Una Vida en Cristo
Un sermón Juan 5:25-26
Predicado originalmente 16 de febrero de 1958
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Escritura
Descripción del Sermón
La regeneración no se define por la moralidad, sino que se define por la nueva vida en Cristo. En Juan 5:24, Jesús resume el evangelio enfocándose en la nueva vida que viene por creer. En este sermón sobre Juan 5:25-26 titulado "Una Vida en Cristo", el Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones desarrolla las implicaciones de esta nueva vida. Él declara, como lo hace Jesús en el texto, que el Padre tiene vida en Sí mismo, y ha dado esta vida a Jesús. ¿Cómo dispensa Jesús esta nueva vida? La nueva vida se realiza por medio de la regeneración. Según el Dr. Lloyd-Jones, la regeneración es el poder de Cristo para dar nueva vida. Además, él quiere que no haya confusión sobre los resultados de la regeneración. La regeneración no produce simplemente una persona moral. Por el contrario, la regeneración trae nueva vida espiritual al pecador que cambia radicalmente la disposición que controla su alma. La personalidad, el temperamento y las habilidades cognitivas permanecen iguales, pero a través de la regeneración, la disposición gobernante del pecador regenerado ahora cambia para siempre. El Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones desafía al oyente a considerar la nueva vida encontrada en Cristo y desea apasionadamente que todos la posean.
Desglose del Sermón
- Jesús enfatiza la importancia de su declaración diciendo "De cierto, de cierto".
- Jesús se refiere a la resurrección espiritual, no a la resurrección física de los muertos. Él tiene el poder de dar vida espiritual.
- Aquellos que reciben vida espiritual vivirán. Tendrán vida eterna.
- Jesús tiene vida en sí mismo, así como el Padre tiene vida en sí mismo. El Padre le ha dado a Jesús el poder de dar vida.
- El poder de Jesús para dar vida hará que la gente se maraville. Sus seguidores y quienes reciben vida se maravillarán del cambio en sí mismos.
- Recibir vida espiritual significa experimentar un cambio profundo y radical. Es como pasar de la muerte a la vida.
- Convertirse en cristiano no es solo modificar tu vida o volverte más moral. Significa recibir un nuevo corazón y naturaleza. Significa un cambio en la disposición que controla tu vida.
- Recibir vida espiritual es misterioso y está más allá del entendimiento humano. Es milagroso y sobrenatural.
- Recibir vida espiritual no depende de la psicología humana, la capacidad o la bondad. Depende enteramente de Jesús. Él da vida a quien Él quiere.
- Puedes saber que has recibido vida espiritual si desarrollas interés en las cosas espirituales, entiendes las verdades espirituales, deseas la palabra de Dios, encuentras más fácil orar, ves el mundo diferente, deseas la santidad y disfrutas el compañerismo con otros cristianos.
- La vida espiritual es esencial para tener comunión con Dios, entrar al cielo y disfrutar la vida eterna con Dios. Sin ella, el cielo sería infierno.
- Jesús llama a las personas a oír su voz y recibir vida. Aquellos que reciben vida vivirán eternamente. Aquellos que no, permanecerán en su incredulidad y pecado.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding Spiritual Life in Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon
What does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones say "verily, verily" means in Jesus' teaching?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when Jesus uses the formula "verily, verily," it indicates that what He is about to say is "unusually important and significant." Lloyd-Jones explains, "It is his own distinction. We know and believe that everything he said, that every word that he ever uttered is of vital importance. But he himself now and again went out of his way to emphasize certain particular statements, and he did so in this particular manner by saying, verily, verily." He adds that it could also be translated as "Amen, Amen" or "Truly, truly."
