Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Ephesians: Questions and Answers

What does Lloyd-Jones consider the main theme of the Epistle to the Ephesians?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the main theme of Ephesians is God Himself - specifically "God, the eternal God, the everlasting God, overall, the indescribable glory of God and greatness of God." He emphasizes that Christianity must start with God, not with ourselves. Throughout the epistle, Paul emphasizes "the glory and the greatness of God, God the eternal God, the everlasting God, overall, the indescribable glory of God and greatness of God." Lloyd-Jones notes that the epistle continually reminds us that salvation starts with God, not with man.

How does Lloyd-Jones compare the Epistle to Ephesians with the Epistle to Romans?

Lloyd-Jones quotes Luther as saying that Romans is "the most important document in the New Testament" and "the purest expression of the Gospel." Building on this, Lloyd-Jones states: "if the epistle to the Romans is the purest expression of the Gospel, the epistle to the Ephesians is the sublimest and the most majestic expression of it." While Romans focuses primarily on justification by faith, Ephesians takes a broader, more panoramic view, examining salvation from "the vantage point of the heavenly places."

What does Lloyd-Jones mean by the "mystery" that Paul refers to in Ephesians?

Lloyd-Jones points out that the word "mystery" is used five times in Ephesians, more than in any other epistle. He explains that this mystery primarily refers to "God's ways with respect to men" and "the mystery of his will." One specific aspect of this mystery is that "the Gentiles should be fellow heirs," which wasn't fully revealed in earlier ages. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that we shouldn't try to fully comprehend God's mystery but rather approach it with reverence: "I am not here to produce some kind of theodicy or defense of God. I am here rather to unfold the mystery. And to lead us to a reverent attitude."

What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the central role of Christ in Ephesians?

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christ is absolutely central to the epistle and to Christianity: "There is no gospel, there is no salvation apart from the Lord Jesus Christ." He notes how frequently Christ's name appears in the opening verses and states that "everything that God, in his sovereign will and by his infinite grace and according to the riches of his mercy and the mystery of his will, everything that God has planned and purposed and carried out for our salvation, he has done in Christ." Lloyd-Jones particularly emphasizes Christ's blood and sacrificial death as essential: "There is no Christianity without the blood of Christ."

What practical application does Lloyd-Jones draw from studying Ephesians?

Lloyd-Jones identifies several practical applications:

1. To help believers understand their identity and privileges in Christ: "What we need, my friends, is not some experience, but to realize what we are, who we are, what God has done in Christ, where he's placed us."

2. To provide comfort in troubled times: "What a tremendous thing it is to stand and look at this revelation and see God's plan and purpose behind it all and beyond it all."

3. To deliver Christians from "morbid preoccupation with ourselves" by setting our eyes on God's eternal purposes.

4. To remind believers of the power available to them: "If you only knew the power that is working mightily for you. It's the same power that brought Christ from the dead."

5. To understand God's purpose for the church as bringing together diverse people as "one in Christ Jesus."

What does Lloyd-Jones teach about God's sovereignty in Ephesians?

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that God's sovereignty is prominently displayed throughout Ephesians. He notes that Paul introduces himself as "an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God," highlighting that his calling came from God's sovereign choice. Lloyd-Jones states: "It is God who's chosen everyone who's a Christian in Christ. It is God, he says, who has predestinated us. It is a part of God's purpose that we should be saved." He further explains that God sovereignly determines the timing of His redemptive plan, as seen in the mystery of the Gentiles becoming fellow heirs. Lloyd-Jones finds this truth particularly comforting: "I know of nothing at a time like this which is so comforting and reassuring as to know that the Lord still reigneth, that he is still the sovereign Lord of the universe."