Practice Rooted in Doctrine
A Sermon on Ephesians 4:17
Originally preached Jan. 26, 1958
Scripture
17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Sermon Description
Can an unbeliever apply the Scripture? Certainly there are general moral principles that someone could attempt, but in this sermon on Ephesians 4:17 titled “Practice Rooted in Doctrine,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that Christians must follow the example of Paul and never present the application of Scripture as mere morality disconnected from the salvation required to implement it. When morality that is not grounded in the doctrine and narrative of Scripture is preached, only abstract laws and regulations have been offered. This leads to legalism and self-righteousness because people reduce Christianity to a mere list of actions. This, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is a broad road that leads to destruction. The proper way to teach the Bible is to ground all application in the doctrine of transformation taught in the Scripture. This is to place morality in the context of who God is and what he has done in Christ Jesus on the cross for salvation. It is to see the Christian life not in terms of what is done first and foremost, but in terms of what God has done. Sanctification flows from this right understanding of the doctrine of salvation by showing the place of works in light of God’s gracious gift of salvation. For all that trust in God and in His Son Christ Jesus have been made a new people that are to seek holiness and a true knowledge of God.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul never leaves anything to chance. He carefully applies the teachings he lays out.
- The Christian life is not meant to be lived in a detached manner. Our lives inside and outside the church should be interrelated.
- Doctrine and practice are constantly linked. Our conduct should arise from and be dictated by our doctrine.
- The Christian life is not meant to be a code imposed on us without understanding. We should understand why we do or don't do things.
- Failure in the Christian life stems from a failure to understand doctrine.
- It is fatal to ignore doctrine and focus only on being "practical." Conduct is determined by doctrine.
- We should not make direct appeals to the will without teaching doctrine. We must teach people to understand doctrine.
- Sanctification teachings that bypass doctrine are false. We must understand doctrine and apply it.
- Our concern should not just be to be good or get rid of sins. It should be to function as members of the body of Christ.
- We should live to show God's glory and point people to Christ, not to glorify ourselves.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Main Purpose of Ephesians 4:17 Through the End of the Epistle According to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Ephesians 4:17 through the end of the epistle represents the final major division of the letter, focusing on the practical outworking of the Christian doctrine in daily life. The main purpose is to show believers how to "grow up into Christ in all things" and "maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."
Lloyd-Jones states: "The question is now, how then are we to grow up into Christ in all things? How are we to arrive unto this perfect men? How are we to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace? Very well. He's going to tell us that in a very practical and detailed manner from this 17th verse of the fourth chapter to the very end of the epistle."
How Does Lloyd-Jones Analyze the Structure of Ephesians as a Whole?
Lloyd-Jones divides Ephesians into three major sections:
- Chapters 1-3: The great doctrine of salvation
- Chapter 4:1-16: The church and what brings us into the church
- Chapter 4:17 to the end: The outworking of doctrine in daily life and conduct
He describes the epistle as "one of the apostles greatest masterpieces" in terms of construction. In the final section, Paul alternates between doctrinal principles and practical applications, showing how Christian behavior should naturally flow from Christian belief.
What Pattern Does Paul Follow in Teaching Sanctification According to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones identifies a clear pattern in Paul's teaching on sanctification:
"It is based directly and immediately upon an understanding of doctrine, and then an exhortation to us to work out the doctrine in detail."
He highlights how Paul consistently follows this pattern throughout the final section of Ephesians: 1. Present a doctrinal truth 2. Draw out the practical implications 3. Give specific applications to daily life
Lloyd-Jones states: "Doctrine, application, doctrine, application, doctrine, application, doctrine, application. It's the apostle Paul who does this."
Why Does Lloyd-Jones Criticize Direct Appeals to the Will Without Doctrine?
Lloyd-Jones criticizes approaches that make direct appeals to the will without going through doctrine because:
"The will is approached through the mind and through the heart, never directly. So to appeal to people to take decisions and come forward and receive something, is a denial of the whole of this last section of this epistle."
He argues that sanctification isn't achieved by sheer willpower or decision-making, but by understanding doctrine and then working it out logically. He states: "You don't appeal to the will of people to make them holy. No. You get them to understand the doctrine. It's not a matter of decision. It's a matter of understanding and outworking."
What Is the Difference Between Morality and Christian Living According to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones explains that:
"Morality is concerned about the goodness and the rightness of the thing done in and of itself and because of its social consequences."
In contrast, Christianity is interested primarily in the person, not just their behavior. Christian conduct matters not merely for its social consequences but because of: - Its relationship to Christ - Its impact on God's plan - Its effect on the church - Its role in God's redemptive scheme
He states: "Christian conduct and behavior always has a specifically christian reference. It is always in terms of the grand redemption and not simply the thing in and of itself and in its social consequences."
What Does Lloyd-Jones Say Is the Root Cause of Failure in Christian Living?
Lloyd-Jones clearly identifies the root cause of failure in Christian living as a failure to understand or apply doctrine properly:
"If any one of us is failing at any point in conduct and behavior, it is because we have not understood the doctrine."
He provides a specific example: "If there is anger and malice and hatred and bitterness and an unforgiving spirit in any one of us, I'll tell you what it's due to. It's that you don't realize that the Holy Spirit of God dwells within you and you're grieving him."
This is why he argues that it's fatal to ignore doctrine in favor of being merely "practical," as proper Christian conduct can only flow from proper understanding of Christian truth.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.