The Mystery of God
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:1
Originally preached Oct. 3, 1954
Scripture
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Sermon Description
When a person is at the point of giving up and giving in, would it make a difference if they knew that the same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead also was working for them? This is the mystery Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses as he begins a new sermon series on the book of Ephesians. While the world wrestles with “war at our doorstep,” the mystery of salvation leads Christians to worship and give thanks even in the darkest hour. In this sermon on Ephesians 1:1 titled “The Mystery of God,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the apostle Paul is pleading with believers to seek a new, fresh, and deeper understanding of God’s grace and predestined purpose for them. Since the riches of God’s attributes are displayed in the Christian’s salvation, they should live always ready and eager to confess the gospel of Jesus Christ. Knowing that the sovereign God reigns supreme over all, that the death of Christ paid for sin, and He has risen from the grave, the Christian moves forward in confidence. Regardless of circumstances, the greatest need of everyone is to know the truths of the gospel.
Sermon Breakdown
- The epistle to the Ephesians reveals the glory, mystery and riches of God's redemption through Christ.
- The epistle provides a panoramic view of salvation from the heavenly realm.
- The epistle exalts God, His glory, greatness, majesty and sovereignty.
- God is eternal, self-sufficient and dwells in His own glory.
- God's sovereignty is displayed through His will and control over all things.
- God's ways are a mystery which we cannot fully comprehend with our finite minds.
- The epistle reveals the riches and abundance of God's grace.
- The epistle holds us face to face with God and what He has done.
- The epistle's theme is God the Father who is over all.
- The epistle also focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ through whom God's purposes are accomplished.
- There is no gospel or salvation apart from Jesus Christ.
- We have redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood.
- God's purpose is to gather all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth.
- God's plan of redemption was necessary due to the fall of man and the work of Satan.
- God began working out His plan of redemption through calling the nation of Israel.
- God's purpose is now seen through the church where Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ.
- The church provides an example of God's purpose to unite all things in Christ.
- The epistle calls us to live out the Christian life in light of God's purpose.
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.