Citizens of Heaven
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:14
Originally preached April 1, 1962
Scripture
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Sermon Description
What happens when Christians are tempted to sin? How are they to turn away from temptations, say no to ungodliness, and stay on the path of life? The answer to this question lies in Ephesians 6:14 where Christians are told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:14 titled “Citizens of Heaven,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains how the breastplate of righteousness is the only defense against temptation, ungodliness, and the condemnation of the devil. He points out that it is ungodliness which leads to unrighteousness, leading to the fact that the only way to resist ungodliness is to put on the righteousness which has been imputed and imparted by God. It is this breastplate of righteousness that reminds the Christian who and what they are in Christ: sons and daughters of God. They have been sanctified in Christ and their citizenship no longer lies in the temporary flesh of the world, but in the spiritual realm of heaven that will last forever. Looking to Jesus as the example, Christians can face temptations by standing their ground, arming themselves with the breastplate of righteousness, and remembering the truth it speaks to them.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage under consideration is Ephesians 6:14 - "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness."
- The breastplate of righteousness is essential for protecting our feelings, affections, conscience, desires and will.
- The breastplate of righteousness refers to the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, not our own righteousness.
- The breastplate of righteousness gives us confidence and protects us from discouragement and the devil's accusations.
- The breastplate of righteousness is the only defense against temptation and sin. Ungodliness leads to unrighteousness.
- History shows that moral and righteous periods follow religious awakenings while unrighteous periods follow a decline in Christianity.
- Education and philosophy alone cannot solve the problem of sin and temptation.
- The pure in heart can handle moral instruction but the impure will twist it.
- Deliverance from condemnation protects us from temptation by removing despair and hopelessness.
- The breastplate of righteousness reminds us of who we are - children of God and followers of Christ.
- Christ was tempted like us but overcame through righteousness. We can do the same.
- We need new natures and righteousness from God to withstand temptation.
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.