The Wrath of God
A Sermon on Ephesians 2:1-3
Originally preached Oct. 30, 1955
Scripture
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among …
Sermon Description
The apostle Paul tells that all are in sin and ruled by sin. Apart from the gospel all are dead in their sins and trespasses. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:1–3 titled “The Wrath of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches that the judgement of God is the only answer for the children of wrath. It is vital to understand the wrath of God in order to understand both the grace and love of God. One can only understand Christ, His life, and His death if they see the great problem of their sin and God’s wrath. This wrath is the manifestation of God’s just indignation and this just judgment of sin can be seen from Genesis to Revelation as the plan and story of redemption unfolds. In God’s love He provided hope for sinful and fallen people. By sending His Son to die for sinners who deserved nothing but condemnation and judgement, He provides a way of salvation and justification for His enemies. This is the glory of the gospel: it is adoption and justification for those who deserve nothing but judgment. It is the adoption of God’s enemies as children and inheritors through the work of Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon focuses on Ephesians 2:1-3, specifically verse 3 which states "among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."
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The sermon outlines why it is important to study this doctrine. Reasons include: it is in Scripture, it is a question of fact, it helps us understand God's love, it helps us understand why Christ had to come, and it is essential for evangelism.
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The sermon discusses what it means to be "under the wrath of God." It means we are deserving of God's punishment for sin if we do not believe in Christ. This is taught throughout Scripture, including in John 3:36.
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The sermon argues that we are all under the wrath of God by nature, meaning from birth, according to Ephesians 2:3. This is further explained in Romans 5:12-19. We are born with Adam's sin imputed to us.
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Infants die because of Adam's sin being imputed to them, even though they have not committed deliberate acts of sin themselves (Romans 5:14). We are born condemned in Adam just as believers are redeemed in Christ.
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Though this doctrine is difficult to understand, we must accept it because it is taught in Scripture. We must not reject parts of Scripture simply because we do not fully understand them.
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Despite deserving God's wrath, God has provided salvation through faith in Christ. This demonstrates the depth of God's love and mercy.
Sermon Q&A
Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions: The Wrath of God and Our Natural Condition
What does Ephesians 2:3 teach about mankind's natural condition?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Ephesians 2:3 teaches that all people are "by nature the children of wrath." This means we are born into this world already under God's wrath - not that we become objects of wrath later through our actions. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this condition is universal ("we all"), applies from birth ("by nature"), and puts us in the same position as the rest of mankind ("even as others").
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe it's important to study the doctrine of God's wrath?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives several reasons why studying God's wrath is essential: 1. It's clearly taught in Scripture, which we cannot pick and choose from 2. It's a question of fact, not just theory, and affects our eternal destiny 3. We cannot truly understand God's love without understanding His wrath 4. It explains why Christ had to come into the world and die on the cross 5. It's essential for true evangelism - people won't see their need for Christ without understanding God's holiness and judgment against sin
How does Lloyd-Jones respond to those who claim the concept of God's wrath is outdated?
Lloyd-Jones addresses the claim that God's wrath is an outdated concept by pointing out: 1. It's a misunderstanding to think of wrath as uncontrolled anger - God's wrath is an expression of His justice 2. The wrath of God is taught throughout both the Old Testament (flood, Sodom, exile) and New Testament 3. Even Christ Himself taught about God's wrath - it appears in John 3:36 immediately after John 3:16 4. The apostles Paul and John consistently teach about God's wrath 5. He states that wrath is "nothing but the other side of the love of God" and "the inevitable corollary of the rejection of the love of God"
What does Lloyd-Jones teach about our relationship to Adam and its consequences?
Lloyd-Jones explains that Romans 5:12-21 teaches: 1. Adam represented all humanity as our "federal head" 2. Adam's sin is imputed to all his descendants 3. This is why death reigned even before the law was given through Moses 4. Even infants who haven't committed personal sins die because they're included in Adam's transgression 5. Our relationship to Adam parallels the believer's relationship to Christ - "As in Adam all died, so in Christ shall all be made alive" 6. This explains the universality of sin and death in the human race
How does understanding God's wrath help us appreciate God's love according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that understanding God's wrath is essential to appreciating God's love because: 1. It shows the magnitude of what God has done to save us 2. It demonstrates what we've been saved from - "eternal wrath" and punishment 3. Without it, talk about God's love becomes "mere sentiment" or "sentimental vanity" 4. It highlights that the very God we offended provided the way of deliverance through His Son 5. It reveals the depth of divine love that God would save those who deserved "nothing but eternal wrath" 6. Lloyd-Jones concludes with "That's the love so amazing, so divine, that God could do that for us who deserved nothing but eternal wrath"
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.