You Who Were Far Off
A Sermon on Ephesians 2:13
Originally preached Feb. 5, 1956
Scripture
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Sermon Description
Everyone has a past. It is often painful to look back on one’s life and see the suffering their sin caused others and how it offends a holy and righteous God. But if one recognizes God’s power in salvation, “looking back” is an important ingredient. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:13 titled “Made Nigh.” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states that the other ingredient to consider is the Christian’s current position because of God’s power. The apostle Paul remarkably does this with just one word: “but.” This word brings relief to the believer in Christ and points to the utter contrast between the old life and the new life in Christ. It also points to the separation between the believer and the unbeliever. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores this contrast by looking at the details of the new covenant. One must not think that the absolute nature of the contrast is only true for those who were “really” bad before Christ. The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is an absolute difference, whether one grew up in a respectable environment or the gutters of life. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones takes a close look at the remarkable promises of the new covenant.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is emphasizing the greatness of the Christian salvation in Ephesians 2.
- To understand the greatness of salvation, we must understand our condition apart from it and our condition as a result of it.
- Last week, we looked at our condition apart from salvation - without Christ, aliens from Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God.
- This week, we are looking at our condition as a result of salvation - made near to God.
- There is a sharp contrast between what we were and what we are now in Christ. We were far off but now are made near. This is an absolute and complete change.
- The change from non-Christian to Christian is not gradual. It is a distinct transfer from one state to another. We either know God or we do not.
- Our position as Christians is defined by our relationship to God, not by our behavior or morality. We have been brought near to God through the blood of Christ.
- As Christians, we have access to the holiest place, the presence of God. We can come with boldness to the throne of grace. We have been given authority to be children of God.
- We know God as our Father and have fellowship with Him. We have the Spirit of adoption by which we cry "Abba, Father".
- We can draw near to God because we know the way - through the blood of Jesus. His blood gives us free access into God's presence.
- Do we know and experience these blessings of being made near to God? Do we pray with confidence as His children? This is what it means to be a Christian.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ephesians 2:13
What does the phrase "made nigh by the blood of Christ" mean according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "made nigh by the blood of Christ" means that believers who were once far from God have been brought into His presence and given access to Him. It signifies that Christians have been reconciled to God, restored to His favor, with the enmity removed and God's wrath appeased. In his words, "There has been an at onement, an atonement. They've been brought together again, made nigh, introduced into the audience chamber, presented to the king of glory." The blood of Christ is the only way of "entering into the holiest of all."
What is the primary contrast Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes in this sermon on Ephesians 2:13?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes the absolute contrast between being a non-Christian and being a Christian. He stresses the "sharpness of the contrast, the completeness of the separation, the absolute quality of the difference." He explains this contrast with phrases like "but now" versus "times past," noting that Christianity isn't a gradual transition: "It isn't that you go from black to white through various shades of gray...It's either black or white, he says, and there are no intermediate stages." This contrast is not primarily about moral behavior but about relationship to God - being "far off" versus being "made nigh."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain what it means to know God as a Christian?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that knowing God is the essence of Christianity: "To be a Christian is to know God." He cites the new covenant promise that "all shall know me from the least to the greatest." This knowledge involves approaching God "with boldness unto the throne of grace," entering "into the holiest of all" with "full assurance of faith." It means knowing God as Father through the "spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father," not just knowing things about God or being interested in Him theoretically. This personal relationship means experiencing God's love and knowing that "the very hairs of his head are all numbered."
What illustration does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use to explain the difference between a Christian and non-Christian?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the illustration of marriage to explain the difference between a Christian and non-Christian. He explains that just as a person is either married or not married (regardless of their moral character), a person is either in relationship with God or not. He states: "Until yesterday, he was a single man. Now he's a married man... it is absolutely beside the point and a complete waste of breath to tell me various things that were true about that man." Similarly, when considering Christianity, the vital question is not about one's moral conduct but rather: "Are you nigh unto God? Do you know God?"
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the test of being a Christian?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the test of being a Christian is not moral conduct but relationship with God. He states, "The one question I'm asking is this: Are you nigh unto God? Do you know God?" He explains that "the test is a positive one" regarding whether one has access to God, not a negative one about how sinful one's past life was. He notes that "according to the scriptures, there is no difference between the foulest and the vilest sinner and the most respectable sinner" in terms of their need for Christ, as "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe prayer in the life of a Christian?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes Christian prayer as approaching God with confidence and boldness. He asks: "When you get on your knees to pray, do you do it with confidence? With this boldness, do you know you're going to the throne of grace?" He explains that Christians pray knowing they have "a right of entry" into God's presence, not with "doubts and uncertainties." They pray as children to a Father, not concerned about "forms and appearances and beauty of language" but with a filial spirit: "Abba, Father." Christians pray knowing God's love and personal interest in them, with the assurance that "nothing can happen to him apart from God."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the temple illustration in relation to Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul had the temple in mind when writing about being "made nigh." The temple was divided into courts with the Gentiles being "the furthest away" in "the outermost court," while only the high priest could enter "the holiest of all" where God's presence dwelt. Through Christ, believers who were once like Gentiles "furthest away have been brought in" and now "have an entry, as it were, into the holiest of all." This illustrates how Christianity provides direct access to God that was previously unavailable, as "the non Christian is without God, without Christ. He has no access, he has no knowledge, he has no entry."
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.