Conocimiento de la Verdad
Un sermón Efesios 4:20-21
Predicado originalmente 9 de marzo de 1958
Escritura
20Mas vosotros no habéis aprendido así á Cristo:
21Si empero lo habéis oído, y habéis sido por él enseñados, como la verdad está en Jesús,
Descripción del Sermón
La salvación solo ocurre al arrepentirse del pecado y creer en Jesucristo. En este sermón sobre Efesios 4:20-21 titulado "Conocimiento de la Verdad", el Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones advierte contra aquellos que reducen la salvación a un mero consentimiento intelectual. El evangelio no depende de la sabiduría de las personas ni de su capacidad para comprenderlo. Todos nacen en pecado y ceguera, incapaces de ver la verdad o conocer a Dios. Pero el verdadero cristianismo y la fe son resultado de lo que el Espíritu Santo hace al dar vida a los muertos y hacerlos nuevas criaturas en Cristo Jesús el Salvador. Entender la verdadera doctrina y la piedad son resultado de la salvación, no el medio para alcanzarla. Todos los que son verdaderamente salvos tienen un conocimiento creciente de Dios, mientras Su palabra es absorbida por corazones liberados de la naturaleza cegadora del pecado. Aquellos que saben mucho sobre la Biblia y la doctrina pero que nunca han sido quebrantados por su pecado están engañados y perdidos. Presumen que el entendimiento intelectual es un sustituto aceptable para la confesión del pecado y la fe en Cristo. La iglesia debe estar siempre alerta de no confundir estos dos tipos de conocimiento. Muchos están autoengañados y perdidos porque no tienen una relación real con Dios, sino que están inflados de conocimiento.
Desglose del Sermón
- El cristianismo es principalmente un asunto de conocimiento y entendimiento, no solo de sentimientos o experiencias.
- Convertirse en cristiano significa experimentar un cambio profundo en el entendimiento. Nuestros ojos han sido abiertos a la verdad.
- Lo primero que sucede cuando alguien se convierte en cristiano es que sus ojos se abren a su propia condición desesperada y necesidad de un salvador.
- Nuestros ojos se abren entonces para ver la verdad del evangelio - que Jesús es el Mesías y libertador.
- Esta apertura de ojos y obtención de entendimiento es la obra del Espíritu Santo. Nadie llega a la fe solo por capacidad natural.
- La "unción" del Espíritu Santo da discernimiento y entendimiento, incluso a los sencillos y sin educación.
- "Aprender a Cristo" significa llegar al conocimiento de la verdad sobre Él - quién es Él y lo que ha hecho.
- Este conocimiento de Cristo no es solo un conocimiento de doctrina o teología en sentido abstracto. Es un conocimiento personal de Cristo mismo.
- El conocimiento de Cristo no es solo que nuestros pecados son perdonados, sino que Cristo nos libera del pecado mismo.
- El conocimiento de Cristo es "la verdad que está en Jesús" - significa que la verdad se encuentra solo en la persona histórica de Jesús, no solo en ideas.
- En Jesús "están escondidos todos los tesoros de la sabiduría y el conocimiento." Toda la verdad se encuentra en Él.
- Nunca debemos separar el conocimiento de la doctrina de la persona de Cristo. El conocimiento de Cristo conduce a una nueva vida conformada a Él.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Learning Christ
What does it mean to "learn Christ" according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, to "learn Christ" means to come to a true knowledge of Christ that transforms one's life completely. It is not merely a vague feeling or experience, but something definable and describable. He emphasizes that Christianity is "primarily and essentially a matter of knowledge." This knowledge includes understanding one's own estate and condition, seeing the folly of one's old life, recognizing one's relationship to God, and understanding the meaning of the gospel. It is a personal knowledge of Christ as Savior, Deliverer, and Messiah.
How does Lloyd-Jones differentiate between Christians and non-Christians in this sermon?
Lloyd-Jones describes a profound contrast between Christians and non-Christians. Non-Christians have their minds darkened, are alienated from the life of God because of ignorance, and have hardened hearts. Christians, on the other hand, have undergone "the profoundest operation that ever takes place in the whole of the universe." They have been "born again, born of the spirit, born from above," are "partakers of the divine nature," and are "new creations." This difference is so apparent that both the Christian and non-Christian are aware of it, as illustrated by John Bunyan's account of Vanity Fair in Pilgrim's Progress.
