A Sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:17
A New Man
Originally preached June 4, 1961
Scripture
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Sermon Description
How does a Christian look into the unknown of eternity without fear, and also with special longing? There are no shortcuts in Christianity. “You can never arrive at the result without going through the process,” preaches Dr. Lloyd-Jones. Listen to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones as he preaches this sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:17 about taking a serious perspective in looking at humanity’s current situation. Christianity does not change circumstances — it changes the person. This is something done to humans by God as they cannot make the necessary discoveries. In this sermon, the most urgent questions will be answered and the listener will consider humanity in a new way. The listener is challenged to consider the souls of humanity and stop thinking after the knowledge, authority, and ability of the flesh. The whole of creation is divided based on the individual’s relationship to God; nothing else divides. Do not miss the benefits and blessings of this gospel and be transformed with this new nature that changes everything.
Sermon Breakdown
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The passage under consideration is 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
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The chapter begins with the assurance that we have an eternal heavenly dwelling. This is the great offer and challenge of the Christian gospel.
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How can we face death with assurance and triumph? The answer is given in this chapter. We must believe what the Scriptures teach.
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Many want the benefits of Christianity but do not accept the Christian way. There are no shortcuts. We must accept fundamental doctrines.
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This is something done to us by God, not ourselves. We cannot attain it by our own efforts or works. It is a work of God.
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This change is radical and profound. It is a new creation, not a modification or addition to life. It revolutionizes life.
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This new creation is the work of the God who created us. There is hope for all through God's power and grace.
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The Christian message is different from all else. It does not change circumstances but changes us. We see differently.
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So too the Christian sees life differently. Old things pass away, all becomes new.
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This change of seeing comes from God working in us. We do not achieve it ourselves. God makes us anew.
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This is not a cloak we put on but a revolution at our center. We have a new nature and principle of life.
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The greatest tragedy is inadequate views of Christianity. It is not morality but a new creation.
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The world tries to change circumstances. Christianity changes us so we see differently.
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We cannot know God or truth by our own efforts. We must submit to God's way.
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The world thinks "after the flesh" - by its own powers and for this life. The Christian thinks spiritually, focused on God and eternity.
Sermon Q&A
What Does It Mean to Be a New Creature in Christ According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What does it mean that "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being a "new creature in Christ" means a complete transformation of one's nature rather than a mere modification of behavior. He emphasizes that "Christianity is not an addition to life. It's a revolution in the life. It's the ending of something and the beginning of something new." This transformation is so radical that the person receives "a new faculty which governs and controls everything from the very heart and center of his life." Lloyd-Jones contrasts this with superficial views of Christianity that see it merely as behavior modification or "putting on a cloak" on Sundays.
How does Christianity change a person's outlook on life and death?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christianity doesn't change circumstances but changes us. When a person becomes a new creature in Christ, their entire perception changes - "Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new." The Christian sees everything differently, including life, death, God, and eternity. This new outlook enables believers to face death without fear, saying, "I know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God and house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." The Christian can "smile at the grave" because they see beyond death to eternal life.
Who makes this transformation happen according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically states that this transformation is "something that is done to us by God and not by ourselves." He references verse 5 where it says, "He that hath wrought us for the self same thing is God." Lloyd-Jones explains that no one can become a Christian through self-effort, intellectual seeking, or moral improvement. Rather, it is God who creates us anew, just as He created everything in the beginning. "The God who made me at the beginning can make me anew," he states, describing this as "the gospel of God's activity, the regeneration, the new beginning."
How does Lloyd-Jones contrast worldly thinking with Christian thinking?
Lloyd-Jones distinguishes between thinking "after the flesh" and thinking with a renewed mind. He explains that the world always tries to change circumstances, while Christianity changes the person. The world thinks "in terms of man, life in this world," making "arrangements and pacts and compromises." In contrast, Christians have "different tests, different standards, different everything." The Christian is concerned about eternal matters rather than temporary ones, seeing everything in relation to God rather than merely in human terms. Lloyd-Jones says the Christian "has only one point of reference. It's God. Everything is brought to the light of God."
Why does Lloyd-Jones believe the world's attempts to solve its problems will fail?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that the world's attempts to solve its problems through political negotiations, disarmament conferences, and changing circumstances will ultimately fail because they don't address the root issue. "The Bible teaches that while the man is in sin and is an enemy against God and an alien from God, that there are going to be wars and rumors of wars," he states. He explains that human nature itself is the problem - "it's man in sin" with "lust in his heart." Therefore, any solution that doesn't involve changing human nature through God's regenerating power will be insufficient and temporary at best.
Other Sermons
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.