The Counsel of His Own Will
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:11-14
Originally preached Feb. 20, 1955
Scripture
11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted …
Sermon Description
Perhaps no truth of Scripture is more uncomfortable for certain Christians than predestination. In this message on Ephesians 1:11–14 titled “The Counsel of His Own Will,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds that one cannot simply ignore themes in the Bible just because there are disagreements or debates over them. With reverence, without prejudice, and with submissive hearts, Christians come to the Bible open to the truth contained within God’s Holy Word. Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks a penetrating question that all Christians must contemplate: “why I am what I am as a Christian?” Does one’s answer to that question reserve any glory for themselves or does the answer reserve all glory to God? With keen observation and interpreting Scripture with Scripture, Dr. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates that God is fully responsible not only for the initiation of salvation, but He also is fully responsible for carrying it out. What great assurance this is for Christians. What praise and adoration should be for such a great salvation. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds this wonderful truth of God’s deliberation of salvation according to the counsel of His will.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by revisiting Ephesians 1:11-14 which discusses God's eternal purpose and plan of salvation.
- Paul uses several important terms in these verses like "predestined", "purpose", "counsel", and "will" to describe God's sovereign plan.
- These terms are not just referring to God's plan in a general sense but specifically to how God's plan is applied to us.
- We must approach these profound doctrines with the right spirit - without prejudice, submitting fully to Scripture, and not relying on philosophy or human reasoning.
- The overarching theme in these verses is the glory of God. Our salvation is meant to bring God glory.
- God's plan of salvation originated in His own will and purpose. It was not suggested to Him by anything outside of Himself.
- God's purpose and plan is not just theoretical but He actively works to carry it out in history and in our lives. He is in control of everything.
- We have become partakers of God's salvation because He predestined us to it according to His will and purpose. We did nothing to deserve or earn it.
- God has been working out His plan progressively through history - in the call of Abraham, the giving of the Law, the exile and return from exile, the coming of Christ, etc.
- God continues to work out His plan in our lives by drawing us to Himself, regenerating us, gifting us with the Holy Spirit, etc. Our salvation is entirely His work.
- The sermon will continue next week by exploring the means God uses to apply His plan of salvation in our lives. But we must start by recognizing that salvation is for the glory of God alone.
Sermon Q&A
Questions about Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon on Ephesians 1:11-14
What is the main passage Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is expounding in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones is focusing on Ephesians 1:11-14, which discusses the inheritance believers have in Christ, predestination according to God's purpose, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit. This passage is part of Paul's extended introduction to the Ephesians letter where he explains God's grand purpose to reunite all things in Christ.
How does Lloyd-Jones describe God's overall purpose according to Ephesians?
Lloyd-Jones explains that God's great purpose is to restore original harmony in the cosmos that was disrupted by sin. As he states: "The apostle has announced that the great secret which God has revealed concerning his purpose is that in this present age and in Christ, he is reuniting the discordant parts, the separate parts into which sin has divided the world and indeed the whole cosmos." This involves gathering everything together in Christ, both in heaven and on earth.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the "controlling thought" behind these doctrines?
Lloyd-Jones states repeatedly that "the controlling thought in these matters is always the glory of God." He points to the recurring phrase "to the praise of his glory" in the passage and suggests that "the ultimate test of every view of salvation is this test of the glory of God." If your understanding of salvation reserves any glory for yourself rather than giving all glory to God, it fails this biblical test.
How does Lloyd-Jones address common prejudices against studying difficult doctrines?
Lloyd-Jones warns against avoiding difficult doctrines like predestination because of controversies associated with them. He states: "There are certain aspects of New Testament truth which are just not been considered at all because there is an element of controversy attached to them." He calls this "deliberately ignoring God's word" and "deliberately bypassing certain aspects and elements of God's revealed truth." He urges believers to approach Scripture without prejudice and to submit themselves entirely to what it teaches.
What does Lloyd-Jones say about God's purpose in salvation?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that God's purpose in salvation is entirely of God's own will, not influenced by anything outside Himself. He states it comes "according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." This means salvation was not "suggested to God by anybody else" nor "suggested to God by anything in anybody else." Everything originates in God's own counsel and purpose before the foundation of the world.
How does Lloyd-Jones explain predestination in this sermon?
Lloyd-Jones explains predestination as God's predetermined plan for believers: "You and I are what we are this morning for this reason that God purposed according to the counsel of his own will, that you and I should be in it and should be sharers of it, being predestinated." He says this means God "thought of me. He thought of you... in that eternal counsel of his own will." This is not an abstract doctrine but a personal application that should provide comfort and assurance.
How does Lloyd-Jones describe God's work in carrying out His salvation plan?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that God not only conceived the plan but also carries it out completely: "God is not only entirely responsible for the initiation and the conception and the thought of the purpose, he is equally responsible for its carrying out." He describes this as the whole story of the Bible—from creation through the call of Abraham, the history of Israel, the coming of Christ, and the salvation of believers. Lloyd-Jones states, "It is God who worketh it all, from beginning to the very end."
What does Lloyd-Jones say about the human contribution to salvation?
Lloyd-Jones firmly rejects any notion that salvation depends on something innate in us: "It's nothing in us. It's not that we are different or better, nothing to do with it. We are no better than the world." He cites Jacob and Esau as an example, suggesting that naturally speaking, Esau might even have been "a much better and nicer and finer type." Salvation is entirely of God's purpose and working, not human merit or qualities.
What is the source of assurance for the believer according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones states that knowing God predetermined our salvation "is the whole basis of my assurance at this moment. It's the guarantee of my future." Our confidence rests not in ourselves but in God's purpose: "It's God who's put me where I am. And he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." This provides deep comfort and security to believers.
What did Lloyd-Jones promise to address in his next sermon?
Lloyd-Jones promised that in his next sermon, he would consider "the means which God uses in order to do this, the way in which God does work it out, and what he asks of you and of me in the working out of his own great and glorious purpose." Having established God's sovereign purpose in this sermon, he would next explain how this purpose is implemented and what human response is involved.
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.