prophet eats the scroll and it tastes "as honey for sweetness." The child of God doesn't read Scripture as a duty or to check off a religious task but finds genuine delight in it. He asks, "Is this as honey to you? Do you enjoy it?" This appetite for Scripture is an internal marker of being truly born of God.
What does Lloyd-Jones say about the relationship between knowledge and being a child of God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that mere knowledge, even theological knowledge, doesn't make one a child of God. He states that "you can be a great reader of the Bible itself, of theology and of doctrine and church history, and still not be a child of God." The child of God is more concerned about the state of their heart than the knowledge they accumulate. Knowledge alone, Lloyd-Jones warns, "puffeth up" with pride, while the true child of God is concerned with their spiritual condition and growth.
How does Lloyd-Jones contrast the attitude of religious people and true Christians toward God's house?
The merely religious person attends worship out of duty, fear, or because they're "playing for safety." In contrast, the true child of God delights in God's house like the Psalmist who said, "I'd sooner be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the ungodly." The child of God doesn't have to force themselves to worship - they naturally desire it, like a bird returning to its nest. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that for the true Christian, worship is not an obligation but a privilege they eagerly anticipate.
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.