Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's Sermon on "Putting Off the Old Man"

What does Lloyd-Jones teach about "putting off the old man" in Ephesians 4:22-24?

According to Lloyd-Jones, "putting off the old man" is an active command that requires deliberate action from the believer. He emphasizes that it's not something done for us, but something we must do ourselves. The apostle Paul doesn't merely suggest or recommend this action but commands it as an essential part of Christian living. Lloyd-Jones stresses that this involves a practical, detailed process of rejecting the corrupt nature of our former life according to "the deceitful lusts."

Why does Lloyd-Jones criticize the "let go and let God" approach to sanctification?

Lloyd-Jones criticizes this approach because it contradicts biblical teaching about sanctification. He argues that passively waiting for God to remove sin from our lives bypasses the clear commands in Scripture to actively "put off" sinful behaviors. He states, "If that teaching were true, well, then this whole section of this epistle to the Ephesians, from the 17th verse of this chapter to the end of the epistle, should never have been written at all." He emphasizes that while justification is by faith alone, sanctification requires our active participation—we must "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling."

What practical steps does Lloyd-Jones suggest for putting off the old man?

Lloyd-Jones offers several practical steps: 1. Remind yourself daily of who you are in Christ 2. Recognize the true nature and character of the old life 3. Consider the inconsistency of claiming to be a Christian while living like the world 4. Have no fellowship with sinful behaviors—avoid even discussing or considering them 5. Make no provision for the flesh—avoid places, people, and reading material that tempt you 6. Mortify (put to death) sinful desires through deliberate action

How does Lloyd-Jones distinguish between prayer and action in dealing with sin?

Lloyd-Jones controversially states that putting off the old man "is not something that is to be prayed about" but rather something to be done. He clarifies that while Christians should generally pray about everything, simply praying about sin without taking action can actually increase the problem. He shares an example of a woman who prayed for 22 years about her fear of thunderstorms but never addressed it practically. Lloyd-Jones argues that sometimes Christians need to think and apply doctrine rather than just pray, because God has already given believers the power to obey His commands.

What does Lloyd-Jones teach about the relationship between justification and sanctification?

Lloyd-Jones makes a crucial distinction: "Justification is by faith only. Sanctification is not by faith only." He explains that in justification, we have no spiritual life or ability, so it comes entirely by faith. However, once we are regenerated (made "his workmanship"), we have both the responsibility and the capability to actively participate in our sanctification. He quotes Philippians 2:12, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," to show that while the whole Christian life is lived by faith, sanctification requires our active cooperation with God's work in us.

What illustration does Lloyd-Jones use about the man with the mustache?

Lloyd-Jones shares a story about an illiterate man with a history of fighting, drinking and other sins who was converted. Six weeks after his conversion, the man shaved off his long mustache that had been his pride and the cause of many fights. When Lloyd-Jones asked who told him to remove it, the man replied that no one had—he simply looked in the mirror and said to himself, "Them things don't belong to a Christian." Lloyd-Jones uses this as a powerful example of someone who understood intuitively that certain things from the old life have no place in the new life in Christ.

What does Lloyd-Jones mean by "mortifying" the flesh?

Lloyd-Jones explains that mortifying the flesh means to "deaden" or "deliberately attack" sinful desires. He cites Colossians 3:5 and Romans 8:13, explaining that mortification involves: 1. Starving sinful desires by withholding what feeds them 2. Not using or exercising sinful tendencies so they atrophy 3. Actively fighting against them, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 9:27 where he says "I keep under my body"

Lloyd-Jones notes that the Greek word Paul uses literally means "to hit under the eye" like a boxer—indicating the vigorous, active struggle against sin that Christians must engage in.