Corruption; Lusts; Deceits
A Sermon on Ephesians 4:22-24
Originally preached March 30, 1958
Scripture
22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Sermon Description
There are many who say that people are born good, or at least indifferent to evil. They believe people come into the world innocent and able to freely do good. However, as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues in this sermon on Ephesians 4:22–24 titled “Corruption, Lusts, Deceits,” according to God’s word, this is incorrect. The Bible presents people as born guilty and wholly corrupted by sin and all its deceit. Humanity is born into a world that is under the rule of the evil one who is the great deceiver and father of lies. They are born into this miserable state and unable to do anything to save themselves. This life of the unbeliever is one given up to sin, but the life of the redeemed is another story. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, those who have been saved out of this world by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit and adopted into God’s family are declared righteous before His eyes. The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit gives all believers the ability to resist the deceit of sin and the devil. Yet it is because of Christ’s work on the cross in humanity’s place that they are declared righteous. This is the great division between people—there are those that know God and trust in his Son, and there are those that are outside the family of God and under the dominion of sin.
Sermon Breakdown
- The old man is corrupt and decaying, advancing rapidly in the direction of corruption.
- The old man is becoming more and more polluted and disintegrating.
- The old man is tending towards destruction.
- The old man inherits a corrupted nature. We are born in sin and shaped in iniquity.
- The old man gets worse and worse without God. The world and individuals decay without God.
- The influences imploring and urging the old man to destruction are lusts.
- Lust means a strong or mastering desire. Lust has come to mean an evil desire.
- The lusts that are within us are corrupting and destroying us.
- The lusts of deceit manipulate the old man and drive him to destruction.
- Deceit is the real controlling power manipulating the lusts which manipulate the old man.
- The devil, the ultimate power, is deceitful. His whole nature is deceit.
- The devil's agents are deceitful. They promise liberty but are servants of corruption.
- Judas is the epitome of deceitfulness. Sin always involves betrayal.
- Sin is deceitful. It hardens people through its deceitfulness.
- Sin takes occasion by the commandment to deceive. It makes the law, which is good, stimulate sin.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding the Sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Putting Off the Old Man
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "the old man" in the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "the old man" refers to our former corrupt nature and sinful way of living before becoming Christians. Based on Ephesians 4:22-24, he describes it as the nature we inherit at birth that is already corrupted and becomes increasingly corrupt. It represents our pre-Christian identity that was "crucified with Christ" but that we must actively put off in our daily lives.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say we should "put off the old man"?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, we should put off the old man for two main reasons: 1. Because the old man is already dead - "You are to put off the old men because the old man has already died." He explains this apparent paradox by saying we need to "be what you are" since we have already died with Christ. 2. Because of its corrupt condition and direction - "The old man is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts" and is moving toward destruction and decay.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the process of corruption in human nature?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes corruption as a progressive deterioration. He states that we are "born corrupt" but become "even more corrupted" as life progresses. He explains that this corruption is a "process of decaying and declension moving steadily always in the direction of final destruction." He uses James 1:15 to illustrate this progression: "When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death."
What role do "lusts" play in the corruption of human nature according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that lusts (strong, mastering desires) are the driving forces behind our corruption. While natural instincts themselves aren't bad (they were created by God for our good), they become destructive when they take control instead of being controlled by the mind, conscience, and ultimately God. He says, "when the instinct gets into control, it becomes a lust," leading to chaos and moving us toward destruction.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the element of "deceit" in sin?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies deceit as the ultimate controlling power behind sin. He outlines how deceit operates through: 1. The devil himself - "the most characteristic of the devil than anything else is this element of deceit" 2. Sin's agents - using Judas as the prime example 3. Sin itself - "beware lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13) 4. Our own hearts - "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9)
How does sin deceive people according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to the sermon, sin deceives by: 1. Coming to us "as a would-be friend" with flattery 2. Always appearing attractive while hiding its ugliness 3. Discouraging thought and meditation - "it plays on the feelings and discourages mind and thought" 4. Using plausible arguments - "Isn't it quite natural?" 5. Concealing certain facts and consequences 6. Appealing through false motives 7. Offering satisfaction that it never actually gives
What illustration does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use to explain putting off the old man?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses several powerful illustrations: 1. Freed American slaves who continued behaving like slaves even after emancipation 2. Telling an adult "don't be a baby" - implying they should behave according to what they actually are, not their former state 3. The prodigal son, who demonstrates how sin takes everything and gives nothing in return
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggest is the only solution to the problem of sin?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that morality teaching, laws, and self-help are insufficient to address sin because of sin's deceitful nature. He states: "There's nothing that can deal with this problem but the Holy Spirit." When discussing Paul's agony in Romans 7, he quotes: "I thank God through Jesus Christ, my Lord" as the only answer to the struggle with sin.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect this sermon to Palm Sunday?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones connects his sermon to Palm Sunday by explaining that Jesus entered Jerusalem deliberately, knowing He would die, in order to deliver and emancipate us from sin. He references Jeremy Taylor's hymn about how Christ entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple, comparing it to how Christ enters our lives to cleanse us as "temples of the living God."
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.