What is the main subject of this sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
The main subject of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon is regeneration - specifically Christ's power to give new spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead. He states clearly, "Here is our subject this evening regeneration. The power of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to give us new life, to give us a second birth." He focuses on Jesus' words in John 5:25-26 about how "the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And they that hear shall live."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the difference between true Christianity and mere religion?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes a clear distinction between true Christianity and mere religion. He explains that many people think Christianity means "living a good life, being forgiven when you fail... attending a place of worship now and again and keeping within certain limits." However, he emphasizes this is not true Christianity but merely "morality" and "religion." True Christianity, he explains, "means receiving this life from Christ. It means becoming a partaker of the divine nature. It means that he has quickened us, has put into us this vital principle of spiritual being and life which changes everything."
What examples does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give of people marveling at spiritual regeneration?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones mentions several examples of people marveling at spiritual regeneration: 1. The Jews who marveled at Jesus spending time with "publicans and sinners" who were being transformed 2. The authorities in Acts who were astonished at the apostles' work despite being "ignorant and unlearned men" 3. The amazement at Saul of Tarsus's conversion - "the chiefest persecutor of Christianity" suddenly preaching Christ 4. Society's amazement at "hopeless drunkards" being instantly freed from addiction through hearing a sermon 5. The world's astonishment at the Protestant Reformation and the Puritans 6. The transformation of "the lowest in society" under George Whitfield's preaching at Kennington Common
According to Lloyd-Jones, how does a person know if they have received this new life from Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several tests for knowing if you have received new life from Christ: 1. "You'll begin to get interested in these things" - spiritual matters, your soul, God, and your relationship to Him 2. "You'll begin to understand" the Gospel that previously didn't speak to you 3. The Bible becomes interesting - "Do you enjoy the Bible, my friend? Do you like reading it? Do you understand it?" 4. Prayer becomes meaningful - "Does prayer mean anything to you?" 5. The world becomes different - "The things that formerly charmed you now repel you" 6. You desire holiness - "You long to be holy, to be clean, to be chaste and to be pure" 7. You begin to like God's people - those you "regarded as the greatest bores in the world"
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say regeneration is absolutely essential?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides two main reasons why regeneration is essential:
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It's essential for fellowship with God: "Without this life that Christ gives, there is no hope for anyone enjoying fellowship and communion with God." He explains that God is light, and we are darkness, so we cannot commune with Him without His life in us.
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It's essential for entering heaven: "It is equally and more essential before we can ever hope of entering into heaven." He quotes Scripture stating that nothing unclean can enter heaven, and explains that heaven would actually "be hell for anybody who got there without this life that Christ lives" because they would have no capacity to enjoy the worship and presence of God.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the psychology of conversion?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones firmly rejects the notion that conversion depends on psychology or natural temperament. He states: "To become a Christian is dependent upon nothing whatsoever in us. Nothing at all. It doesn't depend at all upon our psychology." He challenges the modern theory that some people have a "religious complex" and others don't, pointing out that Christians throughout history have had vastly different psychological makeups. He mentions John and Peter and Paul as examples, as well as George Whitfield and John Wesley who were "absolutely different" temperamentally yet both preached the same gospel.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the power that brings about regeneration?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the power for regeneration comes entirely from Christ Himself. He illustrates this using Jesus' healing of the impotent man and the raising of Lazarus. In both cases, the recipients had no power of their own, but "the power is in the voice of the Lord. As he speaks. The power enters the man." He emphasizes that "it's he who puts in the life" and this is why psychological makeup or natural ability doesn't matter - "He can put it into the blindest, darkest heart, and dot as he can into the greatest philosopher at this moment."
What final appeal does Dr. Lloyd-Jones make to his hearers?
In his final appeal, Dr. Lloyd-Jones urges his hearers to examine whether they have received this life from Christ. He pleads, "I plead with you. Have you heard the voice of the Son of God? He gives life because if you haven't, this life, this according to the last chapter in the Bible, is your fate." He then encourages those who realize they don't have this life to ask Christ for it: "If you have realized that you haven't got it, ask him for it. Your goodness, your religion, your intelligence will avail you nothing. You need the life of God in your soul." He concludes with the promise that regardless of one's past, they should "Ask and ye shall receive. Seek and ye shall find. Knock become desperate, and it shall be opened unto you."
Evangelio de Juan
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.