The Mystery of Salvation
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:18-20
Originally preached Nov. 29, 1964
Scripture
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20For …
Sermon Description
Repenting from sin and trusting Christ for forgiveness is mandatory for salvation. In this sermon from Ephesians 6:18–20 titled “The Mystery of Salvation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says there is no other way. The mystery of salvation unfolds with regeneration, the giving of a new nature within the individual. Modern objections to this truth are numerous. There is the literal objection: don’t take things literally as people have just come into a new understanding. Then there is the psychological objection: there are two types of people—the religious type and the unreligious. One will have religious experiences, the other will not and should not be expected to. But the New Testament record does not substantiate either of these objections. Every kind of temperament is in the church, and yet all have had basically the same experience. Objection to the supernatural is not so much an objection to the miraculous, but that the teaching of being born again is insulting. If one is told, “You must be born again,” what is really being said that all are hopeless in their current state. Modern people hear this and thinks it preposterous, especially with all their learning and knowledge. They are prepared to believe in morality and a little bit of progressive reform, but not the necessity of being a new creation.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul asks the Ephesian Christians to pray for him that he may be given grace and strength to declare the mystery of the gospel.
- The mystery of the gospel refers to something that is secret and hidden from human understanding but revealed by God through His Spirit.
- People object to the idea of being "born again" for psychological reasons, thinking Christianity is just a point of view or way of life. But Christianity is about having fellowship with God.
- People must be born again to have fellowship with God because God is holy and people are sinful by nature. Regeneration is necessary to prepare people for heaven.
- Regeneration is a work of God, not something people can do themselves. It gives people a new nature, heart, and disposition. Their whole outlook changes.
- The gospel offers hope because God can save anyone. Regeneration sets people free from slavery to sin and the world.
- God makes Christians into children and heirs. Regeneration prepares people for eternal life with God.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Mean by "The Mystery of the Gospel"?
What does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones identify as "the mystery of the gospel"?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "the mystery of the gospel" refers to something that is hidden from human understanding but revealed by God through His grace. As he explains in the sermon: "Mystery in the New Testament means this. It means something that is secret and hidden from the mind and the understanding of men, but which God in his infinite grace has been pleased to reveal and to make known by his spirit." The gospel contains elements that human intellect alone would never discover or imagine, requiring divine revelation to comprehend.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize the necessity of being born again?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes being born again as essential because Christianity is fundamentally about having fellowship with God, not merely adhering to moral codes or adopting certain ideas. He states: "The trouble with us all, by nature, is that we are in the flesh... We are born the inheritors of a fallen nature." He explains that our sinful nature makes communion with a holy God impossible without regeneration: "There is no communion between light and darkness." Being born again transforms our very nature, enabling us to have fellowship with God and ultimately preparing us for heaven.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the difference between religion and true Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguishes between religion and true Christianity by emphasizing that Christianity is not about moral improvement or adopting certain viewpoints. He states: "Men think that to be a Christian means that you take up certain Christian ideas, Christian points of view, Christian attitudes. That's the popular notion of Christianity today." Instead, he defines true Christianity as knowing God personally: "What is the essence of Christianity? It's this... It is to know God. It is to have fellowship with God." This fellowship is only possible through the new birth.
What are some common objections to the doctrine of regeneration according to the sermon?
According to Lloyd-Jones, common objections to regeneration include: 1. Claiming Jesus spoke figuratively rather than literally about being "born again" 2. Attempting to explain conversion through psychology rather than divine intervention 3. Arguing that only certain personality types need religious transformation 4. Objecting to the supernatural elements of regeneration 5. Resisting the doctrine because it implies humans are hopeless in their natural state, which is an "insult" to human capability and pride
How does regeneration change a person according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, regeneration fundamentally transforms a person's nature and orientation. He explains: "It means a man has a new nature. He has a new heart... It means that a man is given an entirely new disposition." The specific changes include: 1. A completely different outlook on life 2. New interests and priorities 3. Understanding of spiritual truths that previously seemed foolish 4. Love for God's law rather than hatred of it 5. Enjoyment of spiritual activities like prayer and Bible reading 6. Freedom from worldly controls and influences 7. A new identity as a child of God and heir to eternal glory
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe we should be thankful for the doctrine of rebirth?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues we should be thankful for the doctrine of rebirth because: 1. It offers universal hope: "If it's God's work, he can do it in me as well as anybody else" 2. It doesn't depend on human effort: "Here's a message that tells you that we are all hopeless and that it's God alone who can put us right" 3. It provides true transformation: "Thank God that it's his, the creator's action, and he makes us new" 4. It delivers from worldly bondage: "I thank God that I'm immune to... what polite society does" 5. It prepares us for eternal inheritance: "All the things that are awaiting those who are born again"
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the relationship between heaven and being born again?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes the striking point that heaven would be "nothing but hell" to an unregenerate person. He explains: "If you find listening to a sermon boring, what on earth would you make of heaven, I wonder? If you find the Bible a boring book, what would you do in heaven?" He emphasizes that heaven is pure and holy, containing none of the sinful pleasures people naturally desire. Since heaven is characterized by God's holiness and worship, only those with transformed natures through rebirth could possibly enjoy it: "If you want to go to heaven, you must be born again."
Other Sermons
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.