The Only Way
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-11
Originally preached Oct. 9, 1960
Scripture
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Sermon Description
Secularists sometimes acknowledge the value of Christianity upon society. They can appreciate the morals and values it can instill in a society’s citizens. Often, however, it is not true Christianity they want, but a version of Christianity that is palatable to their pluralism. They want a Christianity that speaks to moral problems, but it cannot speak to those problems as the only solution, just as an optional solution. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–11 titled “The Only Way,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones confronts the popular idea that the Christian message is too narrow. In his defense of biblical Christianity, Dr. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates why Christianity’s exclusive claim to fix the moral problem is correct. The church must stand in defense that it has the only message that can solve moral problems of society. In saying Christianity is capable of solving moral problems of society, Dr. Lloyd-Jones is careful to distinguish true Christianity from misunderstandings of what Christianity is. Christianity is not moralism with its reduction of the Christian message to imitation of ethical teaching. Nor is it monasticism with its escapist mentality. Rather, Christianity is the call to be strong in the Lord with the power of His might where God has placed the believer.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon is based on Ephesians 6:10-11 which exhorts Christians to be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God.
- The sermon begins by establishing that the Christian life is a battle against spiritual forces.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that Christianity is the only solution to this battle and the moral problems of the world. He cites history and current events as evidence.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses two common misunderstandings of Christianity:
- That it is just a moral teaching we have to follow. He argues this fails because it leaves victory up to our own efforts.
- That it requires retreating from the world. He argues this is not the teaching of the New Testament and fails because we cannot escape from ourselves or spiritual forces.
- The sermon concludes by reaffirming that Christianity offers victory over spiritual forces through the power of God, not through our own efforts or escape.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon on Ephesians 6:10-11
What is the central text that Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on Ephesians 6:10-11, which states: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." This text forms the foundation for his discussion of spiritual warfare and the Christian's only effective means of battling against spiritual forces.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones claim Christianity is the "only way" to address moral problems?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that Christianity is the only solution to moral problems based on three main evidences: 1) The evidence of history shows that whenever people turned from God, moral decay followed; 2) The nature of the fight against spiritual forces requires supernatural power, not merely human effort; and 3) The high standard to which Christians are called (to be perfect as God is perfect) cannot be attained by human effort alone. He states: "openly, frankly, avowedly and unashamedly, we assert, as the apostle does here by implication, that this and this alone is the only way of victory and of triumph."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the two common misunderstandings of Christianity?
The first misunderstanding is that Christianity is merely "a moral ethical teaching" that we must apply ourselves—reducing Jesus to just another great teacher among many. The second misunderstanding is monasticism—the idea that Christians must segregate themselves from the world to avoid temptation. Both approaches fail because the first leaves people without power to change, while the second fails to address that sin comes from within us and spiritual enemies can reach us anywhere.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use the "iceberg" metaphor to explain human nature?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones quotes a reviewer who described humanity as an iceberg: "men is a kind of iceberg... standing up above the water is a certain amount, about a third perhaps, which may look very white, but underneath are two thirds out of sight." This metaphor illustrates that humans are mainly driven by irrational impulses, desires, and instincts (the hidden two-thirds) rather than by rational thought (the visible one-third). This explains why mere education or moral teaching is insufficient to change behavior.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the relevance of his message to modern moral problems?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones directly addresses contemporary moral problems, noting how medical officers were reporting alarming increases in venereal diseases among adolescents despite unprecedented educational opportunities and social programs. He observes: "It is as religion has declined in this century, that the moral problem has increased." He ties this directly to statistics showing decreasing church attendance coinciding with increasing moral problems, proving the relevance of his message to modern society.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, why is Martin Luther's experience significant to this discussion?
Martin Luther exemplifies the failure of monasticism as an approach to spiritual warfare. Despite being a monk who fasted, prayed, and tried to conquer his spiritual enemies through severe discipline, Luther only found deeper failure and hopelessness. It was only when he discovered the true nature of Christianity—being strong in the Lord rather than in self-effort—that he found victory. Lloyd-Jones notes: "That was a travesty of Christianity. That wasn't Christianity at all. Christianity was something essentially different."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the true Christian method of spiritual victory?
The true Christian method is not imitating Christ through moral effort, not adopting ethical teaching to practice, and not escaping the world as a monk. Rather, it is: "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil." It is a supernatural, miraculous gospel that empowers believers to be "more than conquerors" right where they are, in the midst of a sinful world.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones respond to the charge of Christians being "narrow-minded"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects the notion that insisting on Christianity as the only solution is narrow-minded. He states: "When you know that something is the only cure for a disease, that it's specific, that it cures it certainly, and that nothing else does, we don't regard it as being narrow-minded to use that remedy and not to waste time with other remedies. That's not being narrow-minded. That's just being sensible." He compares this to specialization in science, which is considered wisdom, not narrow-mindedness.
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.