Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Comfort and Hope Found in Scripture

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the main purpose of Scripture according to Romans 15:4?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Romans 15:4 identifies the main purpose of Scripture as being written for our learning and instruction, so that through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. As he states: "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope." He emphasizes that the Bible provides understanding, comfort, consolation, and hope to a troubled world.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the current state of the world in his sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the current state of the world as "troubled, perplexed, confused, unhappy, discouraged and without hope." He points out that the optimistic prophecies and teachings that were once held in high regard have been "shown to be almost entirely and completely false." He emphasizes that despite human efforts and various experiments to solve the world's problems, these solutions have largely failed, leaving the world in a state of bewilderment and unhappiness.

What essential conditions does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say we must observe when approaching the Bible?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several essential conditions for approaching the Bible:

1. We must believe that it is God's word to us - not just literature, but "the oracles of God"
2. We must accept its full authority - taking it as a whole, not picking and choosing parts
3. We must approach it with childlike simplicity - submitting ourselves to it rather than sitting in judgment over it
4. We must pray for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit - recognizing that natural human understanding cannot fully grasp spiritual truth

As he states: "Take off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the ground whereon thou standest is holy ground."

How does the Bible provide comfort according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Bible does not provide comfort directly or sentimentally, but through teaching and instruction. He states: "The Bible never gives comfort and consolation directly" but rather does so "by teaching us." The comfort comes through understanding God's perspective on the world's condition, learning what God has done about it through Christ, and discovering what God will yet do in the future. This knowledge and understanding are what produce true comfort, consolation, and hope.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the Bible's explanation for why the world is in its current condition?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that according to the Bible, the world's current condition stems from man's rebellion against God. He states that man "deliberately rebelled against God, set up himself as an autonomous being, asserted his own will, his own reason and his own understanding, and thereby alienated himself from God and fell and became the victim of his own lower nature." This rebellion placed mankind under God's wrath. As he puts it: "All troubles are due to man's alienation from God, whether in the individual or whether in the entire human race." This is why, he asserts, "God's world and he won't allow us to have a happy time in it apart from him."

What future hope does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say the Bible provides?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Bible provides hope through its teaching about God's future plans. These include:

1. Christ's return - "Jesus Christ, the son of God who came first into this world nearly 2000 years ago, is coming again"
2. Final judgment - "To judge the world in righteousness. To take everything that hates God and cast it to perdition"
3. A new creation - "And then he will usher in a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness"

This future hope includes "no evil, no sin, no war, no sighing, no sorrow, no death, but everlasting life and everlasting glory." This certainty of God's ultimate purpose gives believers comfort and hope despite present troubles.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the Bible's approach to understanding the world with other approaches?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the Bible's approach with all other approaches by emphasizing that the Bible looks at everything from God's perspective rather than man's. He states: "The Bible approaches it all not by looking at men, not by looking at nations, not by looking at theories and attempts, and no, by looking at God. Nothing else in the world is doing this tonight but this teaching."

He contrasts this with scientific and philosophical views that see the world and humanity as merely accidental products of impersonal forces, which he argues leads to hopelessness. The biblical view provides meaning, purpose, and hope by seeing everything in relation to God's eternal purpose.