Why does Lloyd-Jones say that the Holy Spirit is essential in the process of "learning Christ"?
Lloyd-Jones emphatically states that only the Holy Spirit can enable someone to truly learn Christ. Given the darkness of understanding and hardness of heart that characterizes non-Christians, "nothing but the Holy Spirit can enlighten this darkness, soften the heart, and enable the truth to penetrate and to grip and to master the person." He cites 1 John 2:20, 27 about having an "unction from the Holy One" and an "anointing" that teaches. This divine enablement makes salvation equitable - not dependent on natural intelligence or education but available to anyone through the Spirit's work.
What is the significance of Lloyd-Jones' distinction between "Christ" and "Jesus" in Ephesians 4:20-21?
Lloyd-Jones points out a profound theological significance in Paul's shift from "learned Christ" (v.20) to "the truth is in Jesus" (v.21). This represents "the particularity of the gospel" - Christianity is not about vague concepts or a "cosmic Christ" but is tied to the historic person of Jesus of Nazareth. This distinguishes Christianity from all other religions which are merely ideas or philosophies. Christianity is "an announcement of certain facts and events which have taken place in history," specifically centered on the historical Jesus. Our salvation is not based on applying his teaching but on Jesus himself.
How does Lloyd-Jones refute the idea that Christianity is merely about forgiveness of sins?
Lloyd-Jones strongly refutes the notion that Christianity is merely about forgiveness of sins. He warns that if the gospel were merely an announcement that sins are forgiven through Christ's death, it wouldn't deliver people from the sinful behaviors that held the Ephesians captive. Some might conclude, "It's all right. It doesn't matter how much we sin. It's all going to be forgiven." He calls this a "terrible" teaching - while the gospel does announce forgiveness of sins, it isn't only that. True learning of Christ leads to transformation of life and behavior, not just a theoretical forgiveness that allows continued sinning.
Why does Lloyd-Jones warn against merely intellectual knowledge of Christian doctrine?
Lloyd-Jones warns that merely intellectual or theoretical knowledge of doctrine and theology "is of no value to us at all" and "may be a curse." While doctrine is essential (a person "can't be a Christian without a modicum of doctrine"), having doctrine "in your mind" or "in theory" without it changing you is dangerous. He asserts that "a mere knowledge of doctrine, which doesn't lead to a new life, is of the devil." The devil may even encourage people to study doctrine if it makes them "harsh and hard and intolerant" while their lives remain unaffected. True doctrine should lead to increasing personal knowledge of Christ and corresponding changes in conduct.
What does Lloyd-Jones mean when he says "the truth is in Jesus"?
When Lloyd-Jones speaks of "the truth is in Jesus," he emphasizes that "the truth is only in Jesus, and it's nowhere else." Citing Colossians 2:2-3, he states that "in Christ Jesus are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge." This means "all the truth is in Jesus. And there is no truth outside Jesus. Everything is in him. He alone is the truth." He also references Acts 4 where Peter declared "neither is there salvation in any other" and Jesus' own words in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Lloyd-Jones warns against separating doctrine from the person of Jesus, emphasizing that "salvation has come in a person."
How does the apostle Paul describe the condition of non-Christians in this passage?
According to Lloyd-Jones' exposition of Paul's teaching, non-Christians are described as walking "after the vanity of their mind," being "past feeling," and having "given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Their minds are darkened, they are alienated from God's life due to ignorance, and they have hardened hearts. Paul also provides a list in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 which Lloyd-Jones quotes, describing non-Christians as potentially being "fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, or extortioners."
El Libro de Efesios
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
El Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) fue un ministro evangélico galés que predicó y enseñó en la tradición Reformada. Su ministerio principal fue en Westminster Chapel, en el centro de Londres, desde 1939-1968, donde impartió exposiciones de varios años sobre libros de la Biblia como Romanos, Efesios y el Evangelio de Juan. Además de la colección del Fideicomiso MLJ de 1,600 de estos sermones en formato de audio, la mayoría de estas grandes series de sermones están disponibles en forma de libro (incluyendo una colección de 14 volúmenes de los sermones de Romanos), así como otras series como "Depresión Espiritual", "Estudios sobre el Sermón del Monte" y "Grandes Doctrinas Bíblicas". Es considerado por muchos líderes evangélicos de hoy como una autoridad en la verdad bíblica y la suficiencia de las Escrituras.