What Does Lloyd-Jones Teach About Sin's Punishment and God's Salvation?

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the first great statement of the Christian gospel?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the first great statement of the Christian gospel is that we deserve nothing but total destruction. He states: "I want to put this before you this evening as the first great statement of the Christian gospel." He emphasizes that we must realize "as members of the human race that we deserve nothing but total destruction" and asks his audience if they admit, confess, and acknowledge this truth. This is the essential preliminary to the gospel - recognizing that we have no claim on God's mercy and deserve only punishment.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe man's ability to save himself?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that man is "totally unable or incapable of doing anything about his own salvation." He points to the phrase "Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant" to demonstrate that if God hadn't acted, destruction would have been inevitable, meaning humans could do nothing themselves. He explains that "no man is ever saved until he realizes that he can't save himself" and outlines specific inabilities: man cannot evade God, cannot create within himself a desire for God, cannot find God by searching, cannot atone for past sins, cannot produce adequate righteousness, and cannot break free from "sin's foul bondage."

What comparison does Lloyd-Jones use to illustrate what mankind deserves?

Lloyd-Jones uses the comparison of Sodom and Gomorrah to illustrate what mankind deserves. He quotes Isaiah 1:9: "Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom and we should have been like unto Gomorrah." He explains that Sodom and Gomorrah experienced total destruction as punishment for their sin, and humanity deserves the same fate. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that there is "no plea that can be offered" and "nothing that can be said in mitigation of the sentence and of the wrath of God."

According to Lloyd-Jones, what is the only reason anyone is saved?

According to Lloyd-Jones, salvation is "entirely of God" and comes solely from His character and action. He emphasizes that God was "under no obligation whatsoever" to save anyone, and if He had condemned everyone, "nobody'd ever complained against him." The only reason anyone is saved is because of God's own character - "because he's God. It is because he's a God of love and a God of grace and a God of mercy and of kindness and of compassion." Lloyd-Jones stresses that "the very one whom we've offended is the very one who delivers us" through Christ's work, not through any human merit or effort.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones summarize the message of the entire Bible?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones summarizes the message of the entire Bible as consisting of "just those two things" - telling men why things are as they are (the problem of sin) and then telling them how they can be put right (salvation through Christ). He states: "The Bible is God's book to men, telling men why things are with him as they are and then telling him how they can be put right. It's an astounding thing, but that is the whole message of the Bible." He explains that the Bible takes us through history and details, but is ultimately focused on diagnosing humanity's condition and providing God's remedy.