One Lord
A Sermon on Ephesians 4:5
Originally preached June 23, 1957
Scripture
5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Sermon Description
What brings unity to churches? How can congregants come together in the midst of so many varying opinions and countless opportunities to disagree with one another? In this sermon on Ephesians 4:5 titled “One Lord,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues from Ephesians that when believers focus on Jesus Christ as the head of the church, unity is preserved. How is this done? It is by focusing on the uniqueness of Jesus—there is only one Lord. There is no one like Him. He makes Christianity what it is, for without Christ, the core of Christian belief would be gone. In this sense, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, there is an intolerant aspect to Christianity. He suggests that those who have not seen this have not seen the true faith. Christ is central to the church because disagreements about Him are disagreements about core doctrines, which not only cause division, but in some cases also serve as evidence that certain people are outside of Christ. Jesus is all one needs regarding salvation and how to be a part of the church. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains how Christ alone is the object around which the church can be united.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon focuses on Ephesians 4:5 which states "One Lord, one faith, one baptism".
- The sermon discusses the unity of the church as described in Ephesians 4:4-6. The church has unity through the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, and God the Father.
- The sermon focuses on Jesus Christ as the "One Lord" and how belief in him leads to unity. There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ.
- The uniqueness of Christ's person leads to unity. Christ is the only person who is both fully God and fully human. There will never be anyone else like him.
- The uniqueness of Christ's work leads to unity. Christ is the only savior and mediator between God and humanity. There is no other way to be saved or approach God except through Christ.
- The uniqueness of Christ's relationship to believers leads to unity. Christ owns and is the master of all believers because he purchased them with his blood. No one else is the master or owner of believers.
- Because Christ is the only Lord and master, no one else is the master over believers and believers are not the masters over each other. All believers are on the same level serving one another.
- If believers truly understood their relationship to Christ as the one Lord and master, most problems in the church would be solved and unity would be achieved.
- Christ humbled himself to the point of dying on the cross. Believers should have the same mindset of humility and service towards one another.
- Divisions in the church are ultimately due to a failure to realize that Christ is the only Lord. When believers see Christ as the only Lord, they will live for him and his glory.
Sermon Q&A
Lloyd-Jones Ephesians Sermon Questions on "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism"
What is the primary focus of Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Ephesians 4:5?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on examining the phrase "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" from Ephesians 4:5, particularly emphasizing the significance of "One Lord." He explores how the uniqueness of Christ as Lord creates and maintains the unity of the church. He shows how this Christological foundation is essential for Christian unity, following the apostle Paul's doctrinal approach to church unity.
How does Lloyd-Jones explain the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Lloyd-Jones explains that Jesus Christ is utterly and absolutely unique - there has never been anyone like Him before and never will be again. He emphasizes that Jesus is the Theanthropos (God-man), with two natures in one person. Lloyd-Jones quotes Hebrews where Christ is described as "the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person." The incarnation is presented as the unique, unrepeatable event in all history, making Jesus absolutely singular in His person.
Why does Lloyd-Jones say "Christianity is Christ"?
Lloyd-Jones states that "Christianity is Christ" because Christianity isn't merely a collection of ideas, philosophies, or teachings, but is primarily about a relationship with the person of Christ. He argues that Christ Himself is essential to Christianity—without Him, there is no Christianity. Unlike other religions that can be divorced from their founders, Christianity is inseparable from Christ, who both made it and is its essence.
What does Lloyd-Jones mean when he discusses the "intolerant aspect" of the Christian faith?
Lloyd-Jones explains that Christianity has an aspect of "intolerance" in that it claims Christ as the only Savior. This intolerance means Christians cannot put anyone alongside Jesus or suggest salvation apart from Him. He cites Peter's statement that "there is none other name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved" and Paul's assertion of "one God and one mediator between God and men." Lloyd-Jones argues that this necessary intolerance about Christ's uniqueness is precisely what creates unity among believers.
How does Christ's unique relationship to believers create unity according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christ's relationship to believers creates unity because: 1. Christ owns all believers—having purchased them with His blood 2. Christ is the master of all believers equally 3. No believer is another's master; all are on the same level before Christ 4. All believers serve the same Lord and should therefore serve one another
This common relationship to the one Lord places all Christians in the same position of humble service, eliminating hierarchy among believers and fostering unity as all recognize they belong to Christ alone.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the solution to divisions in the church?
Lloyd-Jones identifies proper understanding of Christ as Lord as the solution to divisions. He states, "If only we were all right about our relationship to him... most of our problems would be solved immediately." The divisions come from failing to realize there is only one Lord. When believers truly comprehend Christ's sacrifice and lordship, they become nothing in their own eyes, care less about personal offenses, and focus solely on living for Christ's glory, thus maintaining "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Why does Lloyd-Jones argue against dividing Christ into different aspects?
Lloyd-Jones argues against dividing Christ into different aspects because Christ is one indivisible person. He cites 1 Corinthians where Paul asks, "Is Christ divided?" and explains that we can't believe in only parts of Christ. Since "Christ is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption," we must take the whole Christ or none at all. Lloyd-Jones questions whether it's right to form separate movements around different aspects of Christ's work when He Himself is indivisible and is "made the same to all believers."
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.