Strangers and Pilgrims (1)
A Sermon on Romans 13:11-14
Originally preached April 28, 1967
Scripture
11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us …
Sermon Description
It can be easy to lose faith in oneself when feelings change quickly. In this sermon on Romans 13:11–14 titled “Strangers and Pilgrims (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds that regardless of feelings, one’s position is sure if they are a follower of Jesus. Feelings come and go but thankfully they do not influence one’s position or relationship with Jesus since it is centered in Him and His work, not theirs. Christians are charged throughout Scripture that they are to be different from the world because of the change they have undergone in Christ. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, Paul calls believers to walk as children of the day, yet he mentions that the day is still to come— how can it be both? As he explains, Christians are already in the day because they are believers. Even though it is in the future, Christians are there in spirit because they are followers of Christ. Paul’s point is that their citizenship is in heaven and must act like it. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains how the knowledge of one’s conversion ought to drive their actions and how this concept of the “now and not-yet” applies to today.
Sermon Breakdown
- Christians have a different view of time, life, and the future because of the change that has taken place in them.
- The Christian belongs to "us" and "our", not "them" and "they". Christians have been taken out of darkness and brought into light.
- The most important thing about salvation is not feelings or experiences, but the change in nature, relationship, and position. Christians have a new nature and belong to the family of God.
- The Christian life is not determined by behavior but by nature. Christians should live better lives because of what they are, not what they feel like.
- The Christian is born again with a new nature and is a partaker of the divine nature. Christians are essentially different from non-Christians.
- The change in the Christian is a tremendous thing. Christians no longer belong to the night but to the day. They belong to the light, not the darkness.
- Christians can experience feelings of misery, but their position and relationship as children of God does not change. Their feelings do not determine their identity.
- Christians have a different view of the future because their citizenship is in heaven. They are strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
- In a spiritual sense, Christians already belong to the day even though the day has not yet fully come. Christians already belong to the light and are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
- Christians look forward to the fullness of glory to come, but glory has already begun in them. They experience foretastes of heaven on earth.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 13:11-14
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "knowing the time" in Romans 13:11?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "knowing the time" refers to understanding the specific period in which Christians are living - the time between Christ's first and second advents. He emphasizes that this is "the only thing that matters" in terms of how we view time. Unlike the world's perspective of time, Christians should understand their place in God's redemptive timeline, recognizing they live in the period between Christ's first coming and His anticipated return.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the apparent contradiction between "the day is at hand" and "walk as in the day"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while the day (Christ's return) is still future, Christians already belong to the day spiritually. He states, "The day is yet to come. The day is in the future. He's made that quite clear. But the wonderful thing is this, that we who are Christians already belong to the day, though we are still living in this world." This is not a contradiction but reveals the dual reality of the Christian life - physically present in the world but spiritually already partaking in the coming kingdom.
What fundamental distinction does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize between Christians and non-Christians?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christians have undergone a fundamental change in nature and position. He explains: "The Christian is not merely a little bit better than somebody else. The point about him is that he's absolutely different. There is this difference in nature, this difference in relationship." This distinction is not based on behavior alone but on having been "born again" with a new nature. He describes it as being "taken from darkness and have been put into the light."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones address the role of feelings in salvation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that feelings are not the primary or essential aspect of salvation. He states, "Salvation must never be thought of primarily or essentially in terms of feelings or experiences. They're involved, but in many ways they are the least important part of salvation." He uses the illustration of a royal child who may feel unhappy but whose position in the royal family remains unchanged regardless of feelings. Similarly, a Christian's status in God's family doesn't depend on fluctuating emotions.
What does it mean that Christians are "seated in heavenly places" according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christians are simultaneously present in the world physically while spiritually seated "in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." He describes this astounding reality: "At this moment, because you are a Christian and because you are in Christ, you are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus... at one and the same time, you are sitting on a seat in Westminster Chapel, but in spirit, you are sitting in the heavenly places, walled by the side of and in Christ Jesus." This spiritual position is already true of believers even while they await the full manifestation of glory.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe Christians as "strangers and pilgrims"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes Christians as those who "no longer belong to this world" despite still living in it. Using Peter's language, he explains that believers are "strangers and pilgrims" whose true citizenship is in heaven. He states: "We are in it, not of it. We are men who are away from home." Christians should recognize that they are temporarily sojourning in this world while their true home and citizenship are heavenly. This understanding should shape their conduct and perspective during their earthly pilgrimage.
How does the "new birth" relate to Christian identity according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the new birth is "the essence of Christianity." He explains that Christians have been born again, receiving "a new nature" and becoming "partakers of the divine nature." This rebirth fundamentally changes a person's spiritual identity and relationship to God. It's not about moral improvement but spiritual transformation. He clarifies that "you judge whether a man is a Christian or not, not by his behavior, but by his nature" - though behavior should naturally follow from this new nature.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the concept of "glory begun below"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones, quoting Isaac Watts, explains that "glory has already begun for us" even while awaiting complete glorification. He describes Christian experiences as "literal foretastes of heaven" - not merely "worldly entertainment purified" but actual glimpses of heavenly glory experienced in the present. While Christians await full glorification at Christ's return, they already participate in glory spiritually. As he puts it: "Glory has already started for us, and yet we look forward to the glory which we shall enter into fully, perfectly."
The Book of Romans
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.