Church and the State, Part 3

Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 602 Ratings

🗓️ 18 May 2026

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues his historical review of the relationship between church and state. Building on his previous sermon, he presses the listener to consider church history in this sermon on Romans 13:1–7 titled “Church and the State (3).” It is important, he argues, because there is no neutral ground. It is all relevant to the life of Christ’s followers and how they live out those lives. Claiming disinterest and avoidance is a great sin. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds on the lives of the Puritans and Separatists (both groups had deep-rooted interest in this topic), he reminds that these two were completely different in their approach towards church and state. Though the Puritans went to America to find relief from religious tyranny, they themselves became the religious and ecclesial tyrants who were intolerant. At the same time the Separatists argued for complete freedom between church and state, wanting the religious freedom to worship as they chose. As these groups are considered, Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions refraining from severe judgment because they were outworking new ideas and beliefs in a difficult political atmosphere. Listen to his compelling review on church history and be encouraged to think anew on one’s own responsibilities regarding religious freedom.

Transcript

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0:00.0	To remind you of the context of what we are considering together, I would read again the first seven verses of Paul's epit, of the 13th chapter of Paul's epistle to the Romans.
0:10.9	The first seven verses of the 13th chapter.
0:15.0	Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God.
0:24.4	The powers that be are ordained of God.
0:31.6	Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will thou then not be
0:40.6	afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the sin. For he is the
0:46.8	minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid. For he beareth
0:53.6	not the sword in vain. For he is the minister
0:57.1	of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore, ye must needs be subject
1:05.4	not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also. For they are God's ministers,
1:16.0	attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom
1:23.0	tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to, fear, honour to whom, honour. Now, this is the statement
1:33.0	which the apostle makes at this point in working out in detail the relationship of the Christian
1:39.9	men to the world in which he still lives. And having dealt with various aspects of the problem, he now deals with this whole question
1:47.5	of the Christian's relationship to the state.
1:50.0	And having considered that personally and individually, we are now looking at the problem
1:55.7	as it confronts us in terms of the Christian of the problem of the relationship between the
2:02.1	church and the state. The church, a gathering of Christian people. What is the relationship
2:08.6	between Christians as a body or groups of people as churches to the state? Now this is the one classical statement in the New Testament scriptures
2:21.8	as we are seeing of this great subject. There are other references to it, but this is certainly
2:27.9	the most extended treatment given to the subject anywhere in the New Testament. Now, we have shown that there is a big division,
2:36.8	two main points of view. Those who regard the church and the state as being one,
	...

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