Questions and Answers About Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ephesians 2:11

What is the main text that Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on in this sermon?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on Ephesians 2:11, which reads: "Wherefore remember that ye being in time past, gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands." He explains that this verse begins a new section in the epistle where Paul addresses the second major obstacle that stood between the Ephesians and their becoming Christians.

What are the two major obstacles that stood between the Ephesians and becoming Christians according to Lloyd-Jones?

According to Lloyd-Jones, the two major obstacles were: 1) Their state and condition in sin, which Paul addresses in the first ten verses of Ephesians 2 (they were "dead in trespasses and sins"), and 2) Their position or status in the economy of God, particularly in terms of their relationship to the law of God as Gentiles, which begins to be addressed in verse 11.

How does Lloyd-Jones explain the phrase "gentiles in the flesh" in Ephesians 2:11?

Lloyd-Jones explains that "gentiles in the flesh" simply means that it was a literal fact of history that the Ephesians, as Gentiles, had not been circumcised. This wasn't a contrast with being "in the spirit," but rather a statement of their physical condition - they lacked the physical mark of circumcision that distinguished Jews from Gentiles.

What did the Jews misunderstand about circumcision according to the sermon?

According to Lloyd-Jones, the Jews misunderstood the true purpose of circumcision. They thought that the only thing that mattered was the physical sign in the flesh, rather than understanding that circumcision was meant to be an external sign of an internal spiritual state. They exaggerated its importance, making it an absolute barrier between themselves and Gentiles, when God intended the Jewish nation to be a channel through which He would speak to the whole world.

What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the root cause of division between people?

Lloyd-Jones identifies pride as the ultimate root cause of division. He states: "It is due to pride. It is due to self. That is ultimately the cause of every division and every barrier and every obstacle." He explains that pride is blinding, prevents us from seeing both sides of an issue, leads us to take a false view of ourselves by exaggerating our virtues, makes us forget that our gifts come from God, and causes us to take a false view of others by diminishing their worth.

How does Lloyd-Jones relate the ancient divisions between Jews and Gentiles to modern divisions?

Lloyd-Jones draws parallels between the ancient Jewish-Gentile division and modern divisions in several ways: national divisions (East-West, Arab-Israeli conflicts), class divisions within nations, denominational divisions within Christianity, racial divisions, and prejudices based on external factors like skin color or social status. He argues that these modern divisions operate on the same principles - differences being turned into barriers through pride and wrong values.

What does Lloyd-Jones mean by the phrase "made by hands" in his sermon?

When Lloyd-Jones discusses "made by hands," he's referring to human traditions, rituals, and ceremonies that have become barriers to unity, particularly in religious contexts. He gives examples such as confirmation ceremonies, specific modes of baptism, and church governance traditions that people use to exclude others from full fellowship. He says these human-made traditions often become more important to people than Christ Himself.

What solution does Lloyd-Jones propose for the problem of division?

Lloyd-Jones emphatically states that "Christ alone can cure" the problem of division. He argues that merely appealing for goodwill or trying to apply Christ's teachings externally won't work. The only solution is regeneration - people being born again and receiving a new nature. When people see their own worthlessness before Christ and recognize that everyone else is in the same condition, when they all receive the same grace and mercy, and when their primary loyalty shifts from themselves to Christ, then unity becomes possible.

How does Lloyd-Jones critique contemporary efforts toward unity?

Lloyd-Jones critiques contemporary unity efforts (of his time) as "vain" and "futile" because they don't address the root cause of division. He specifically criticizes church conferences about unity that don't focus on the gospel, saying it's "unreal" or even "dishonest" when church leaders talk about unity while maintaining barriers like confirmation requirements for communion. He states: "I do not hesitate to assert that all the vain talking and writing today about unity and understanding is entirely due to one thing, and that is, they've never faced the cause of the trouble."

What does Lloyd-Jones say is the only basis for true unity?

Lloyd-Jones concludes that the only basis for true unity is "the humility of the new man in Christ. A Christ dominated, a Christ centered life." He states that it's not organization or anything else that creates unity, but rather when people are born again, receive a new nature, and together worship Christ rather than boasting in themselves or their identities. In his words: "Every middle wall of partition is broken down by that and of twain he makes one new man to be in Christ."