The Wisdom of God
A Sermon on Ephesians 3:10
Originally preached Nov. 18, 1956
Scripture
10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Sermon Description
What is the greatest manifestation of the wisdom of God? In this sermon on the manifold wisdom of God from Ephesians 3:10 titled “The Wisdom of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points to the church. The church, that is Christianity and the salvation that it proclaims, is the greatest manifestation of God’s wisdom ever witnessed. Even the angels in Heaven see it and are amazed. It is this manifestation of God’s wisdom that Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses first in a series of three propositions from this text. His second proposition is that the church is the median through which the variegated wisdom of God shines like light through a prism into its many beautiful colors. From these two propositions, Dr. Lloyd-Jones dives deeper and gives two conclusions to be considered. First, consider that the church was a part of God’s plan for His creation from the very beginning, not an afterthought as some believe. Second, consider that the church is not temporary as some have suggested, but is the final expression of God’s people on earth. Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s third and final proposition from this text is the consideration of how God has shown His wisdom throughout history. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages believers to meditate on and consider God’s wisdom through the ages, in the Bible and in all of history, and most importantly, to consider the greatest manifestation of His wisdom, salvation through Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
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Christianity and its salvation is the supreme manifestation of the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God refers to God's ability to arrange his purposes and plans to achieve the desired results.
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The principalities and powers in the heavenly places have seen God's wisdom in creation, history, and the nation of Israel. But through the church, they see the manifold or multi-faceted wisdom of God.
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The church is the medium through which God's manifold wisdom is made known. The church is like a prism that splits the light of God's wisdom into many colors.
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It is wrong to view the church as an afterthought or temporary. The church is the highest manifestation of God's wisdom.
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God shows his manifold wisdom in the church through the way he solved the problem of sin. Forgiving sin while upholding his justice and righteousness was the greatest problem God faced. The angels could not see a solution.
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God sent his Son to take on humanity and live a perfect life, then die as a substitute for sinners. This upheld God's justice and opened the way for forgiveness. The angels watched in amazement.
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The events of the cross seemed like the triumph of evil, but were actually God putting evil to open shame and accomplishing his purposes.
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God's wisdom is seen in reconciling Jews and Gentiles into one body, the church. He humbled both, then made them new creations in Christ.
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God's wisdom is seen in how he deals with each person uniquely, and in the timing of events in salvation history. He allowed time for the law and philosophy to prove insufficient before sending Christ.
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We should reflect God's wisdom, allowing his light to shine through us in our own way. We should meditate on these truths and dedicate ourselves to God. Then the angels will see God's wisdom in us.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's Sermon on Ephesians 3:10
What does Ephesians 3:10 reveal about the purpose of the church?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones's sermon, Ephesians 3:10 reveals that the church is the medium through which God displays His manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers in heavenly places (angels). The church is not an afterthought but God's supreme demonstration of His wisdom. Through the church, even the angels who have spent eternity in God's presence are learning new dimensions of God's wisdom they had never seen before.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the term "principalities and powers in heavenly places"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "principalities and powers in heavenly places" refers to the angels, particularly "the brightest and the most glorious angels" who are always in God's presence. He distinguishes them from fallen angels, noting that these are the unfallen angels who have spent their entire existence in God's presence yet are still learning about God's wisdom through observing the church.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by the "manifold wisdom of God"?
By "manifold wisdom of God," Dr. Lloyd-Jones refers to the many-sided, variegated, multi-colored wisdom of God. He uses the analogy of white light being broken into the colors of the spectrum through a prism. The church acts as this prism, revealing aspects of God's wisdom that were previously unknown even to angels. This wisdom is particularly displayed in how God has solved the problem of sin while maintaining His justice and mercy.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones argue against dispensationalism in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues against dispensationalism because it portrays the church as "a mere afterthought" in God's plan after the Jews rejected the gospel of the kingdom. He considers this view a serious error because the sermon text presents the church as "the brightest shining of the wisdom of God" and "the highest, the supremest manifestation of the wisdom of God." He states there is "nothing beyond the church" and "nothing conceivable beyond the church."
How did God solve the problem of sin according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, God solved the problem of sin through Christ's incarnation, perfect life, and sacrificial death. This solution demonstrated God's wisdom by reconciling seemingly contradictory divine attributes: His love and justice, His mercy and holiness. On the cross, Christ bore sin's punishment, thereby honoring God's law while opening the way for forgiveness. This wisdom was beyond what even angels could have conceived.
What example does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give of God's wisdom in uniting Jews and Gentiles?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that God's wisdom is displayed in how He brings Jews and Gentiles together in the church. Rather than simply forcing traditional enemies to coexist, God first humbles both groups by showing them their sinfulness. He then creates something entirely new by making them "new men in Christ Jesus" where their ethnic distinctions become secondary to their identity in Christ. They become "members of the same body, interlocked together in the same joint."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the wisdom of God's timing in salvation history?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes God's wisdom in timing as perfect. He waited until "the fullness of the times" when the Jews had sufficient time to see that the law couldn't save them, and the Greeks had enough time to discover that philosophy couldn't save the world either. Only after these human approaches were proven inadequate did God send Christ, thereby demonstrating His superior wisdom.
What is the proper response to understanding the church's role in displaying God's wisdom?
The proper response, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is to manifest God's wisdom in our own lives as members of His church. He challenges listeners to be "reflectors" of God's wisdom, to "meditate upon these things," to "realize the truth about yourself as a part of the church," and to "dedicate yourself to him." By doing so, believers will become part of displaying God's variegated wisdom to watching angels.
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.