What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Jews' Rejection of the Gospel?

What is the main point Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes about the Jews' rejection of the gospel?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Jews rejected the gospel because they had a false idea of salvation. They were trusting in their nationality, knowledge, and works rather than understanding true salvation through faith in Christ. As he explains: "The trouble with them was that they had a false idea of salvation. They were trusting to their nationality, to their knowledge, and to their works. In the same way, they lacked an understanding of the way of salvation as it truly is in Christ Jesus justification by faith, only faith in the Lord and in his perfect and completed work."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the unity of the Bible?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the Bible demonstrates unity through consistent spiritual principles that operate in both the Old and New Testaments. He states: "It's quite astonishing to notice the frequency with which the apostle quotes the Old Testament scriptures to establish a New Testament principle. And of course, he does that for one reason only, that the same spiritual principles operated under the Old Testament dispensation as operate in the New Testament dispensation." He further explains that there is only one plan of salvation throughout scripture - justification by faith - which is why the early church incorporated the Old Testament with their new documents.

What pattern does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify throughout church history?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies a repeating pattern where those who should most readily receive the gospel message (the established religious institutions) often become its greatest opponents. He states: "The principles with regard to this whole question of salvation, of belief and unbelief, et cetera, that these principles which are taught here by the apostle recur constantly in the whole history of the church and of the human race." He provides numerous historical examples from the persecution of early reformers like Savonarola and Wycliffe to the treatment of the Puritans and Methodists - all cases where established churches opposed those preaching the simple gospel message.

How does God respond when His people become hardened in unbelief according to Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that when God's established people become hardened in unbelief, He raises up unexpected people to continue His work. He quotes Romans 10:19: "I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you." Throughout history, when the established church has become dead and hardened, God has revived His work by "laying hold upon some most unlikely and unexpected person." Lloyd-Jones notes that "it has been some obscure person, not some person in some great ecclesiastical position" whom God has used to bring revival and renewal.

What warnings does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give to evangelical churches today?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns evangelical churches about several dangers: 1. The danger of dead orthodoxy - being doctrinally correct but spiritually lifeless 2. The danger of self-satisfaction and pride in one's orthodoxy 3. The danger of rigidity and resistance to the Holy Spirit's work 4. The danger of traditionalism and institutionalism

He cautions: "Perhaps the greatest danger confronting evangelicals is always to stop at the letter and not go on to the spirit. Is not the greatest danger of evangelicalism perhaps respectability and a fear of the power of the spirit, a fear of the unusual, a fear of what it might cost."

What hope does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer despite his warnings?

Despite his warnings, Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers hope by emphasizing God's sovereignty and faithfulness. He assures his listeners: "God's work will go on" regardless of human failures. He states: "God is not dependent on any people, even on his own people. And though the whole of the modern church may become a pastit [apostate], which God forbid, God will still carry on his purpose." The comfort he offers is that "God's purpose is still the same, that God's work is still the same, that God's power is still the same," and therefore His work will continue regardless of whether the established church participates or not.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the New Testament Christian compared to modern evangelicals?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges his evangelical audience by comparing them to the New Testament description of Christians. He asks: "Do you recognize yourself in the New Testament description of the christian men? You are Orthodox all right, thank God. But is this true of you, whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not yet believing, you rejoice with a joy unspeakable and full of glory?" He points out that the New Testament Church was "not only orthodox, she was a church filled with joy. She was filled with rejoicing. She was filled with power," and implicitly questions whether modern evangelical churches demonstrate these same qualities.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the role of tradition in the church?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against the growing emphasis on tradition in the church, particularly noting how even Protestant churches were beginning to embrace tradition alongside Scripture. He says, "You will find that even the protestant church today, which has always fought the Roman Catholic Church on this very question of tradition, is now beginning to talk again of the importance of tradition." He observes that this focus on tradition and ecclesiasticism often comes with a devaluing of doctrine: "The main attitude towards doctrine is an entire dislike of doctrine altogether. We are told that doctrine doesn't matter." Lloyd-Jones insists that Scripture alone must be our authority, not tradition.