Charles H. Spurgeon - Sermão Inglês - Quickened!
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INTRODUCTION TO THE SERMON
Death is a reality before which every human ability reaches its limit. We may relieve suffering, treat illnesses, prolong existence, and employ every available resource to preserve life. Nevertheless, when death establishes its dominion over a body, no human word possesses the authority to command it to rise again. The affection of family members cannot restore its movements; the most sincere tears cannot return the breath of life; all human wisdom remains powerless before that silence. Death brings to an end every possibility of response on the part of the one held beneath its power.
Yet the Scriptures present us with a reality even more solemn than physical death. The apostle Paul, writing to the Christians in Ephesus, declares: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Let us carefully consider the language of the Holy Spirit. Man in his natural state is not described as someone spiritually ill who merely needs assistance to recover his strength. Nor is he presented as someone possessing a small reserve of spiritual goodness sufficient to cooperate with God in accomplishing his salvation. The apostolic declaration is absolute: he is dead in his trespasses and sins.
This truth directly confronts one of the most persistent convictions of the human heart: the assumption that within our fallen nature we still possess some ability to produce the spiritual life we lack. A man may change his habits, abandon certain vices, acquire religious knowledge, and earn the respect of those around him. He may attend church, become familiar with Christian doctrines, and even demonstrate considerable zeal for religious activities. Nevertheless, none of these things, however respectable they may be in their proper sphere, necessarily constitutes evidence of the new birth. Regeneration is not the improvement of the old nature, but a supernatural work through which the Holy Spirit imparts life to the spiritually dead sinner.
Our Lord Jesus Christ established this necessity when He declared to Nicodemus: “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Consider to whom these words were addressed. Nicodemus was not a man notorious for a scandalous life, nor was he indifferent to spiritual matters. He was a teacher in Israel, knowledgeable in the Scriptures, and respected among the religious leaders of his people. Nevertheless, all his education, position, and discipline did not remove the necessity of a transformation that God alone could accomplish. If a man possessing such privileges needed to be born again, what foundation remains for anyone to trust in his own righteousness?
It is precisely here that the doctrine of sovereign grace reveals its extraordinary greatness. Salvation does not begin when the sinner, through some independent ability, decides to produce life within his own heart. It originates in the eternal mercy of God, rests upon the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and is effectually applied through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Paul declares: “Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:5). Whoever receives spiritual life cannot attribute the glory of this transformation to himself, for everything he possesses has been granted to him by grace.
To make this doctrine even clearer, the Holy Spirit directs our attention to three extraordinary events recorded in the Gospels: the resurrection of Jairus's daughter, the resurrection of the widow's son at Nain, and the resurrection of Lazarus. These are three individuals found in different circumstances, yet subjected to the same reality of death. In each event, we behold the absolute authority of Christ, who declared: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). These accounts will serve as illustrations to help us understand both the spiritual condition of man and the efficacy of the grace that brings him to life.
As we listen to this message, we must not limit ourselves to examining the spiritual condition of those who openly live in unbelief. The Word of God requires each person to consider seriously his own relationship with Christ. Moral respectability cannot replace regeneration; familiarity with the Scriptures does not remove the necessity of saving faith; outward participation in the life of the church does not guarantee true fellowship with God. The fundamental question remains: Have we received, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, the life that Jesus Christ alone can give?
May the Lord grant us humility to receive the testimony of the Scriptures, discernment to recognize our absolute dependence upon His grace, and hearts willing to glorify Christ alone, who gives life to the dead. For the same voice that called Lazarus out of the tomb belongs to the eternal Son of God, of whom it is written: “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live” (John 5:25).
Divino Cordeiro
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About the author
CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
The Prince of Preachers
Spurgeon is widely recognized as one of the greatest preachers in the history of Christianity. His sermons reveal an eloquence comparable to that of Chrysostom and a literary ability similar to that of Augustine. He possessed the biblical steadfastness and courage of the Reformers, as well as the piety and zeal of the Puritans, of whom he is regarded as the most celebrated heir.
Born in Essex, England, on June 19, 1834, he was the eldest of sixteen children, the son of John and Eliza Spurgeon. He found salvation in Jesus Christ between the years 1850 and 1851, during an intense snowstorm, when he entered a small chapel and heard a sermon that transformed his life.
In January 1852, at the age of seventeen, he became pastor of the Waterbeach Baptist Church, north of Cambridge, and quickly gained renown as a preacher. His ability to communicate and his profound understanding of the Scriptures attracted great crowds.
In December 1853, he was invited to preach at New Park Street Chapel, the largest Baptist church in South London, which would later become the Metropolitan Tabernacle. In April 1854, he was ordained as pastor of that church, a position he held until his death on January 31, 1892, at the age of fifty-seven. During his ministry, the congregation grew so greatly that it became necessary to build a new sanctuary with a capacity of six thousand people.
In addition to his example of a holy life and his remarkable accomplishments, one of Spurgeon’s greatest legacies is his sermons. In them, we find a harmonious union of truth and piety, beauty and goodness, light and warmth, and above all, we find Jesus Christ. His sermons were published weekly and distributed throughout the world, reaching millions of people.
Another remarkable aspect of his life is the vastness and quality of his written work, comparable to that of John Calvin. Spurgeon wrote approximately 150 books and more than 3,500 sermons. Among his best-known works are The Treasury of David, a commentary on the Psalms, and Lectures to My Students, a series of lectures addressed to students of theology. He also founded the Pastors’ College, which trained hundreds of ministers, and the Stockwell Orphanage, which provided care for needy children. He was widely recognized for his generosity and dedication to the welfare of others, frequently donating large sums to charitable causes.
His health began to decline in the 1880s, but he continued preaching and writing until the end. Spurgeon died leaving an enduring legacy that continues to exert a profound influence on Christians throughout the world today.
Divino Cordeiro
