Author: Josh King

I must press this point.  To be uncertain of these things is not a sign of humility or of unusual spirituality and piety; it is a sign of unbelief, which is dishonoring to God… I do not hesitate to make the assertion that the only bit of logic that you and I can be absolutely certain of in this world is the logic of verses 9, 10, 11 in this chapter [Chapter 5 of Romans].  There is no such watertight argument in any other realm, in science, or in mathematics or anywhere else… I know that there is one argument that can never be refuted, and that will never fail one iota.  It is this: “If while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved (in him and) in his life.  That can never fail; it is absolutely certain.  This is the only logic that can be guaranteed.   – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in Romans Volume 4, p. 165

I am no opponent to singing, we are to sing God’s praises in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.  Yes, but again there is a sense of proportion even here.  Have you not noticed how singing is becoming more and more prominent?  People, Christian people, meet together to sing only.  ‘Oh,’ they say, ‘we do get a word in.’ But the singing is the big thing.  At a time like this, at an appalling time like this, with crime and violence, and sin, and perversions, God’s name desecrated and the sanctities being spat upon, the whole state of the world surely says this is not a time for singing, this is a time for preaching.  I am reminded of the words of Wordsworth about Milton, ‘Plain living, and high thinking are no more.’  It is almost as true of us to say plain speaking and high thinking are no more.  We are just singing.  We are wafting ourselves into some happy atmosphere.  We sing together.  Dear friends, this is no time for singing.  ‘How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?’ (Ps. 137:4).  How can we take down our harps when Zion is as she is?  – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Revival, p. 63

We can glory in tribulations because our faith enables us to view them in such a way as to realize that, far from working against our hope, they actually promote it, and, indeed, further it.  In other words the reaction of the Christian to tribulations is not an automatic one.  It is not a case of ‘Come what may, I’m always happy’.  He is enabled to glory in them as the result of the application of his faith.  Because he is a man of faith he is able to do certain things.  Trials and tribulations come, and at first he is troubled, he is made unhappy.  But he does not stop at that; he proceeds to deal with them.  How does he do this?  The Apostle gives us the answer.  ‘Not only so but we glory in tribulations also.” How?  “Knowing”: it is because of something we know.  – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans, Volume 4, p. 66