Differing Gifts
A Sermon on Ephesians 4:7-11
Originally preached Oct. 13, 1957
Scripture
7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also …
Sermon Description
Do different people inside the church receive different gifts? In this sermon on Ephesians 4:7–11 titled “Differing Gifts,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones helps the listener understand gifts in the church. It is vital to understand that Christ alone is the head of the church, not any one person. This is important because God has given what Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls “special graces” to each member of the church through Jesus Christ. Sometimes referred to today as “gifts,” these help believers to function as part of the church body. One of the duties of individual believers is to discover these graces in their lives and utilize them for the glory of God. How do these relate to the needs of the church or an individual’s calling in his or her life? Dr. Lloyd-Jones goes to great lengths to demonstrate from Scripture and personal experience that individual needs do not call people; rather, God calls some people to help with one need and others to serve in a different capacity. God uses people’s different calls and gifts individually for the harmonious working of the whole body of Christ. Finally, how are believers to view their gifts in light of those belonging to others? Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows that Christians must not focus on what others have, but rather to be wise stewards of the gifts that God has given them as that is what they are held accountable.
Sermon Breakdown
- Christ himself is the head of the church.
- The church consists of members, each of which has a function under the head.
- It is Christ himself who gives each one of us this peculiar grace.
- The church does not give the call, and it is not the business of the church to call a men directly to any given work.
- It is the Lord alone who gives this grace, and he gives this grace to every one of us, and it differs and varies from case to case.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ephesians 4:7, 11
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about Christ's position in the church?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Christ alone is the head of the church. He emphasizes: "There is only one king in the church. It is King Jesus Christ... not the pope. And not only, not the pope. No earthly prince or monarch, no man nor woman can ever be the head of the church." He stresses that this is a principle for which many battles have been fought throughout church history, and it remains essential to understanding the church's proper functioning.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the concept of "grace given" in Ephesians 4:7?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that when Paul writes "unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ," he is not referring to saving grace but to functional grace within the church. He states: "What he means is that a special grace is given to every single member of the Christian church to perform a given function." Each believer receives both the specific function and the ability to exercise that function, similar to how every part of a physical body has a specific purpose.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the calling to ministry?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the call to ministry comes directly from Christ, not from oneself, the church, or perceived needs. He states emphatically: "A man does not call himself," "the need is not the call," and "the church does not give the call." Instead, Christ himself sovereignly calls and appoints people to various functions within the church body. He cites Matthew 9:37-38 where Jesus instructs believers to "pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into the harvest."
How should the church respond to someone who claims to be called to ministry?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, while the church doesn't issue the call, it does have a responsibility to test and confirm calls. He explains: "When the spirit does it, he not only tells the young men, he tells [the church] as well." The church should examine those who claim to be called, applying biblical tests found in Acts 6 and the Pastoral Epistles. This testing should be done spiritually and sensitively, not legalistically, as the church can make mistakes in either accepting or rejecting those truly called by God.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about diversity within church unity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that unity in the church "does not consist of a grab mechanical sameness, but is indeed a most wonderful unity in variety, a unity in diversity." Christ has appointed different offices and functions, with some more prominent than others, yet all essential. He warns against two extremes: either having no organization at all or creating rigid, hierarchical divisions. The apostle's teaching affirms both the diversity of gifts and offices while maintaining the essential worth and necessity of every member in the body.
How should Christians view their own gifts and positions in the church?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that those with prominent gifts should be humble, remembering Paul's words: "What hast thou that thou didst not receive?" Those with seemingly lesser functions should not be envious or jealous but content with their calling, recognizing its essential nature in the body. He states: "I care not how lowly nor how insignificant it is... My function is essential. I do it to his glory. I rejoice in it. I praise God that I'm in the body at all."
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.