Risen in Christ
A Sermon on Ephesians 2:4-7
Scripture
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places …
Sermon Description
On one hand, people fail to realize the depth of sin. On the other hand, they fail to see the height and glory of the gospel. The problem with the church today is that it fails at both of these points. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:4–7 titled “Risen with Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones declares what makes one a Christian: their union with Christ. In this union, the Christian has been raised together with the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoicing in the heights of one’s own resurrection makes sense only when the believer understands their original state of death. By nature they were children of wrath. Jesus died for them and their old nature died with Him. In dying with Him they are also raised with Him. Starting at this point of human depravity, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores the goodness of union with Christ. Christians, he declares, are dead to the law and no longer under the curse of sin. Christians are alive unto God. The new person thinks in terms of eternity. They care not only for their body but also for their soul. They seek to share Christ with the lost and want to please God. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks, “Have you been raised together with Christ? Do you know God?” Rejoice as one risen with Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by stating that Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 7 describe what God has done for us in our helpless and hopeless state.
- The sermon then says that Christians fail to realize the depth of sin and the greatness of salvation.
- The sermon proceeds to describe the deliverance and salvation discussed in Ephesians 2. It says we have been quickened and raised with Christ.
- The sermon discusses how what happened to Christ physically also happened to us spiritually. Christ died, was buried, and rose again. Similarly, we were once dead in sin but have now been raised to new life.
- The sermon then explores what it means that we have been raised with Christ. It discusses several negatives:
- We are no longer under the wrath of God or condemnation.
- We are no longer under the law but under grace.
- We are dead to sin. Though we still sin, we are no longer slaves to sin.
- Our "old man" - our sinful, Adamic nature - has been crucified with Christ. We are no longer in Adam but in Christ.
- The sermon then explores the positives of being raised with Christ:
- We are sharing in the life of Christ and becoming like Him.
- We are alive to God, desiring Him and in tune with the eternal.
- We are walking in newness of life with a new mind, heart, and will.
- Our mind is set on eternal things, the spiritual, and the Bible. We meditate on these things.
- Our heart desires righteousness, holiness, prayer, fellowship, and the salvation of others.
- Our will is bent toward pleasing God rather than ourselves.
- The sermon concludes by asking if we have been raised with Christ and exhorting us to yield ourselves to God as those alive from the dead.
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.