The Bride of Christ
A Sermon on Ephesians 5:25-27
Originally preached Feb. 21, 1960
Scripture
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or …
Sermon Description
Many in society have a flippant view of love. It may be seen when a couple confesses their undying love to one another and soon are no longer together. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds how this is also seen in many songs and poems. But all of this is in stark contrast to how God’s word presents love in general, as well as His love for Christians and the church. This love is one that prompted Him to send His only begotten Son to die a painful death as an atoning sacrifice for those who were His enemies. This is a sanctifying love that transforms and renews. In this sermon on Ephesians 5:25–27 titled “The Bride of Christ,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that it is the love that puts others before oneself. This is the love that was demonstrated on the cross and is to be demonstrated in marriage. Just as Christ loved His church and gave Himself up for it, so also must the husband love his wife even as he loves his very own flesh. This is the great calling upon all husbands: to love their wives just as Christ loves His church in a pure and sacrificial love that is unblemished by sin and is without the taint of self service. This is the bountiful picture of love that God gives in Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- Love is practical, not theoretical. It is shown through actions, not words.
- Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. His love for the church is eternal and unchanging.
- Christ's love for the church is shown through his sacrificial death on the cross. He died to redeem the church from sin and condemnation.
- Christ did not consider himself or his own needs. He humbled himself and sacrificed for the good of the church. Husbands should have this same self-sacrificial mindset towards their wives.
- Christ died for the church while it was still sinful and unworthy. Husbands should love their wives unconditionally despite their faults and shortcomings.
- Christ's death on the cross is the foundation for the church. Without it, there would be no church.
- Christ's death on the cross is not just for our initial salvation. It is the basis for our ongoing sanctification and growth in holiness. We can never move on from the cross.
- Sanctification is not something we choose to do. It is something Christ does to us. He sanctifies us to make us holy and without blemish.
- To sanctify means to set apart for God's use and purpose. Christ has set the church apart from the world to be his own special possession.
- As Christians, we no longer belong to the world. We have been called out of the world and belong to Christ. We are strangers and pilgrims on earth.
- If Christ has truly died for us, we will know that we have been sanctified and set apart for him. We will no longer feel at home in the world. Our citizenship is in heaven.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ephesians 5:25-27
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the true nature of love according to the Bible?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, love is not something theoretical or merely to be talked about. He emphasizes that "love is the most practical thing in the world." He criticizes how the word love has become debased in modern times, with people using terms of endearment freely without substance. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to Jesus' own teaching that "he that loveth me" is "he that keepeth my commandments," showing that true love is demonstrated through actions, not just words or sentiments.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe Christ's love for the church in relation to marriage?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes Christ's love for the church as the perfect model for how husbands should love their wives. Christ "loved the church and gave himself for it," demonstrating self-sacrifice rather than self-consideration. He didn't hold onto His divine rights but humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant. Christ loved the church when it was still sinful, ungodly, and His enemy. This sacrificial, unconditional love is the pattern husbands should follow in loving their wives, continuing to love despite faults and imperfections.
What is the relationship between doctrine and practice in marriage according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically states that it's wrong to separate doctrine from practice. He asks rhetorically, "Is there anything so wrong as to separate doctrine and practice?" He challenges his listeners to think of marriage "in terms of the doctrine of the atonement" rather than merely as an ethical matter. He criticizes Christians who downplay doctrine, saying "the most foolish of all Christians are those who decry doctrine and the importance of theology and teaching. And of course, that's why they fail in practice." True Christian marriage must be understood and lived through the lens of Christ's relationship with the church.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the purpose of Christ's death for the church?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christ died for the church not merely to forgive sins or save from hell, but as the first step in a larger purpose. Christ "gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself, a glorious church." Forgiveness and justification are not ends in themselves but means to the further end of sanctification. Christ's ultimate goal is to have a perfect, spotless bride. The sermon emphasizes that Christ's death was a purposeful act specifically for the church, not the world at large.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define sanctification in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones defines sanctification primarily as being "set apart for God and for his peculiar possession and for his use." Using biblical examples, he explains that to be sanctified means to be separated from everything else for God's own possession, use, and delight. In relation to the church, sanctification means being "called out" from the world, "translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear son." He emphasizes that sanctification is not primarily something we choose to "go in for" but something Christ does to us as part of His ongoing work after justification.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones warn about resisting Christ's sanctifying work?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that Christians have no choice regarding sanctification - if Christ has died for you, He will complete the process of making you holy. He states firmly: "If you're a Christian you have no choice at all. It is something he does." For those who don't submit voluntarily to this process, "He has another way of cleansing us... Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth." This might include illness, loss of job, or death of loved ones - all means God might use to purge and cleanse believers. Lloyd-Jones warns believers to "resist him at your peril," emphasizing that Christ will complete His sanctifying work in every true believer.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the relationship between Christ and the church?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the relationship between Christ and the church as that of bridegroom and bride. He states that "He had to buy her before he could have her as his bride," referring to Christ purchasing the church with His own blood. The church is described as Christ's "peculiar possession," a people set apart exclusively for Him. Believers are now "strangers and pilgrims" in the world because they've been separated for Christ. The sermon emphasizes that this relationship is the pattern for human marriage, with husbands and wives mirroring the devotion, sacrifice, and exclusivity of Christ's relationship with the church.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as evidence that someone truly belongs to Christ?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, genuine evidence that Christ has died for someone is that they have been "sanctified" or separated from the world. He challenges listeners: "Are you aware of the fact that he separated you, that he sanctified you? Because, believe me, if you're not, you are deluding and fooling yourself in thinking that he's died for you." True believers will experience a sense of being strangers in this world, with their citizenship in heaven. He points to a definite change in identity and allegiance as the mark of genuine salvation, not merely claiming Christ's death for forgiveness.
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.