The Mystery of the Gospel 2
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:18-20
Originally preached Nov. 8, 1964
Scripture
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20For …
Sermon Description
Some people believe that the world is advancing toward perfection. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:18–20 titled “The Mystery of the Gospel (2),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that this doesn’t fit the observable patterns of reality. The Bible’s storyline of creation, the fall of humankind, and the consequences are the only reasonable explanation for the human condition. People are baffled that if God is all powerful and good, why does He allow pain and suffering? The answer goes back to the first sin at the fall and the Bible goes further. God, in His eternal wisdom, has permitted it. God decided to allow freedom of will to the devil and to people in their initial perfection, giving freedom of the possibility of the broken world as it is known. Though He permits evil, God puts a limit to it. The world thinks God’s way of dealing with this broken world would of necessity be one of gradual improvement and reformation. But the Bible tells that this is not the case. God has chosen to redeem through the cross of His Son Jesus Christ. At His second coming, the current world reality will be obliterated.
Sermon Breakdown
- The gospel alone has an explanation for the world's ills. World history proves the Bible's case.
- The cause of the world's troubles is sin and evil, not merely human nature. There are unseen malignant spiritual forces - the devil and his angels. They govern the world.
- God permits evil but also controls it. He limits how far evil can go. He uses civil governments and common grace to restrain evil.
- God's ways perplex natural man. Man expects gradual improvement but the Bible says evil will wax worse. God's timetable is not man's. He acts in the fullness of time.
- God's plan is to call out a people for Himself in every age through faith in Christ. He will complete His plan and judge evil.
- Christ will return suddenly and unexpectedly. With God a thousand years is as a day. We cannot understand God's timetable.
- At Christ's return, God will make a new heaven and earth. All evil will be destroyed. Paradise will be restored. Sorrow will be no more.
- Our problem is not understanding world suffering but rather escaping eternal judgment through faith in Christ.
Other Sermons
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.