A State of Warfare
A Sermon on Isaiah 40:1-2
Originally preached May 2, 1954
Scripture
1Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
Sermon Description
The Christian life is altogether the work of God, not humanity. God’s word is from Him and to those waging warfare against Him. In this sermon on Isaiah 40:1–2 titled “A State of Warfare,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses sin, peace, and the mark of a true Christian that separates them from all others. Humanity is not what it was meant to be—iniquity is a perversion and wrongness that completely misses God’s mark. No one can buy or learn peace. The world searches for peace by their own means, but sin is a hard taskmaster. The greatest folly of humanity is thinking that they can bring real peace within themselves or outside of themselves, while forgetting God. This sermon is unlike many other messages—it is a message of comfort, not a call for anyone to save themselves but to receive a new life and be made into a new creature. The mark of God’s own people is a unique recognition and confession of their own sin. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones calls all to a standard of biblical ownership, so that they no longer shift the blame for personal sin to God, others, or circumstances.
Sermon Breakdown
- The message comes from God. God is speaking and addressing his servant, Isaiah.
- The message is for those in a state of warfare - in trouble, weary, and burdened by sin. Life is difficult and overwhelming.
- The cause of this warfare is iniquity (perverseness, wrongness) and sin (missing the mark, not doing what we ought to do). Man is not what he was meant to be.
- The message to those in this state is comfort. God speaks to the heart and meets us where we are.
- The message is pardon - forgiveness of sins. Though we deserve punishment, God is satisfied by the death of Christ. Our sins have been dealt with.
- The message promises a change in condition - the end of warfare. We are given new life, a new nature, new desires, and new power. Blessings abound.
- The message is for God's people - those who recognize their sin, don't blame God, and are amazed by His grace.
- The message is the gospel - reconciliation, pardon, new life, and relationship with God.
Sermon Q&A
What Is the Central Message of Isaiah 40:1-2 According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explores the profound message found in Isaiah 40:1-2, highlighting key elements of the Christian gospel. Here's an explanation of this important passage.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the first fundamental point about the Christian gospel?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the first fundamental point is that the gospel is a message sent by God Himself. He emphasizes, "The first thing we have to understand about the Christian way of life and the Christian way of salvation is that it is entirely and altogether from God." This contradicts common misconceptions that God is against us or that Christianity is primarily human effort to find God. Rather, God took the initiative in salvation, sending prophets, messages, and ultimately His Son.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe mankind's natural condition according to Isaiah 40?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that mankind is in a state of "warfare" - meaning a condition of struggle, travail, and conflict. This warfare manifests as: - Internal conflict (struggling with lusts, passions, and desires) - Relational strife (problems between people) - General unhappiness and frustration
He states this condition results from two things mentioned in the text: "iniquity" (perverseness or wrongness) and "sin" (missing the mark). Mankind has become twisted from its original purpose, leading to all the warfare we experience.
What is the surprising message God sends to people in this warfare condition?
The surprising message is one of comfort. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes, "Go and comfort. What an astounding thing to people in that condition, in this state of warfare, because of their iniquity, because of their sin, because of their folly, because of their rebellion against God, to such rebels, to such miserable creatures, the message that is sent is comfort."
This comfort comes in two forms: 1. Pardon for iniquity - "That her iniquity is pardoned" 2. End of warfare - "That her warfare is accomplished"
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the meaning of "she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers two interpretations: 1. That God has meted out sufficient punishment for sin in Christ's death, satisfying His justice 2. That God gives not only forgiveness, but "double blessing" - overwhelming grace that far exceeds the measure of our sins
He says, "Though sin was terrible and deserved punishment, God not only has removed the punishment in the death of Christ and given pardon, he gives infinitely more."
Who are "my people" to whom this comfort is directed?
"My people" are those who have: - Realized their terrible iniquity and sinfulness - Stopped blaming God and instead blame themselves - Come to understand they deserve God's judgment - Faced honestly their own sinful nature without making excuses
Dr. Lloyd-Jones says the mark of God's people is that "they are simply amazed that God has ever tolerated them at all and hasn't blotted them out long ago."
This sermon powerfully demonstrates that the gospel begins with God's initiative to comfort sinners and provide not just forgiveness but a complete transformation of their condition.
Old Testament
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.