The sermon of this post is from the YouTube site, MLJTrust.
The following sermon came from the playlist, Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvVtziP2bL60ATVRhLLIezG88zRMe3vby
This playlist currently contains 11 messages, this is # 8.
MLJTRUST, Magnificat 2
A sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Luke 1.54-55 MLJ Christmas sermons playlist • God With Us (Remastered)
“The incarnation is the supreme example of fulfilled prophecy, or if you prefer it in a more experimental phrase, it is the supreme example of God’s faithfulness to his promises.” ―Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Luke 1:54-55 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Sermon Description [by MLJTrust]:
Do you ever worry about the state of Christianity in today’s world?
Many denominations are leaving orthodox beliefs, traditional beliefs are scoffed at, our country seems to be falling apart. Where is God in all of this?
In examining Mary’s song of praise, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows us how God is always faithful to His people, although the times may be dark. We are reminded of the promise made to Abram that he would be the father of many nations. Yet did Abram see this promise fulfilled in his life?
God’s ways are much higher than ours, a thousand years is like a day to Him. As His bride, the church should be faithfully and eagerly awaiting Jesus’s second coming. Though it has been over 2,000 years since Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy, we can be assured that God will keep His promise.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones also reminds us that this promise is personal, and that God has promised to keep us in the faith and rid us of all our sin.
If you are discouraged today by the sin of others and yourself, find rest in the promise that all sins will be washed away.
Sermon Breakdown [by MLJTrust]:
- The sermon focuses on Luke 1:54-55 which says “He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that verse 55 should be corrected to say “as he spake to our fathers” instead of “as he speak to our fathers.” This correction is important to understand that God’s speaking to the fathers refers to his promise to Abraham.
- The sermon examines Mary’s praise of God in Luke 1 and how it summarizes the Christian gospel. Last week, the sermon looked at how Mary praises God’s character and this week looks at God’s faithfulness to his promises.
- The incarnation of Jesus is the supreme example of God fulfilling his promises. God made a covenant with Abraham to bless all nations through his offspring.
- Mary says “He hath holpen his servant Israel” which means God has helped or lifted up Israel. This refers to God providing salvation and forgiveness of sins which was promised to Abraham.
- The Old Testament sacrifices were a temporary covering of sins until the coming of Jesus, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise of mercy to Abraham.
- God’s promise to Abraham included blessing all nations, not just Israel. The Jews did not understand this but Mary did. Jesus is the savior of the world who draws all people to himself.
- The sermon outlines three principles: 1) The incarnation shows God fulfills his promises. 2) The incarnation shows God’s method of fulfilling promises. 3) The incarnation guarantees the fulfillment of all God’s promises.
God’s method involves seeming to forget his promises for a long time but then suddenly fulfilling them. 2000 years passed between God’s promise to Abraham and the birth of Jesus. God also allowed 400 years of silence before Jesus. We should not judge God by human timescales.
- God allows apparent defeats to happen to his people. He allowed Israel to go through captivity in Egypt and Babylon. But he also gives periodic encouragements by repeating his promises. We should be encouraged by any sign of God working.
- God has his own chosen time for fulfilling promises. We can never predict when God will act. The incarnation happened in the “fullness of time” according to God’s wisdom.
- The incarnation proves God will fulfill all his promises like sanctifying and glorifying believers. We can be confident God will complete the work he has started.
- The incarnation also shows God will fulfill promises about the future like Christ’s second coming, the final judgment, and the establishment of the new heavens and new earth. Despite the current state of the world, God will triumph over evil.
- We should not worry about threats to the church because God will fulfill his purposes in his own time. Christ will come again to receive his people and judge the world. The incarnation proves God will accomplish all he has promised.
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Video-page link: https://www.youtube.com/@MLJTrust/videos