Redeemed Through His Blood
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:7
Originally preached Jan. 9, 1955
Scripture
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Sermon Description
Christ alone makes one a Christian. Every generation of believers must reiterate this again and again because human beings are desperately trying to stay in sin yet have the benefits of salvation. In this sermon on Ephesians 1:7 titled “Redemption,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s message is that God alone has devised a plan for humanity to be reconciled to God. If sin is taken seriously it will be seen as hopeless to try and save oneself. This is why, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones proclaims, all are in need of redemption. In other words, everyone needs deliverance by payment of ransom. Outside of Christ everyone is in bondage to the law and under the dominion of the devil. But in Christ Christians have been ransomed, bought with a price. What was this price? The apostle Paul takes up the Old Testament language of sacrifice and blood in order to show how the death of Christ fulfills the Law and the Prophets. The design of the Old Testament sacrificial system was propitiation as the result of expiation. This good news is the consistent testimony of the New Testament. Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the Christian to never forget they are not their own but were bought with a price.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon focuses on Ephesians 1:7 which states "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."
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This verse summarizes the essence of the Christian gospel. Although the meaning seems straightforward, it needs to be explained to avoid confusion and heresy.
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"In whom" refers to Jesus Christ, the beloved one mentioned in the previous verse. Verses 3-6 discuss the role of the Father, verses 7-12 discuss the role of the Son, and verses 13-14 discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in salvation.
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We cannot save ourselves or make ourselves Christians through our own efforts. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ. He did not just come to tell us how to save ourselves but to save us through his own actions.
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Jesus did not just come to tell us God is willing to forgive us. His death on the cross is how God forgives us, not just a demonstration of God's love and willingness to forgive. God reconciles us to himself through Christ's death, not just by proclaiming reconciliation.
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Our salvation is in Christ alone, not in his teaching or example. His death on the cross, not his words, is what saves us. We are saved by what God has done in and through Christ.
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We have been redeemed through Christ's blood. Redemption means deliverance by payment of a ransom. We were in bondage to sin and Satan, and Christ paid the price to free us. We now belong to Christ as his bondservants.
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The reference to Christ's blood rather than just his death emphasizes that his death fulfilled the Old Testament sacrificial system. Animal sacrifices taught that sin requires punishment, guilt can be transferred to another, and God is propitiated through expiation of guilt. Christ's blood is the ultimate sacrifice that actually accomplishes what animal sacrifices foreshadowed.
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We are saved solely by what Christ has done, not by our own efforts. His death on the cross and the shedding of his blood is the price paid to ransom us from sin and reconcile us to God. We must trust in Christ's sacrifice alone, not our own goodness, to be saved.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Meaning of Redemption in Christianity According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines the concept of redemption in Ephesians 1:7, explaining its depth and significance in Christian theology. According to his sermon, redemption is a central component of understanding salvation.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the core meaning of redemption?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, redemption means "deliverance by the payment of ransom." He explains: "You redeem something by paying the stipulated price." Drawing from both Old and New Testament usage, he illustrates how this term was used when: - A slave could be redeemed by a kinsman who paid the adequate price - A prisoner could be freed if someone paid the required amount - Slaves could be set at liberty through payment of a purchase price
The fundamental concept is that mankind is in bondage to sin, Satan, and the law, and cannot set itself free. Christ came to pay the ransom price that secures our emancipation.
Why does Paul specifically mention "blood" rather than just "death" in Ephesians 1:7?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Paul deliberately uses the term "blood" rather than simply "death" to connect Christ's sacrifice with the Old Testament sacrificial system. He explains:
"When the Apostle does a thing like this, he's obviously doing it quite deliberately. And I think he does it deliberately in order to emphasize this, that what happened in the death of Christ can only be understood adequately in terms of the Old Testament sacrificial language."
The blood specifically represents: 1. The propitiation of God (appeasing God's wrath) 2. The expiation of guilt (punishment of sin) 3. The vicarious nature of Christ's sacrifice (our guilt transferred to Him)
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the primary obstacle to salvation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies sin as the primary obstacle that prevents humans from reaching God's intended purpose for them. He states:
"Obviously, something must be done to us before we can ever be brought there. There's a great obstacle to our ever getting there. And the obstacle is the obstacle of sin. Sin in general and sins in particular. It is our sins that have come between us and God."
He emphasizes that the cross of Christ is not merely a proclamation of God's willingness to forgive, but God's actual means of making forgiveness possible: "It is what God did on Calvary's cross in His Son, making the way whereby he can reconcile us unto Himself."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say we cannot save ourselves?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones firmly states that self-salvation is impossible. He explains:
"If you still are thinking in terms of making yourself a Christian or trying to be a Christian, it's a clear indication that you're entirely on the wrong road, and that as long as you go on that road, you will never become a Christian."
He points out that: 1. No one has ever made themselves a Christian 2. Christ didn't come merely to tell us what to do to save ourselves 3. Christ didn't just come to announce God's forgiveness 4. Christ Himself constitutes our salvation through what He did on our behalf
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the relationship between Christ's sacrifice and our forgiveness?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christ's blood sacrifice is what secures our forgiveness with God. He clarifies that:
- Christ's death wasn't merely a demonstration of God's love or willingness to forgive
- The cross is God's way of making forgiveness possible, not just proclaiming it
- Through Christ's blood sacrifice, God actually reconciles us to Himself
- Christ took our sins upon Himself as the sacrificial lamb
As he puts it: "God has taken your sins and mine and has laid them upon him... He God hath laid on him the Son, the iniquity of us all. He is the lamb."
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.