Category: D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

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

Regarding the doctrine of sola fide (justification by faith alone) ‘But’, you may say, ‘what a dangerous doctrine!’  Every doctrine is dangerous, and can be, and has been, abused.  – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans Volume 4, p. 22

The first step is that our sin is reckoned to Him.  The second step is that His righteousness is reckoned to us.  What an amazing piece of book-keeping!  What a tremendous manipulation of the accounts, if I may so put it.  We had no righteousness at all.  He has a perfect righteousness.  – D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Romans Vol. 3, p. 177

[W]e must never think of faith as something in and of itself.  Faith is never something isolated or alone.  You must never divorce faith from its object.  Faith is always linked to an object.  The object is the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect work and His perfect righteousness; and as long as you always remember that, you can never go wrong.  So we must not boast of our faith; it is not faith as such that saves us.  Faith is merely that channel, that instrument, that link that connects us with the righteousness of Christ which saves us.  His is the righteousness that saves, and faith simply brings it to us.  It is His righteousness that saves us by faith, through faith.  – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans Vol. 3, p. 120

On Romans 3:21 – [C]an there be two words which are more blessed and more wonderful to us than just these two words, ‘But now’?  To me they provide a very subtle and thorough-going test of our whole position as Christians.  Would you like to know for certain at this moment whether you are a Christian or not?  I suggest that this is one of the best tests.  As I repeat these words, ‘But now,” is there something within you that makes you say, ‘Thank God!’  Is there a ‘But now’ in your experience?  – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans Vol. 3, p. 26

There is nothing more marvelous about one person being saved than another; there is nothing more marvelous about a man who has been a terrible drunkard being saved, than a man who has never had a drop of drink in his life; there is no difference at all, none whatsoever.  But, you see, people are interested – ‘Oh, was it not a wonderful testimony?’ they say.  ‘Did you hear it?’ My Friend, I could easily prove, if you pressed me, that it is much more difficult to save the person who has not been a drunkard, because he does not know that he is not righteous.  The drunkard does know it, he is terribly aware of it, poor fellow.  – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans Vol. 2, p. 200

I say, therefore, that every time you and I hear the gospel our responsibility is increased.  The more we have heard the gospel the clearer our understanding of it, the greater is our responsibility.  The more we have grown in grace and advanced in the knowledge of the Lord, again the greater is our responsibility…  – D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Romans Vol. 2, p. 109

What is the chief end of preaching?  I like to think it is this.  It is to give men and women a sense of God and His presence.  As I have said already, during this last year I have been ill, and so have had the opportunity and the privilege of listening to others instead of preaching myself.  As I have listened in physical weakness this is the thing I have looked for and longed for and desired. I can forgive a man for a bad sermon, I can forgive the preacher almost anything if he gives me a sense of God, if he gives me something for my soul, if he gives me the sense that, though he is inadequate himself, he is handling something which is very great and very glorious, if he gives me some dim glimpse of the majesty and the glory of God, the love of Christ my Saviour, and the magnificence of the Gospel. If he does that I am his debtor, and I am profoundly grateful to him.  – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers, pp. 97-98