Knowledge of the Truth
A Sermon on Ephesians 4:20-21
Originally preached March 9, 1958
Scripture
20But ye have not so learned Christ; 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Sermon Description
Salvation only happens by repenting of sin and believing in Jesus Christ. In this sermon on Ephesians 4:20–21 titled “Knowledge of the Truth,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns against those who reduce salvation to a mere intellectual assent. The gospel is not dependent on the wisdom of people and their ability to comprehend it. All are born in sin and blindness, unable to see the truth or know God. But true Christianity and faith are a result of what the Holy Spirit does in bringing dead people to life and making them new creations in the Savior Christ Jesus. Understanding true doctrine and godliness are a result of salvation, not the means of it. All who are truly saved have a growing knowledge of God, as His word is absorbed by hearts freed from the blinding nature of sin. Those who know much about the Bible and about doctrine but who have never been broken by their sin are deceived and lost. They presume intellectual understanding is an acceptable substitute for confession of sin and faith in Christ. The church must always be wary of confusing these two kinds of knowledge. Many are self-deceived and lost because they have no real relationship with God, but instead are puffed up with knowledge.
Sermon Breakdown
- Christianity is primarily a matter of knowledge and understanding, not just feelings or experiences.
- To become a Christian means to undergo a profound change in understanding. Our eyes have been opened to the truth.
- The first thing that happens when someone becomes a Christian is that their eyes are opened to their own hopeless condition and need for a savior.
- Our eyes are then opened to see the truth of the gospel - that Jesus is the Messiah and deliverer.
- This opening of eyes and gaining of understanding is the work of the Holy Spirit. No one comes to faith through natural ability alone.
- The "unction" or "anointing" of the Holy Spirit gives insight and understanding, even to the simple and uneducated.
- To "learn Christ" means to come to a knowledge of the truth about Him - who He is and what He has done.
- This knowledge of Christ is not just a knowledge of doctrine or theology in an abstract sense. It is a personal knowledge of Christ Himself.
- The knowledge of Christ is not just that our sins are forgiven, but that Christ delivers us from sin itself.
- The knowledge of Christ is the "truth as it is in Jesus" - meaning the truth is found only in the historic person of Jesus, not in ideas alone.
- In Jesus "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." All truth is found in Him.
- We must never separate knowledge of doctrine from the person of Christ. Knowledge of Christ leads to a new life conformed to Him.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Learning Christ
What does it mean to "learn Christ" according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, to "learn Christ" means to come to a true knowledge of Christ that transforms one's life completely. It is not merely a vague feeling or experience, but something definable and describable. He emphasizes that Christianity is "primarily and essentially a matter of knowledge." This knowledge includes understanding one's own estate and condition, seeing the folly of one's old life, recognizing one's relationship to God, and understanding the meaning of the gospel. It is a personal knowledge of Christ as Savior, Deliverer, and Messiah.
How does Lloyd-Jones differentiate between Christians and non-Christians in this sermon?
Lloyd-Jones describes a profound contrast between Christians and non-Christians. Non-Christians have their minds darkened, are alienated from the life of God because of ignorance, and have hardened hearts. Christians, on the other hand, have undergone "the profoundest operation that ever takes place in the whole of the universe." They have been "born again, born of the spirit, born from above," are "partakers of the divine nature," and are "new creations." This difference is so apparent that both the Christian and non-Christian are aware of it, as illustrated by John Bunyan's account of Vanity Fair in Pilgrim's Progress.
Why does Lloyd-Jones say that the Holy Spirit is essential in the process of "learning Christ"?
Lloyd-Jones emphatically states that only the Holy Spirit can enable someone to truly learn Christ. Given the darkness of understanding and hardness of heart that characterizes non-Christians, "nothing but the Holy Spirit can enlighten this darkness, soften the heart, and enable the truth to penetrate and to grip and to master the person." He cites 1 John 2:20, 27 about having an "unction from the Holy One" and an "anointing" that teaches. This divine enablement makes salvation equitable - not dependent on natural intelligence or education but available to anyone through the Spirit's work.
What is the significance of Lloyd-Jones' distinction between "Christ" and "Jesus" in Ephesians 4:20-21?
Lloyd-Jones points out a profound theological significance in Paul's shift from "learned Christ" (v.20) to "the truth is in Jesus" (v.21). This represents "the particularity of the gospel" - Christianity is not about vague concepts or a "cosmic Christ" but is tied to the historic person of Jesus of Nazareth. This distinguishes Christianity from all other religions which are merely ideas or philosophies. Christianity is "an announcement of certain facts and events which have taken place in history," specifically centered on the historical Jesus. Our salvation is not based on applying his teaching but on Jesus himself.
How does Lloyd-Jones refute the idea that Christianity is merely about forgiveness of sins?
Lloyd-Jones strongly refutes the notion that Christianity is merely about forgiveness of sins. He warns that if the gospel were merely an announcement that sins are forgiven through Christ's death, it wouldn't deliver people from the sinful behaviors that held the Ephesians captive. Some might conclude, "It's all right. It doesn't matter how much we sin. It's all going to be forgiven." He calls this a "terrible" teaching - while the gospel does announce forgiveness of sins, it isn't only that. True learning of Christ leads to transformation of life and behavior, not just a theoretical forgiveness that allows continued sinning.
Why does Lloyd-Jones warn against merely intellectual knowledge of Christian doctrine?
Lloyd-Jones warns that merely intellectual or theoretical knowledge of doctrine and theology "is of no value to us at all" and "may be a curse." While doctrine is essential (a person "can't be a Christian without a modicum of doctrine"), having doctrine "in your mind" or "in theory" without it changing you is dangerous. He asserts that "a mere knowledge of doctrine, which doesn't lead to a new life, is of the devil." The devil may even encourage people to study doctrine if it makes them "harsh and hard and intolerant" while their lives remain unaffected. True doctrine should lead to increasing personal knowledge of Christ and corresponding changes in conduct.
What does Lloyd-Jones mean when he says "the truth is in Jesus"?
When Lloyd-Jones speaks of "the truth is in Jesus," he emphasizes that "the truth is only in Jesus, and it's nowhere else." Citing Colossians 2:2-3, he states that "in Christ Jesus are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge." This means "all the truth is in Jesus. And there is no truth outside Jesus. Everything is in him. He alone is the truth." He also references Acts 4 where Peter declared "neither is there salvation in any other" and Jesus' own words in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Lloyd-Jones warns against separating doctrine from the person of Jesus, emphasizing that "salvation has come in a person."
How does the apostle Paul describe the condition of non-Christians in this passage?
According to Lloyd-Jones' exposition of Paul's teaching, non-Christians are described as walking "after the vanity of their mind," being "past feeling," and having "given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Their minds are darkened, they are alienated from God's life due to ignorance, and they have hardened hearts. Paul also provides a list in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 which Lloyd-Jones quotes, describing non-Christians as potentially being "fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, or extortioners."
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.