Ephesians 01: God's Ultimate Purpose (1:1-23)

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.”’