Speaking the Truth in Love
A Sermon on Ephesians 4:15
Originally preached Dec. 15, 1957
Scripture
15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Ephesians 4:15 titled “Speaking the Truth in Love,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones speaks of one of the most misunderstood and misapplied statements in all of Scripture: to always speak the truth in love. Many use this verse to argue against criticizing the views of others on the basis that it is unloving. They say that to criticize other Christians is to disrupt the unity of the church and God’s people. But this grossly misses the point of both what it means to speak in love and what it means to live in unity with other Christians. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out, the apostles and Jesus never hesitated to criticize false teachers and refute their teachings. In fact, many of the New Testament epistles were written just for this reason, to correct false teachings that had infiltrated the church. Not only this, but the whole history of the church has seen many creeds and confessions drafted in order to lay out clear doctrine and by this, protect the unity of the church. Because God has revealed the truth about Him and His Son in the Bible, the church must proclaim the truth and refute all that contradicts God’s word.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon text is Ephesians 4:15 - "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."
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This verse is often misinterpreted and abused. It does not just mean being nice and loving.
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The context of the verse is important. Verse 14 warns against being tossed by every wind of doctrine. Verse 15 contrasts this by telling us to hold onto the truth.
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In order to hold onto something, you must know what it is. The truth here is something that can be defined.
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There are certain essential truths we must hold onto: The authority of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the atonement, justification by faith alone.
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Throughout history, creeds and confessions have been written to define and defend these essential truths. They were written to save the church from error.
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Today, many object to creeds and confessions. They believe Christianity is just a vague spirit of love and niceness. But this contradicts Scripture and history.
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We must hold onto the truth, but we must do so in love. This means:
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Watching our spirit, especially toward other believers.
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Not being rigid, legalistic, intolerant or argumentative.
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Having a desire to persuade and win others, not just prove them wrong.
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Approaching others with humility, recognizing our own fallibility.
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Starting by explaining the truth, not attacking others.
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Having sympathy and compassion for those in error.
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Not compromising the truth, but holding it in love. Love means desiring the best for others, even if it requires rebuking them.
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Paul's letter to the Galatians shows this approach in practice. He rebuked them strongly for their error but did so out of love for them.
Sermon Q&A
What is Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teaching in "Speaking the Truth in Love"?
What does "speaking the truth in love" actually mean in Ephesians 4:15?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the phrase "speaking the truth in love" from Ephesians 4:15 is commonly misinterpreted. The original Greek suggests not just speaking, but "professing," "truthing," or better translated as "having or holding the truth in love." It's not merely about being nice or loving in our speech, but about firmly grasping and walking in truth while maintaining a loving spirit.
How is "speaking the truth in love" commonly misinterpreted today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that this verse has become "probably the favorite text today in the Christian church" but is often misused. It's typically interpreted to mean just being nice and loving, putting fellowship and unity above all else. This misinterpretation leads to tolerating anything and everything, suggesting that beliefs don't matter as long as someone has a "Christian spirit" or does good works.
Why is truth so important according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Truth is essential because without it, Christians would remain as "children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14). Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that:
- Truth must be something definable and capable of being stated
- Truth provides the standard by which we judge false teaching
- Truth is the antithesis of being "carried about by every wind of doctrine"
- Christianity cannot exist without truth, though you can have friendliness without Christianity
What are the essential truths Christians must hold according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several non-negotiable truths:
- The authority of Scripture as the Word of God
- The person of Jesus Christ - fully God and fully man
- The virgin birth and physical resurrection of Christ
- The atonement - Christ bearing our sins on the cross
- Justification by faith alone
How should Christians balance truth and love?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that holding truth in love means:
- Not being rigid, legal, or intolerant while maintaining firm convictions
- Not being concerned merely with winning arguments
- Avoiding partisan spirits and labels
- Approaching truth not just intellectually but with passion and feeling
- Speaking truth with humility, recognizing our own fallibility
- Having compassion for those who are young in faith
- Being willing to be patient with weaker brothers and sisters
Does speaking the truth in love mean compromising the truth?
Absolutely not, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones. He states clearly: "We don't compromise on the truth. We hold the truth at all costs. Yes, but we hold it in this way of love in order to persuade people and to win people and to try to enlighten them." Love sometimes requires speaking firmly against error, just as the Apostle Paul withstood Peter "to the face" (Galatians 2).
What principle summarizes the balance between truth and love?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes with this principle: "In things essential, unity; in things indifferent, liberty; in all things charity." This captures the balance of firmly holding to essential truths while allowing freedom in non-essential matters, with love characterizing all our interactions.
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.