The Only Way
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-11
Scripture
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Sermon Description
Secularists sometimes acknowledge the value of Christianity upon society. They can appreciate the morals and values it can instill in a society’s citizens. Often, however, it is not true Christianity they want, but a version of Christianity that is palatable to their pluralism. They want a Christianity that speaks to moral problems, but it cannot speak to those problems as the only solution, just as an optional solution. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–11 titled “The Only Way,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones confronts the popular idea that the Christian message is too narrow. In his defense of biblical Christianity, Dr. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates why Christianity’s exclusive claim to fix the moral problem is correct. The church must stand in defense that it has the only message that can solve moral problems of society. In saying Christianity is capable of solving moral problems of society, Dr. Lloyd-Jones is careful to distinguish true Christianity from misunderstandings of what Christianity is. Christianity is not moralism with its reduction of the Christian message to imitation of ethical teaching. Nor is it monasticism with its escapist mentality. Rather, Christianity is the call to be strong in the Lord with the power of His might where God has placed the believer.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon is based on Ephesians 6:10-11 which exhorts Christians to be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God.
- The sermon begins by establishing that the Christian life is a battle against spiritual forces.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that Christianity is the only solution to this battle and the moral problems of the world. He cites history and current events as evidence.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses two common misunderstandings of Christianity:
- That it is just a moral teaching we have to follow. He argues this fails because it leaves victory up to our own efforts.
- That it requires retreating from the world. He argues this is not the teaching of the New Testament and fails because we cannot escape from ourselves or spiritual forces.
- The sermon concludes by reaffirming that Christianity offers victory over spiritual forces through the power of God, not through our own efforts or escape.
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.