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Sermon #4068

Fitly Framed Together

A Sermon on Ephesians 2:20-22

Originally preached June 17, 1956

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Scripture

Ephesians 2:20-22 ESV KJV
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (ESV)

Sermon Description

What is the most important part of a building? Some may think the walls or the floor, but it is always the foundation. In the church, it is no different. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:20–22 titled “Fitly Framed Together,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues teaching a further understanding of the nature of the church and the application that truth has for the Christian. Previously, Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounded on the importance of the foundation (apostles, prophets, and Christ being the cornerstone), but he turns to the stones being placed on the foundation—the church. First, each stone must be “truly and rightly related to that foundation” and to each other. Each stone (or church member) is different, but is still inseparably tied to the rest of the building. Also, each stone must be connected to the foundation. Ultimately God is the builder, but as Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes, God uses pastors (1 Cor 3:10-15). Dr. Lloyd-Jones issues a warning for pastors that they are careful what they build the church with. Ploys can be used to build big churches, but only those who have a “vital union” with the foundation—Jesus—will last. God is building His church to be “harmoniously fitted together” with true believers of every type of person.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins by revisiting Paul's metaphor of the church as a building from Ephesians 2. Paul describes the church as a temple built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone.

  2. The sermon focuses on our role and position within this building. There are three key points:

  3. Our relationship to the foundation. We must be built upon and correspond to the foundation of faith in Christ. Anything inconsistent with the foundation will not last.

  4. Our relationship to the cornerstone. We must be in vital union with Christ, the cornerstone that holds everything together.

  5. Our relationship to one another. We are fitted together with other believers, like stones in a wall.

  6. Our relationship to the foundation is crucial. We must be established upon faith in Christ, not just nominal belief. Only those built on the foundation will stand the test of fire.

  7. Our relationship to Christ is equally important. We must be in vital union with Him, not just believe facts about Him. We are parts of His body.

  8. The sermon then explores our relationship to one another in depth. We are fitted together like stones in a wall. This involves:

  9. Choice and selection. Each stone is hand-picked and placed by God. We enter the kingdom one by one.

  10. Variety. The stones differ in size, shape, and type, like believers. We are not meant to be the same.

  11. Preparation. The stones must be shaped and fitted to join together. This happens through teaching, discipline, and sometimes chastening.

  12. The sermon concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding our role in the building and submitting to the shaping and fitting required to join us together. If we do not, we may face consequences in this life and the next.

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.