Ephesians Volume 1: God’s Ultimate Purpose (1:1-23)

When a spiritual history of the 20th century comes to be written it will be bound to include mention not only of the far-reaching influence of Dr Lloyd-Jones’ ministry at Westminster Chapel, London (1938-1968), but of the remarkable fact that subsequently the published volumes of his New Testament expository sermons have had a circulation unprecedented for such material during the last century.

At a time of general doubt as to the relevance and appeal of preaching, the author has shown that, when the message of Scripture is taught with Spirit-given authority, and in popular form, it retains its power over the heart and mind and conscience. The help which thousands have experienced from the sermons already published is, in the first instance, due to this fact.

God’s Ultimate Purpose, while possessing the same general characteristics as the volumes already issued, is likely to attract particular attention. For one thing, it was the sermons on this first chapter of Ephesians, commenced at Westminster on Sunday mornings in the autumn of 1954, that proved to be the start of the author’s prolonged treatment of various New Testament books. By that date Dr Lloyd-Jones had been more than 25 years in the ministry and his convictions on how Scripture should be taught were fully matured. The sermons on Ephesians were, therefore, in a sense a new point of departure. The series on the Epistle to the Romans was to follow in 1955.

But quite apart from its significance in Dr Lloyd-Jones’ ministry, Ephesians Chapter 1 will always be of major importance in any consideration of the New Testament. As the author writes in his Preface: ‘The Epistle to the Ephesians is the most “mystical” of Paul’s epistles, and nowhere does his inspired mind soar to greater heights. There is no greater privilege in life than to be called to expound what Thomas Carlyle called such “infinities and immensities.”‘

488 pages.

This volume is the first in a series of eight volumes.