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Sermon #4065

Of the Household of God

A Sermon on Ephesians 2:19

Originally preached May 27, 1956

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Scripture

Ephesians 2:19 ESV KJV
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (ESV)

Sermon Description

How would one’s life change if they knew that not only were they a citizen of a country, but they were a child of the king? This question is posed in a much deeper way by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on Ephesians 2:19 titled “Of the Household of God.” In his continued sermon series on Ephesians 2:19, he plunges further into the depths of the Christian’s position and privilege. Paul uses the metaphors of a kingdom, the family, and the temple of God. Being part of the kingdom entails unity as a people, along with the rights and privileges of being under the king. Being part of the household of God entails the intimacy and depth of relationship with God. The second is much deeper than the first. By way of application, Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that understanding the familial relationship of the church should promote deep relationships in the church. Also, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, these two descriptors point to the bewildering facets of the love of God towards the Christian, but also demand the responsibility to represent God well.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The apostle Paul wants to demonstrate the remarkable unity in the Christian church and the privilege of being members of this body.
  2. Paul illustrates this using three pictures: the church as a state, a household, and a temple. This sermon focuses on the household metaphor.
  3. A household signifies a family, demonstrating that Christians are children of God. This is an advance on the previous metaphor of citizens of a state.
  4. There are key differences between a state and a family:
  5. A state has a general relationship between members, a family has a particular, close relationship.
  6. A state has an external, loose unity; a family has an internal, intense unity.
  7. Relationships in a state are remote, in a family they are intimate.
  8. A state has an impersonal relationship, a family has a personal relationship.
  9. A state has a legal relationship, a family has a vital, living relationship.
  10. It is important to understand this metaphor to grasp God's grace, the doctrine of salvation, and our privileges and responsibilities as children of God.
  11. As children of God, we can go to Him as our Father. We have the right to approach Him and He cares for our every need.
  12. We also have a relationship to the Son, Jesus Christ, our brother. We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
  13. We share the same Spirit as Christ, the Spirit of adoption, crying "Abba, Father".
  14. We have a great responsibility to live lives worthy of our Father and bring glory to Him. We must love our enemies and be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.

Sermon Q&A

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Being Part of God's Household - Questions & Answers

What does it mean to be "of the household of God" according to Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being "of the household of God" means we are part of God's family rather than merely citizens of His kingdom. As he explains: "The household means the family. In other words, we are children of God." This is a more intimate relationship than citizenship alone. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this family relationship is not a loose attachment but "this intense, close, intimate attachment" that comes from being adopted into God's own family.

How does Lloyd-Jones contrast the idea of a state and a family in relation to the church?

Lloyd-Jones draws several important contrasts between state citizenship and family membership: - The state relationship is general, while family is particular and more intense - State unity is external, while family unity is internal - State relationships are remote, while family relationships are intimate - State connections are impersonal, while family connections are intensely personal - State bonds are legal, while family bonds are vital and blood-related

As he puts it: "As you narrow relationship, it always becomes more intense. We are always more intense in our relationships when we are smaller in number."

What privileges come with being part of God's household according to the sermon?

According to Lloyd-Jones, the privileges of being in God's household include: 1. Having God as our Father - "We have upon us the name of God" 2. Having direct, personal access to God - "We have a right of approach to him, which a child always has to the Father" 3. Having God's personal attention and concern - "He's interested in it, and as it were, he is prepared to allow the whole universe to go on on its own for the moment, while he is listening to you" 4. Being related to Jesus Christ as brothers - "He is our brother, he is the first born among many brethren" 5. Being heirs of God - "Because children then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ" 6. Sharing the same Spirit - "God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts"

How does Lloyd-Jones address the false teaching of universal fatherhood of God?

Lloyd-Jones strongly rejects the teaching of universal fatherhood of God. He states: "There is a loose teaching abroad today concerning the so-called universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of men. The apostle here in this second chapter of Ephesians tells us the exact opposite." He emphasizes that this family relationship is only true "in and through the Lord Jesus Christ" and is "only true of those who are in Christ."

He explains: "There is no such thing as belonging to the family of God apart from the Lord Jesus Christ," and cites Jesus's words about those outside Christ: "Ye are of your father, the devil, and the works of your father ye will do." While God is creator of all, the father-child relationship he's discussing comes only through Christ's redemptive work.

What responsibilities come with being members of God's household?

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that with great privilege comes great responsibility. The responsibilities of being in God's household include:

  1. Representing our Father well - "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, but glorify your Father, which is in heaven"
  2. Reflecting God's character - "The child proclaims the parent"
  3. Living worthy of our family identity - "Is that sort of thing worthy of my Father's son?"
  4. Loving as God loves - "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you... that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven"
  5. Striving for godly perfection - "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father, which is in heaven is perfect"

As Lloyd-Jones concludes: "The next time you don't quite know what to do...there's only one question to ask. Is that sort of thing worthy of my Father's son?"

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.