The Gospel of the Glory of Christ
A Sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Originally preached Feb. 26, 1961
Scripture
1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight …
Sermon Description
What is Christianity? Many see Christianity as nothing more than another philosophical or political view. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 4:1–6 titled “The Gospel of the Glory of Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains why this is completely wrong. He says that Christianity is about the person and work of Christ. It is about what God has done to save sinners doomed to death. Jesus is not just another religious teacher, but He is the perfect imprint of God’s nature, God Himself. Since He is God, He is glorious and perfect, but as a man He died in the place of sinners so that all who believe in Him might be saved from sin. Jesus is worthy of all praise and glory, and demands all human worship. It is Jesus who is supremely revealed in Scripture, and it is Jesus that will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. This sermon is a call for all men and women to forsake their sin and come to Jesus. He invites all sinners to leave behind their evil ways and come to Him for their righteousness. There is nothing more to do other than to come to Jesus and be saved.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is making a statement about himself and his preaching in 2 Corinthians 4:1-6.
- He is defending himself against charges brought against him that he is not an apostle and has no right to preach.
- However, Paul is more concerned with defending the truth of the gospel than himself.
- Paul says he does not use deceit or cunning or tamper with God's word. He preaches the truth plainly.
- If the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
- The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to prevent them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
- Paul does not preach himself but Jesus Christ as Lord and himself as a servant for Jesus's sake.
- God commanded light to shine out of darkness and has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones has preached from this passage three times previously.
- Paul is telling the Corinthians why they should listen to his preaching.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones is also telling the listeners why they should listen to his preaching.
- The gospel gives light and knowledge about ourselves and our condition.
- The gospel shows that the world's condition is due to our own condition as sinful human beings.
- The gospel provides the remedy for our condition through the glory of Christ.
- The glory of Christ is the most important fact in the world.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Explain About the Glory of Christ?
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "the gospel of the glory of Christ"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "the gospel of the glory of Christ" refers to the good news about who Jesus Christ truly is and what He has done. It's not merely a teaching or philosophy but rather the revelation of Christ's divine nature, His work of redemption, and His sovereign position. As Lloyd-Jones puts it: "The gospel is light. It's good news. Why? Well, for this reason, it is good news because it gives us knowledge. It gives us instruction." He emphasizes that this gospel reveals the most vital and important facts humans can consider, particularly about Christ's glory.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the uniqueness of Christ's person?
According to Lloyd-Jones, Christ is utterly unique in human history because He is "the image of God" - the exact representation of God Himself. Unlike all other humans who bear the image of their parents or ancestors, Christ bears the image of God because He is God incarnate. Lloyd-Jones states: "This is what we are concerned, therefore, to preach is that here is one who is absolutely alone and apart... He's God as well as man. He's got two natures in him. He's only one person, but he's divine and he's human at the same time." He points to Christ's virgin birth, His miraculous works, and His transfiguration as evidence of His divine glory.
What aspects of Christ's work does Lloyd-Jones highlight as glorious?
Lloyd-Jones highlights several aspects of Christ's work as particularly glorious:
- His incarnation - leaving heaven's glory to become human
- His self-humiliation - "He made himself of no reputation"
- His sacrificial death - submitting to shame, mockery, and crucifixion
- His resurrection - conquering death
- His redemptive purpose - doing all this to save those who were "lost" and "damned"
He says: "The glory of the self-abasement, the self-humiliation. The glory of the incarnation, the life lived, the death, the burial, the resurrection. The glory of Christ."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about Christ's present position?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christ is currently "seated at the right hand of God in heaven, in the glory at this very minute." He emphasizes Christ's lordship over the universe: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. And that is true this evening. He is the Lord of the universe." Despite the world's current troubles, Lloyd-Jones explains that Christ is sovereignly ruling and reigning, allowing humanity time to demonstrate its inability to solve its own problems apart from God, before His ultimate judgment.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about Christ's future coming?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christ will return in visible glory as judge of the world. He describes this as "the glory of his future coming," stating: "There's a day coming, my friend, when this same Christ, this same Jesus of Nazareth will be seen coming on the clouds of heaven surrounded by a host of holy angels in glory indescribable." Unlike His first coming as a humble baby, Christ will return "as this mighty conqueror, this king supreme, universal, the judge of the whole earth." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this future coming will reveal Christ's glory in a way that makes all earthly pomp and ceremony pale in comparison.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe people fail to see the glory of Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones attributes people's failure to see Christ's glory to spiritual blindness. He states: "If this is not to you the most glorious thing that's ever happened, the most glorious and the most wonderful thing that you've ever heard, there's only one explanation. You're absolutely blind." He explains that the "god of this world" (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers to prevent them from seeing "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." This spiritual blindness is the fundamental problem of humanity - not merely outward sins but the inability to recognize and respond to Christ's glory.
What is the remedy for spiritual blindness according to Lloyd-Jones?
The remedy for spiritual blindness, according to Lloyd-Jones, is to cry out to God for mercy and ask Him to give spiritual sight. He urges his listeners: "Confess it to him. Acknowledge your blindness, your deadness, your utter darkness. Ask him to open your eyes. Ask him to give you life. Ask him to give you understanding." Lloyd-Jones promises that God will respond to such humble requests, and when someone truly sees Christ's glory, they will be "absolutely different... a new man in a new world" with "a new nature, a new everything."
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.