Los Privilegios de la Novia
Un sermón Efesios 5:25-33
Predicado originalmente 20 de marzo de 1960
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Escritura
25Maridos, amad á vuestras mujeres, así como Cristo amó á la iglesia, y se entregó á sí mismo por ella,
26Para santificarla limpiándola en el lavacro del agua por la palabra,
27Para presentársela gloriosa para sí, una iglesia que no tuviese mancha ni arruga, ni cosa semejante; …
Descripción del Sermón
Por la vida, muerte y resurrección de Cristo Jesús, la iglesia ha sido redimida del pecado y limpiada de toda maldad. En este sermón sobre Efesios 5:25-33 titulado "Los Privilegios de la Novia", el Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones predica que la novia de Cristo llega a disfrutar de todos los beneficios y bendiciones que Él trae. Son aceptados ante Dios el Padre por quien Cristo es y su fe en Él. Esta es una de las verdades más centrales para entender en la vida cristiana. En ella se ve que la iglesia ha sido sentada con Cristo en los lugares celestiales y liberada de esta era presente de maldad. Los cristianos no solo son justificados por Cristo, sino que la iglesia, y por lo tanto todos los creyentes, tienen una comunión verdadera y duradera con Él. Este es un gran consuelo para los cristianos que luchan y sufren en este mundo. Como describe el Dr. Lloyd-Jones, los cristianos pueden volverse y mirar a Cristo sabiendo que Él los ama y se preocupa por ellos tan profundamente como un esposo ama a su novia. Cristo en Su amor por Su iglesia también da un ejemplo para todos los esposos de lo que significa amar a sus esposas total y completamente. Es el amor de Cristo por la iglesia lo que debe modelar para todos los cristianos lo que es el verdadero amor.
Desglose del Sermón
- Cristo otorga su vida a la iglesia. La iglesia participa de la vida de Cristo.
- Cristo otorga su nombre a la iglesia. La iglesia toma el nombre de Cristo y es llamada cristiana.
- La iglesia participa de la dignidad y posición de Cristo. La iglesia comparte la posición y la gloria de Cristo.
- La iglesia participa de los privilegios de Cristo como el acceso al Padre y el amor del Padre.
- La iglesia participa de las posesiones y la herencia de Cristo. Todas las cosas pertenecen a la iglesia.
- La iglesia participa de los intereses, planes y propósitos de Cristo. La iglesia es colaboradora de Cristo.
- Cristo comparte sus siervos, los ángeles, con la iglesia. Los ángeles ministran a la iglesia.
- La iglesia participa de los problemas, tribulaciones y sufrimientos de Cristo. La iglesia comparte la agonía de Cristo.
- La iglesia participa de la gloria y perspectivas de Cristo. La iglesia compartirá la gloria de Cristo en la eternidad.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Church Being the Bride of Christ?
What does it mean that the church is the bride of Christ according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the church being the bride of Christ is a profound spiritual reality that demonstrates our intimate relationship with Christ. He explains that this relationship is modeled in Ephesians 5:25-33, where Paul compares the husband-wife relationship to Christ and the church. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones," showing that believers are as much a part of Christ as Eve was of Adam. This relationship is not merely symbolic but represents a deep mystical union where the church is bound to Christ in an eternal, loving relationship where "the twain shall be one flesh."
What privileges do Christians receive as the bride of Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several privileges Christians receive as the bride of Christ:
- We share in Christ's life: "We are sharers of his life."
- We receive Christ's name: "He bestows upon us his name" - we are called Christians.
- We share in Christ's dignity and position: "We are seated with him in the heavenly places."
- We have access to the Father: "You have a right of entry and of access into the presence of the father."
- We share in Christ's possessions: "All things are yours...because you are Christ's and Christ is God's."
- We inherit the world to come: "We are the heirs of this glory."
- We have angelic servants: "The angels of God are our servants."
- We will share in Christ's glory: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
How does Lloyd-Jones describe the future glory of the church?
Lloyd-Jones describes the future glory of the church as inheriting "the world to come" - not the current world in its fallen state, but the world when Christ returns and purifies it. He says: "It is this same world when Christ shall have come back and shall have destroyed all his enemies and all evil... when there shall be a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." As the bride of Christ, we will "share that everlasting glory with the Son of God," appearing with Him in glory as "a glorious church, not having spot nor wrinkle, nor any such thing." He emphasizes that we will "reign over the whole universe" and even "judge angels" as part of our inheritance.
What is the main problem in the church today according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the main problem in the church today is "the failure of Christian people to realize the privileges and the dignities of being members of the Christian church and of the body of Christ." He laments that Christians often regard church membership as "a kind of dignity that we confer upon the church instead of realizing that it's the highest and the most glorious privilege that people can ever have." He says, "I cannot understand how anybody can be complacent about the state of the church. Surely the ultimate explanation of the state of the world is the state of the church." Lloyd-Jones believes if Christians truly understood their position as the bride of Christ, they would "no longer be apologetic and languishing and drooping and miserable to look at" but "filled with a sense of pride and of joy and of glory."
How should Christians respond to suffering according to this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christians are "sharers of his problems, of his troubles and of his sufferings." He quotes Jesus saying, "If they have hated me, they will also hate you. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you." Rather than being surprised by suffering, Christians should understand it as sharing in Christ's own sufferings.
Lloyd-Jones references Paul's words in Colossians 1:24, "who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church." He explains that just as "a wife worthy of the name suffers whenever her husband suffers," believers experience "the agony of the Son of God that will continue until the crowning day comes."
Christians should respond to suffering by keeping their eyes on "the world to come" and their future glory with Christ, "not looking at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen."
El Libro de Efesios
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
El Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) fue un ministro evangélico galés que predicó y enseñó en la tradición Reformada. Su ministerio principal fue en Westminster Chapel, en el centro de Londres, desde 1939-1968, donde impartió exposiciones de varios años sobre libros de la Biblia como Romanos, Efesios y el Evangelio de Juan. Además de la colección del Fideicomiso MLJ de 1,600 de estos sermones en formato de audio, la mayoría de estas grandes series de sermones están disponibles en forma de libro (incluyendo una colección de 14 volúmenes de los sermones de Romanos), así como otras series como "Depresión Espiritual", "Estudios sobre el Sermón del Monte" y "Grandes Doctrinas Bíblicas". Es considerado por muchos líderes evangélicos de hoy como una autoridad en la verdad bíblica y la suficiencia de las Escrituras.