Risen in Christ
A Sermon on Ephesians 2:4-7
Originally preached Nov. 27, 1955
Scripture
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places …
Sermon Description
On one hand, people fail to realize the depth of sin. On the other hand, they fail to see the height and glory of the gospel. The problem with the church today is that it fails at both of these points. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:4–7 titled “Risen with Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones declares what makes one a Christian: their union with Christ. In this union, the Christian has been raised together with the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoicing in the heights of one’s own resurrection makes sense only when the believer understands their original state of death. By nature they were children of wrath. Jesus died for them and their old nature died with Him. In dying with Him they are also raised with Him. Starting at this point of human depravity, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores the goodness of union with Christ. Christians, he declares, are dead to the law and no longer under the curse of sin. Christians are alive unto God. The new person thinks in terms of eternity. They care not only for their body but also for their soul. They seek to share Christ with the lost and want to please God. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks, “Have you been raised together with Christ? Do you know God?” Rejoice as one risen with Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by stating that Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 7 describe what God has done for us in our helpless and hopeless state.
- The sermon then says that Christians fail to realize the depth of sin and the greatness of salvation.
- The sermon proceeds to describe the deliverance and salvation discussed in Ephesians 2. It says we have been quickened and raised with Christ.
- The sermon discusses how what happened to Christ physically also happened to us spiritually. Christ died, was buried, and rose again. Similarly, we were once dead in sin but have now been raised to new life.
- The sermon then explores what it means that we have been raised with Christ. It discusses several negatives:
- We are no longer under the wrath of God or condemnation.
- We are no longer under the law but under grace.
- We are dead to sin. Though we still sin, we are no longer slaves to sin.
- Our "old man" - our sinful, Adamic nature - has been crucified with Christ. We are no longer in Adam but in Christ.
- The sermon then explores the positives of being raised with Christ:
- We are sharing in the life of Christ and becoming like Him.
- We are alive to God, desiring Him and in tune with the eternal.
- We are walking in newness of life with a new mind, heart, and will.
- Our mind is set on eternal things, the spiritual, and the Bible. We meditate on these things.
- Our heart desires righteousness, holiness, prayer, fellowship, and the salvation of others.
- Our will is bent toward pleasing God rather than ourselves.
- The sermon concludes by asking if we have been raised with Christ and exhorting us to yield ourselves to God as those alive from the dead.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Being Raised with Christ: Questions & Answers
What does it mean to be "raised together with Christ" according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being "raised together with Christ" means experiencing a profound spiritual transformation similar to Christ's physical resurrection. Just as Christ left the grave and entered a new realm of life, Christians have been spiritually transferred from the realm of death to the realm of life. This means we have a new nature, a new relationship with God, and we've been delivered from the dominion of sin. He explains that "this doctrine of our union with Christ is absolutely vital" and produces a "complete change in the realm" in which we exist - we're no longer spiritually dead but alive to God.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the Christian's relationship to sin after being raised with Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christians are "dead to sin" after being raised with Christ. This doesn't mean Christians never sin again, but rather that they're no longer under sin's dominion or control. He illustrates this with the conquest of Canada: "There was one battle and one great victory, the Battle of Quebec. And as the result of that one battle, Canada became a British possession... There were pockets of resistance left, yes, but Canada was no longer French." Similarly, while Christians still struggle with sin, they are no longer slaves to it or controlled by it. The Christian has been fundamentally transferred from the realm of sin to the realm of Christ.
What are the negative and positive aspects of being raised with Christ that Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies?
Negative aspects (what is no longer true of Christians): - No longer under the wrath of God or condemnation - No longer under law but under grace - No longer dead to God but alive to Him - No longer under the dominion of sin - No longer in Adam but in Christ
Positive aspects (what is now true): - Alive to God - having awareness of and desire for God - Walking in newness of life - Having a new mind that thinks in terms of eternity not just time - Having a new heart with desires for righteousness and holiness - Having a new will directed toward pleasing God
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the concept of the "old man" being crucified with Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the "old man" refers to our "Adamic nature" - our identity and standing in Adam. He states, "The old man is the Adamic man. The man was in Adam." When we die with Christ, this old Adamic nature dies also. The result is that "as a Christian, I am no longer in Adam. I am in Christ. I am a member of a new humanity." This means God no longer looks at us as people who are in Adam but as those who are in Christ. Our position, status, and standing before God are completely different - we belong to a new humanity with Christ as its head. While we remain the same personality, we are essentially "a different man."
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, how does the Christian's mind change after being raised with Christ?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Christian's mind is completely transformed after being raised with Christ. The changes include:
- Thinking in terms of eternity rather than just time
- Being aware of the spiritual realm, not just the physical
- Having a new standard of values - judging things by their spiritual significance
- Having a newfound interest in and reverence for the Bible
- Engaging in meditation rather than constant distraction
- Evaluating actions based on how they affect one's relationship with God
He states: "The Christian has got a new mind, and it shows itself in these ways. He looks at everything in a different manner." This renewed mind is part of "walking in newness of life" and represents a complete opposite to the natural mind that avoids deep spiritual thought.
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.