The Good News of Salvation
A Sermon on Acts 5:29-32
Originally preached April 6, 1958
Scripture
29¶ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and …
Sermon Description
How great is the gospel? To see the transforming and saving power of the Gospel, there is no better place to look than the early church. In this sermon on Acts 5:29–32, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks to the great deeds of the Apostles as they stand against persecution and boldly proclaim the gospel. After the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, Peter, John, and the other disciples have no fear in the face of persecution. They are beaten and imprisoned, but what do they do? They continue to preach Christ and Him crucified. This shows the great power of God, that He can work to change fearful fishermen into bold heralds of the kingdom of God. What does this message have to offer modern Christians and the church of today? The message of God’s faithfulness and the good news of salvation is a timeless message that the church always needs to hear. God has promised that He will give His Holy Spirit to the church, and He will empower believers to take the good news of salvation to the ends of the earth. This is so that all people might know that Jesus is the Savior of the world who has died for sinners so that all who believe are saved and made children of God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostles continued preaching despite threats because they were eyewitnesses of Jesus and his resurrection.
- They were filled with the Holy Spirit and compelled to share the Gospel.
- They feared God more than man and were obedient to God's command to preach the Gospel.
- They were concerned for the souls of their persecutors and wanted them to repent and be saved.
- The message of salvation is that Jesus gives repentance and forgiveness of sins as a free gift.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding Martin Lloyd-Jones' Easter Message on Acts 5:29-32
What was Martin Lloyd-Jones' main point in his Easter sermon on Acts 5:29-32?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones' central message was about why Christians continue to preach the gospel despite opposition, mockery, or persecution. He explained that the apostles persisted in preaching about Jesus even when threatened with imprisonment and death because they were eyewitnesses of profound truths, were empowered by the Holy Spirit, feared God more than men, and had genuine concern for the souls of others—even their persecutors.
Why did the apostles say "we ought to obey God rather than men"?
The apostles said this because they recognized a higher authority than human institutions. Lloyd-Jones explained that while they respected human authorities, they feared God more because they had witnessed His superior power in raising Jesus from the dead, opening prison doors, and sending the Holy Spirit. As Peter said, God had commanded them to preach, and they understood that disobeying God carried far more serious consequences than disobeying men.
How did Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the apostles' motivation for continuing to preach?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the apostles continued preaching for four main reasons: 1. They were eyewitnesses to extraordinary events—Christ's miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension 2. They were filled with and driven by the power of the Holy Spirit 3. They feared God more than human authorities or death itself 4. They were deeply concerned about people's souls and wanted to share the gift of salvation
What did Lloyd-Jones say about Jesus being "a prince and a savior"?
Lloyd-Jones explained that Jesus being "a prince" means He is the moral governor of the universe, with all power in heaven and earth given to Him, and the appointed judge of the world. Being "a savior" means He offers salvation as a free gift to sinners. This dual role shows that while Jesus has ultimate authority as ruler and judge, He also mercifully offers salvation to those who would otherwise face His judgment.
How did Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the "gift of repentance and forgiveness of sins"?
Lloyd-Jones described this as Christ's free gift to sinners where: 1. Repentance: Christ, through the Holy Spirit, enables a person to truly see themselves as a sinner in need of salvation 2. Forgiveness: He then offers complete remission of sins, blotting out past transgressions and clearing the account 3. This gift means believers need no longer fear death, the grave, or judgment
Why did Lloyd-Jones believe this message is still relevant today?
Lloyd-Jones stressed that modern people still face the same fundamental reality: everyone must eventually face Jesus Christ. He emphasized that no one can ultimately escape or evade Christ, who has been exalted as prince and judge of the universe. The message remains relevant because the human condition, our need for salvation, and Christ's offer of forgiveness are unchanged. As Lloyd-Jones put it: "You'll never get rid of Jesus Christ. Do what you will... But he'll come back, and back and back. And at the end you'll have to face him."
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.