The Church which is His Body
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:20-23
Originally preached July 10, 1955
Scripture
20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also …
Sermon Description
One of the most exalted ways the church is depicted in Scripture is through the metaphor of the body of Christ. Not only is it an exalted picture of the church, but the church as the body of Christ is one of the most intimate metaphors of the New Testament church. In this sermon on Ephesians 1:20–23 titled “The Church Which is His Body,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the metaphor of the body of Christ demonstrates that the church is in union with Christ, Christ is the head or source of the church, and Christ fills His body with life. The understanding of the doctrine of the church would be severely restricted if this picture were not in the Scriptures. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines this metaphor in great detail and with great passion, preaching on this source of unity and holiness. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also challenges a popular view of sanctification which regards any working on the part of the believer as misguided. Listen as these themes are brought together in such a way as to challenge the members of Christ’s body to remember the great source of power as one mortifies sin and resists the devil.
Sermon Breakdown
- We are joined to Christ in an organic, vital, and intimate manner. We are united to Christ, not in a mechanical or loose manner.
- The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the church. He is the source and center of the life of the church. Everything in the body derives its life and being from the head.
- It is the same life which is in every single part and portion of the body. This gives unity to the body.
- The church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. His fullness is in the church, the body.
- He fills the body with his life. All the attributes and powers and graces of Christ are in us as members of his body.
- The church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. There is a sense in which we as the church are his fullness. We are essential and vital to the fullness of the mystical body of Christ.
- What is true of Christ is true of us. We have been crucified with Christ. We are dead to sin. We are risen with Christ. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ.
- We must exercise the power that is in us as Christians. We must make use of the life of Christ in us. As we exercise the power, we will receive more power.
- The way to receive more power is to use and exercise the power you have. We mustn't wait for some great blessing. We must resist the devil and mortify our members.
- There is no excuse for our sin or failure. The energy is in us. We must use it and exercise it. Then we will go from strength to strength, from glory to glory.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Ephesians: Understanding the Church as the Body of Christ
What is the main concept of the church as the body of Christ according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the church as the body of Christ refers to a vital, organic union between Christ and believers. He emphasizes that "we are joined to Christ, that we are united to Christ, not in a mechanical manner, not in a loose manner, but in an organic manner, in a vital manner, in a most intimate manner." This is not simply a loose attachment like "fingers joined to the palm of my hand by string," but rather a living, intimate connection where believers are essentially "offshoots" of Christ, developed from Him.
How does the power of God flow to believers according to this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that God's power flows to believers through their union with Christ as head of the body. "Christ as the head of the church is the source and the center of the life of the church," he states. Just as the brain in the head controls the nervous system of the entire body, Christ is the source of all spiritual life and power. He emphasizes that "We have no independent life as Christians" and "All the energy and the power comes from him." This power is not something that's occasionally connected and disconnected, but constantly available because of our permanent union with Christ.
What does Lloyd-Jones say about the unity of the church?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that true church unity comes not from external organization but from spiritual life shared in Christ. He states, "You cannot have unity in terms of mere external organization. To amalgamate a number of denominations doesn't produce unity." Rather, "It is the Holy Spirit that makes the unity. It is this common life and energy that makes us one." He compares this to how a human body has unity through its shared nervous system and blood supply. True unity comes through "the truth as the Spirit reveals it and not as men decide upon some common denominator."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain what he means by "the fullness of Him that filleth all in all"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers two interpretations of this phrase. First, it means "He fills the body with his life" – Christ's fullness is in the church, just as the fullness of God was in Christ. "Every part of me is full of the whole of my life," he explains, applying this to how believers possess Christ's attributes, powers, and graces as members of His body.
Second, and more staggeringly, the church is Christ's fullness. While Christ as the eternal Son of God needs nothing, as the mediator and God-man who came to achieve redemption, "a head alone is not complete. A head needs a body." In this sense, believers are "a part of the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ."
How should Christians balance their effort with Christ's power according to this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects both extreme views of the Christian life – either that believers do everything themselves or that they do nothing but "look to Christ." Using the analogy of a muscle, he explains: "The muscle is not isolated. It cannot do anything in and of itself... But it's alive, it's receiving its life and its energy and its power." To strengthen a muscle, you must exercise it.
He concludes: "Exercise the power that is in you as a Christian. The life of Christ is in you. Begin to use it and to exercise it... Mortify sin... Do all you can with all your might, and as you are doing it, increased power and energy will be flowing into you." This balance means actively using the divine power already present through union with Christ.
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.