Church and the State, Part 2

Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.8 • 603 Ratings

🗓️ 14 May 2026

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Does church history hold importance for believers today? Why should Christians look to the past for insight into doctrine instead of looking to Scripture alone? In the second part of his series on the church and the state, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones chastises the arrogance of believers who say church history is not important. In this sermon on Romans 13:1–7 titled “Church and the State (2),” he argues for the wisdom of modern believers’ consideration of men and women of history handling difficult questions of their faith. This is particularly enlightening as one considers the relations of church and state. Dr. Lloyd-Jones continues his historical look at these particular relations through consideration of the view that the church and the state are essentially different and distinct. He provides four distinctions to consider: their difference in origin, the object from which they were instituted, the power given to them by God, and the way their functions are carried out. The teachings of Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin are given special attention by Dr. Lloyd-Jones as their beliefs are foundational to the development of the influential Belgic Confession and Westminster Confession. These confessions have direct implications for Presbyterian congregations today. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds on the value of learning from church history as he continues discussing the relations of the church and the state.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I am going to read again the first seven verses of the 13th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans,
0:06.0	which we are considering at the present time.
0:08.0	It's very vital that we should bear what the Apostle says here in our minds and remember it in detail.
0:16.0	Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God. The powers that be
0:24.2	are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God,
0:31.9	and they that resist shall receive to themselves judgment, damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works,
0:40.3	but to the evil. Will thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou
0:46.0	shall have praise of the sin, for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou
0:52.1	do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain,
0:57.6	for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
1:03.6	Wherefore, ye must be, ye must needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
1:11.8	For for this cause pay ye tribute also.
1:14.6	For they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
1:19.9	Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom
1:25.6	custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
1:30.3	Well now, we've arrived at the point at which we are considering in the light of that
1:35.3	teaching the whole vexed, difficult, perplexing question of the relationship between the church
1:41.3	and the state. We've arrived at that as the result of considering
1:47.0	the teaching here concerning the state and the character of the state, the Christian's view of the state,
1:53.0	and his relationship to it in general. But now having dealt with the individual Christian,
1:58.0	we are considering the relationship between the church and the
2:03.6	state. Christians as members of the church, so the total position of the church as over and against
	...

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