Saints and Faithful in Christ Jesus
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:1
Originally preached Oct. 10, 1954
Scripture
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Sermon Description
What is the minimum of what it means to be a Christian? In this sermon on Ephesians 1:1 titled “Saints…and Faithful in Christ Jesus,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses this question. Three striking descriptions are proclaimed from this text: saints, faithful, and union with Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones centers his sermon around these descriptors and shows what the apostle Paul meant by these terms. While many Christians have a tendency to emphasize one of these descriptions over against the other, Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls the Christian to hold these together. The failure to do so is damaging to the church as Christianity is reduced to either some form of “easy believism” or an academic exercise. Correct doctrine, holiness, and participation in Christ must be at the center of one’s definition of “Christian.” Christians who have a burden for the lost must know who they are and what they are called to be, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones. Having a robust understanding of what it means to be a Christian has a direct effect on one’s witness to the world.
Sermon Breakdown
-
The apostle Paul addresses this letter to ordinary Christians, not just leaders or scholars. The teachings in this letter apply to all believers.
-
Christians are "saints" - set apart and cleansed from sin to be holy unto God. Every Christian is a saint, not just exceptional believers.
-
Christians are "faithful" - they believe in and hold to the Christian faith. They are dependable in their faith and willing to defend it.
-
Christians are "in Christ Jesus" - united to Christ through faith. His death, resurrection, and ascension are counted as theirs. They share in his blessings and inheritance.
-
The order of "saints, faithful, in Christ Jesus" is important. The primary mark of a Christian should be their holiness as saints set apart to God. Faith and union with Christ follow from that.
-
There is no separation between being a saint and being faithful. True faith in Christ always produces holiness. Holiness always comes through faith in Christ.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Ephesians: Understanding the Christian Identity
What does it mean to be a saint according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, being a saint means first and foremost being "set apart" or "separated" from the world. He explains that this is the primary meaning of the word saint as used by Paul in Ephesians 1:1. The term doesn't refer only to exceptionally holy people (as in Roman Catholic canonization), but to every Christian. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states: "Every Christian is a saint. You can't be a Christian without being a saint." This separation means that while Christians are in the world, they are "not of the world" - they are "essentially different" in mind, outlook, heart, conversation, and behavior. Additionally, saints are those who have been "cleansed inwardly" - both from the guilt of sin and from its pollution.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define what it means to be "faithful in Christ Jesus"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the term "faithful" has two important meanings. First, it means "exercising faith" or being "full of faith" - believing specific things about Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that Christians aren't merely nice people with vague moral ideals, but people who believe in specific doctrines: Christ's incarnation, virgin birth, miracles, death for our sins, resurrection, and the reality of the Holy Spirit. The second meaning is the one we commonly use: being reliable, dependable, and loyal to the faith - "standing for the defense of the faith" even when facing opposition, persecution, mockery, or social rejection.
What does it mean to be "in Christ Jesus" according to the sermon?
Being "in Christ Jesus" means more than simply believing in Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christians are actually united to Christ in a "vital, organic, mystical union." He uses several biblical illustrations to explain this concept: 1. Christians are members of Christ's body 2. Just as all humans were "in Adam," Christians are now "in Christ" 3. Christians participate in Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and heavenly position 4. Christians are branches connected to Christ, the true vine
This means all that Christ has done becomes true of believers, and all blessings they receive come through this union with Him. Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls this concept "staggering" and "overwhelming."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe the church lacks influence in the modern world?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that the primary reason for the church's lack of influence in the modern world is that Christians today are "so unlike the description that we find in the New Testament of the Christian." He points out that early Christians, though few in number, had a profound impact on the pagan world around them because of "their quality of life" and "the power they possessed." He argues that this is "the only way in which Christianity can have such an influence in the modern world." The problem is not with organization but with Christians failing to conform to the biblical pattern of what it means to be a Christian.
What is the relationship between being a saint and being faithful according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that there is an inseparable relationship between being a saint (holy) and being faithful (a believer). He quotes John Calvin: "No one is a believer who is not holy and no one is holy who is not a believer." He warns against putting "a gulf between justification and sanctification," calling it a "pernicious doctrine" to think one can be justified without being sanctified. He stresses that these qualities are "indissolubly linked" and concludes: "You cannot be a believer without being holy, and you cannot be holy in this New Testament sense without being a believer. What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder."
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.