Christ's Way of Making Peace
A Sermon on Ephesians 2:15
Originally preached Feb. 26, 1956
Scripture
15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Sermon Description
In Jesus Christ a new harmony formed, not along the lines of race, family, or country, but in the basis of membership in the family of God. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:15 titled “Christ’s Way of Making Peace,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims the words of Paul, saying all who believe are adopted into God’s family and become inheritors with Christ of the whole world. In this new people there is neither Jew nor Gentile, for the people of God are those who are the children of Abraham by nature of their faith in Christ and their adoption into God’s family. This is why division in the church on the basis of age, race, and nationality are such a travesty. The peace of God transcends all divisions and walls. This peace, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes, is one that makes fallen men and women righteous before God and it also puts them in a right relationship with one another as brothers and sisters in the family of God. This new relationship is the first fruits of what is to come in the new creation that Christ will bring to completion when He returns in glory and judgment on the last day. The church should look to the peace that Christ has granted in the gospel as the greatest hope in the Christian life.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is dealing with the amazing thing that has taken place - Jews and Gentiles coming together in the church.
- This has only happened through the power of God, nothing else could do it.
- Paul's argument here is subtle and closely knit. Every phrase and word is important to understand the full meaning.
- We need the Holy Spirit to enlighten our understanding of this.
- Christ himself is our peace. He makes peace between men and God, and between men and men.
- Peace is not just the absence of hostility or war. It is an inward unity and love.
- Christ makes peace by creating in himself "one new man" - the church. The church is a new creation, not just a modification of what was there before.
- The church is formed in Christ. It results from our relationship to him. We are members of Christ's body.
- The church is a new man, a new humanity, formed in Christ. We are born into this new race, family and body through the new birth.
- The old is completely done away with. Nothing from the old state has any relevance in the new state.
- We are all the same in this new relationship because we have become new creations.
- The unity of this new body is absolute. There are not separate Jewish and Gentile sections. The old has been abolished.
- We have peace by realizing we are new creations, not thinking of ourselves in the old way. We must not think of others in terms of nationality, birth, ability, wealth, or former life.
- We must think of ourselves in the new way - as new creations in Christ. Failure to do so leads to trouble.
- Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. Let it act as arbitrator and umpire. We must be willing to do whatever promotes peace.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Teaching on Peace and the Church
What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' main text for this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on Ephesians 2:15b: "For to make in himself of twain one new man so making peace." He examines this verse within its context of Ephesians 2:13-16, where Paul explains how Christ has brought Jews and Gentiles together in one body.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define true peace according to Scripture?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, true biblical peace is not merely: - The cessation of hostility - The prevention of actual fighting - The absence of war
Rather, true peace is "something inward, something vital." As he states: "God's idea of peace is that men should embrace one another and love one another. That's Christian peace, nothing less than that. Not merely that you're not fighting, but that you're loving, that there's a unity, that there's a oneness."
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the "new man" in this passage?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the "new man" refers to the Church as a new creation. He states: "The Church, he tells us, is a new creation. For to make in himself of twain one new men. Now, this word make here is much too weak. It shouldn't have been translated as make. The word means to create in Himself a creation." The Church is not a modification or improvement of what existed before, but something entirely new.
How does Christ make peace between Jews and Gentiles according to the sermon?
Christ makes peace by: 1. Negatively: Abolishing "the law of commandments in ordinances" that served as a barrier 2. Positively: Creating something entirely new - forming Jews and Gentiles into "one new man" (the Church)
He doesn't merely modify Jews or Gentiles, but creates a new humanity where the old distinctions are irrelevant.
What illustration does Lloyd-Jones use to explain the Church as a new creation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the British Commonwealth with the United States: - The British Commonwealth is like a coalition where separate national identities remain intact - The United States represents something new where immigrants leave behind old national identities to become Americans
The Church is like the latter - not a coalition of Jews and Gentiles, but a completely new entity where old identities are left behind.
What practical applications does Lloyd-Jones draw from this teaching?
For Christians to experience peace with one another, Lloyd-Jones says they must: 1. "Cease to think of ourselves in the old way and in the old terms, in every respect" 2. No longer think of others in terms of nationality, birth, ability, wealth, or past behavior 3. "Always and actively think and conceive of ourselves in this new way" 4. Let "the peace of Christ act as arbitrator" or umpire in all disputes
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe this teaching cannot be applied to nations?
Lloyd-Jones argues that this teaching cannot be applied to nations because: - Peace is only possible among those who "belong to the body of Christ and are Christians" - This teaching requires a Christian character to apply it - The peace Christ makes requires a new creation, not merely improved behavior - As he states: "To preach the Christian message as if it's something that can be applied to nations which are not Christian... is rank heresy and is a denial of the teaching of the apostle."
What examples does Lloyd-Jones give of Christians failing to apply this principle?
He provides several New Testament examples: 1. The disciples arguing about who would be greatest 2. The Grecians murmuring against the Hebrews over the treatment of widows (Acts 6) 3. Paul and Barnabas separating over John Mark (Acts 15) 4. Peter's withdrawal from eating with Gentiles 5. The Corinthian church divisions over favorite preachers, lawsuits, and spiritual gifts 6. James' example of showing favoritism to the wealthy in church
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.