From Darkness to Light: Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Ephesians 5:14

The Awakening Call of the Gospel

In his illuminating exposition of Ephesians 5:14, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones captures the transformative power of the gospel: "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." For the Doctor, this verse constitutes more than a passing exhortation; it embodies the very essence of the Christian message and mission.

"This is a summary of the Gospel," Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains. "This is a summary of what the gospel does." In these words, we find the fundamental distinction between Christians and non-Christians—one characterized not by superficial differences but by a profound transformation from darkness to light.

The Condition of Spiritual Darkness

Dr. Lloyd-Jones begins by diagnosing the human condition apart from Christ. Using the imagery of sleep and death, he describes the spiritual unconsciousness that characterizes the non-Christian:

"The trouble with the world, the trouble with all who are not Christians, is that they're in this condition of unconsciousness. And sleep and death are the same in that respect. Both are unconscious. Both are unaware of certain matters that are happening round and about them, certain possibilities, certain dangers."

This unconsciousness manifests in three critical ways:

First, those in darkness remain unaware of spiritual realities. "It means a deadness to the spiritual realm," the Doctor explains. "It means a deadness to the fact of God and the being of God. It means an unawareness of the soul within."

Second, those in darkness exhibit a destructive lifestyle. Quoting Ephesians 4:18-19, Lloyd-Jones depicts the consequences of spiritual ignorance: "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them... being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."

Third, those in darkness face imminent danger without realizing it. Like someone asleep in a burning house, they remain oblivious to eternal consequences while fixating on temporal concerns.

The Transformative Work of Gospel Light

What happens when the gospel confronts this darkness? Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies three key movements in Ephesians 5:14:

1. Conviction: "Awake, thou that sleepest"

The gospel first convicts, awakening people to their true condition. "It shuffles the man, it awakens him," explains the Doctor. This awakening brings recognition of spiritual realities previously ignored or denied.

2. Conversion: "Arise from the dead"

The gospel then calls for response—not merely awareness but action. "It calls upon him to escape," says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "which being interpreted, of course, means this. That it calls upon him to repent, to realize his awful, tragic, desperate position, and immediately to acknowledge it before God."

This rising requires divine power. The Doctor draws a parallel to Christ's healing of the man with the withered hand: "As the Lord uttered that command, there was power in the command. The ability entered with the words, and the man stretched forth his hand."

3. Illumination: "Christ shall give thee light"

Finally, the gospel brings illumination. Lloyd-Jones connects this with Christ's declaration in John 8:12: "I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

This illumination involves: - A new understanding: "The first thing our blessed Lord does for us is to enlighten the eyes of our understanding." - Fellowship with Christ: "A Christian is a man who has fellowship with God and with his son, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit." - Guidance for life: "Christ, the light. And you're following him. You're no longer walking in darkness, but you're enjoying the light of life."

The Church as Bearer of Light

Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by emphasizing the responsibility of Christians to transmit this light. Connecting Christ's declaration "I am the light of the world" with his statement "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), the Doctor shows how believers become channels of God's illuminating work.

"This work of enlightenment takes place in the world through you and me," he explains. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven."

This is not merely human persuasion but Spirit-empowered testimony. Lloyd-Jones acknowledges that human words alone cannot awaken sleepers or raise the dead. But "the Spirit with the word, the Spirit of God" brings transformative power through our testimony.

Contemporary Relevance

In today's context, where cultural darkness seems increasingly pronounced, Ephesians 5:14 offers both diagnosis and hope. Dr. Lloyd-Jones' exposition challenges contemporary Christians to:

1. Recognize the true nature of societal problems as fundamentally spiritual rather than merely political, economic, or social
2. Maintain confidence in the gospel's power to awaken, resurrect, and illuminate
3. Live as light-bearers whose transformed lives call others from darkness to light

The Doctor's emphasis on spiritual awakening contrasts sharply with pragmatic approaches that address only symptoms rather than the root cause:

"The chief problem in this country today," he states, "is the attitude of men and women towards life. By manipulating the political procedures, you don't change that."

For believers today, Ephesians 5:14 remains a powerful reminder of both our former condition and our present calling—to shine as lights in a dark world, participating in God's work of awakening sleepers and raising the spiritually dead through the illuminating power of Christ.

Q and A

What is the meaning of Ephesians 5:14?

Ephesians 5:14 reads: "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, this verse encapsulates the entire gospel message and describes the complete spiritual transformation that occurs in salvation. The meaning includes:

1. A diagnosis of the human condition - People without Christ are spiritually asleep and dead—unconscious of spiritual realities, their relationship with God, the true nature of sin, and their eternal destiny.

2. A divine summons to transformation - The verse contains a threefold call:
   ― "Awake" - A call to spiritual awareness and consciousness
   ― "Arise from the dead" - A call to action and response, breaking free from spiritual death
   ― "Christ shall give thee light" - A promise of divine illumination and understanding

3. A summary of the gospel's work - Lloyd-Jones explains: "This is a summary of the Gospel. This is a summary of what the gospel does." It describes how the gospel convicts, converts, and illuminates.

The Doctor emphasizes that this transformation isn't self-generated but empowered by Christ: "As he calls, he gives light. It is he who gives the power in the call to awaken." Just as Jesus gave the paralyzed man power to stretch out his hand, Christ gives spiritual life to those who respond to His call.

Who is the sleeper in Ephesians 5:14?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones' exposition, "the sleeper" in Ephesians 5:14 represents any person who has not yet been spiritually awakened through the gospel. This includes:

1. The spiritually ignorant - Those unaware of spiritual realities: "The trouble with the world, the trouble with all who are not Christians, is that they're in this condition of unconsciousness."

2. The morally insensitive - Those who live in sin without awareness: "Life without Christ is a sort of living death... Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them."

3. The eternally endangered - Those oblivious to their eternal peril: "Moving in the direction of eternity, subject to death at any moment... Never a thought about standing before God in eternity and in the judgment."

The Doctor compares such a person to someone asleep in a burning building—in imminent danger but unaware of it. "They think it's monstrous for intelligent people to be attending a place of worship... They think it's so irrelevant and has nothing to do with life."

While the verse has primary application to non-Christians, Dr. Lloyd-Jones would likely acknowledge secondary application to believers who have become spiritually dull or complacent. However, his exposition focuses mainly on the initial awakening that occurs in conversion.

Related articles links

"Children of Light"
Covers Ephesians 5:8, establishing the identity transformation from darkness to light that forms the context for the awakening call in 5:14.

"Redeeming the Time"
Addresses Ephesians 5:15-16, showing how believers should respond to the light they've received by walking wisely and making the most of their time.

"But God"
From Ephesians 2:4, this sermon explores the divine intervention that brings spiritual life to those dead in sin, complementing the resurrection imagery in 5:14.