Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 10:12-13

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek"?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when Paul states "there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek" in Romans 10:12, he means that salvation is equally available to all people regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The Jews had mistakenly believed that God was only the God of the Jews and that they had special privileges in salvation. Lloyd-Jones explains that this was "where the Jews had gone astray, and they were quite wrong, and they were quite inexcusable." He emphasizes that God is "the God of the Gentiles as much as he is the God of the Jews," and while God had "done certain special things to and through the Jews and had shown them special favors," this did not mean "that he had finished with the rest of the world."

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize the word "rich" in Romans 10:12?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes the word "rich" in the phrase "rich unto all that call upon him" because it reveals the second great argument for universal salvation. He explains: "Here is the second great argument, the argument that is based upon the riches of God's grace." This richness means God has the abundant capacity to give salvation to everyone who needs it. Lloyd-Jones states, "Salvation depends entirely upon God and his power to give, his ability to give, that's what it depends upon. It doesn't depend upon anything in us at all." This richness of God's grace is powerful enough to save anyone regardless of background, making distinctions between Jews and Gentiles meaningless.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the sufficiency of Christ for salvation?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christ is completely sufficient for salvation because "all fullness" dwells in Him. He references Colossians, where Paul teaches that "in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily" and "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christ "needs no help, he needs no assistance. He doesn't need to be supplemented." This is why he rejects concepts like Mary as "co-Redemptrix" or praying to saints, stating, "There is one God and one mediator and one and only mediator... between God and men. The man Christ Jesus, he is enough. He is the all sufficient one." Lloyd-Jones also quotes 1 Corinthians 1:30, showing that Christ provides everything we need: "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption."

What did the apostle Paul mean by "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when Paul quotes "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" in Romans 10:13, he is emphasizing the universal availability of salvation. The word "whosoever" removes all distinctions and limitations—salvation is not restricted to Jews but is available to all people regardless of their background or past sins. Lloyd-Jones explains that because Christ is "rich unto all," He can "take any pauper that may like to come." He elaborates: "No sin is too great. No man has committed too great a number of sins. You don't talk about numbers or the greatness of sin when you're thinking of his riches." This means "everybody has a hope here. So that all divisions and distinctions are abolished and banished once and forever."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the Colossian heresy in relation to Christ's sufficiency?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Colossian heresy involved an "amalgam and mixture" of false teachings that positioned Christ as "but one of a number of intermediaries between men and God." The heretics taught that "you need a series of intermediaries between men and God, and there are various angels and so on. And Jesus Christ was just the head of this hierarchy of intermediaries." Lloyd-Jones refutes this by pointing to Paul's teaching that "in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" and "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." He argues that "you don't add to Jesus Christ, therefore it's all in him," and "There is no need for any sort of help or of any assistance." This teaching directly counters any doctrine suggesting the need for additional mediators or helpers in salvation.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean when he says faith is a gift of God?

When Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that "faith is a gift of God," he is emphasizing that salvation is entirely God's work, including the faith by which we receive it. Referencing Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God," Lloyd-Jones asserts that "that does mean, remember that the faith is a gift of God. He gives you the faith." This understanding reinforces his overall point that salvation depends entirely on God's rich grace and not on anything in ourselves. Since God supplies even the faith required for salvation, this further eliminates any basis for distinctions between people in terms of their worthiness or ability to be saved.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the universal invitation to salvation?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the universal invitation to salvation as one characterized by "superlatives and profusion." He quotes from Isaiah 55:1, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, wherever you are, come to the waters. And he that hath no money, come ye, buy, eat. Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this invitation is extended to all people "Wherever you are, and whatever your condition." He also cites Jesus' words in John 4 about providing living water that becomes "a well of water springing up into everlasting life," and John 10:10 where Jesus promises "life...more abundantly." For Lloyd-Jones, the universal invitation is characterized by overwhelming generosity and fullness that meets every human need.