Through His Blood
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:7
Originally preached Jan. 16, 1955
Scripture
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Sermon Description
Christians are forgiven of all sin past, present, and future. This marvelous truth is proclaimed as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives this compelling and comprehensive exposition in this sermon from Ephesians 1:7 on what is meant by “Through His Blood.” While recognizing the distinction between redemption and the forgiveness of sins, Dr. Lloyd-Jones nevertheless says the forgiveness of sins is the first item of redemption. If the sinner does not have their guilt removed, then sanctification and glorification do not follow. Modern society dislikes talk of guilt, wrath, the cross, and bloody sacrifice. They much more enjoy talk of the happiness and power that Jesus can bring. Dr. Lloyd-Jones thinks this is an incomplete gospel. The fundamental component (or first item) one needs is to be reconciled to God and this comes only when guilt is removed, forgiven, and ultimately covered by the death of Christ. He took the punishment, endured the wrath of God, and bought His people with the price of His life. Although forgiveness is difficult and sorrowful to God, as seen in the death of Christ, it is the only means that leads to absolute restoration with God. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaches of complete restoration and present forgiveness found only through the blood of Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The passage emphasizes that our salvation is entirely in Jesus Christ. There is no salvation apart from him.
- We are saved particularly by his blood. His death is a sacrificial death that links to the Old Testament offerings. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.
- Redemption means ransoming or buying out of bondage by paying a price. It refers to the method of redemption through paying a ransom price.
- Redemption also refers to what it brings to us and gives us. It refers to the whole of our salvation. We are not fully redeemed until our bodies are redeemed.
- The first thing redemption brings is the forgiveness of sins. There is no sanctification or glorification without forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sins is the first vital step and the key that opens the door to everything else.
- The first problem in salvation is the guilt of our sin. We must be delivered from the guilt of sin before we can be delivered from the power of sin.
- Forgiveness of sins was an extremely difficult problem for God to accomplish. Nothing but the shedding of Christ's blood could accomplish it. God cannot forgive sins by just a word.
- God's way of forgiveness is thorough. It exposes sin, unmasks it, and defines it. The cross first condemns us before it sets us free. We must realize the enormity of sin before we are forgiven.
- God's way of forgiveness is absolutely just. God does not forgive sin in a way that allows us to go on sinning. Sin deserves and merits punishment. God punished sin in Christ. God is just in forgiving sin because the guilt has been expiated.
- God's forgiveness leads to complete restoration of the offender to God's favor. We are completely reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Our sins are put away once and for all.
- God has dealt with our sins in such a way that He forgets them. They are gone from His memory. Only God can forget in this way.
- We have redemption and forgiveness of sins as a present possession. We are to enjoy it here and now. God laid on Christ all our sins, past present and future. They were all punished and dealt with. When God forgives us He applies what Christ did to us.
- If we are still saying we are not good enough to be Christians, we do not understand the first principle of salvation. We are reconciled to God while still sinners by the death of Christ.
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.