D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, The Christian Soldier: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10-20 (affiliate link). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977. 363 pages.
D. Martyn Lloyd Jones has become one of my favorite Bible expositors. He’s solid, conservative, thoughtful, practical, and pastoral. If you’re looking for a careful verse-by-verse discussion of the book of Ephesians and you’re not in a rush, The Christian Soldier is a great read.
In this volume, he walks through ten important verses (Ephesians 6:10-20) that discuss spiritual armor. I don’t have much to critique in what he says, so I’ll mostly just share some of my favorite quotes. He does tackle a few issues, so I’ll highlight those too.
He makes the interesting observation that “We are simply individual soldiers in a great army which is fighting a great campaign. In other words, the real, the ultimate issue is not so much my fight with the devil, as God’s fight with the devil” (27).
I love the comment he makes about the apostle Paul: “He was fond of superlatives. You must be when you are talking about God; nothing but superlatives will do” (35).
Jones includes a long discourse critiquing the theology of “let go and let God” (40). I have run into this theology many times. Whenever I post something online about making an effort in our Christian life, some dear saint soon reminds me that God does everything, and we do nothing. We must merely abide in Christ and let him do all the work. Jones fires a series of broadsides at that theology.
Though he would consider himself a Calvinist with a high view of God, he recognizes that we play a role in our own Christian life. He writes, “My argument is that if the Lord does it all for us and we have nothing to do but abide in him, then it is needless to tell me to put on this armor” (42). He adds, “If you say that you have to do it all yourself, you are wrong; if you say that you do nothing and he does everything, you are equally wrong” (58).
Jones compares the power God gives Christians to a blood transfusion (59). The transfusion provides strength and vitality, but the person must still act. Jones writes, “This idea that the Christian just does nothing and sits back passively and all is done is the very antithesis of the biblical teaching which teaches that the Christian is suddenly charged with power and feels himself to be a Colossus, and that there is nothing he cannot do—‘strong in the Lord’” (64).
When it comes to people God has used mightily, Jones notes that “It was not Moses’ power, but it was his arm and it was his rod” (131). God’s power does the work, but we still play a role. Jones observes that “You will find always that the men whom God has used signally have been those who have studied most, known their scriptures best, and given time to preparation” (135). At the same time, he acknowledges that “It is not a lack of faith to use a lifebelt. Put on your lifebelt but trust in God still. Use the means that are available but put your confidence in God” (136).
Jones’ writing is characterized by a high view of Scripture. He warns, “Have no fellowship with people who do not believe the Bible to be the Word of God” (151). He also claims, “There is nothing that is so fatal to spiritual vigor and power as a wrong attitude to the Word of God and to the cardinal Christian doctrines” (152).
At times, Jones utters a prophetic condemnation on the church. For example, he states, “If the church gives the impression to the world that she is but a collection of people who are holding one another’s hands and saying nice, comforting, sentimental things, she is finished and useless in a world such as today” (163).
Jones also offers hope, stating, “There is not a single contingency that can ever be conceived of that has not been dealt with by the Lord” (176). He suggests that God sent Christ into the world after it had received the greatest thinking and philosophy that humanity could conceive, especially under the Greeks (213).
Interestingly, while Jones cautions against allowing our Christian life to be driven by our emotions, he contends, “If we have never felt anything in connection with our faith, then we do not have true faith. You cannot really believe in this great salvation without feeling something” (235). He later adds, “A staid, lifeless Christian is a denial, in many respects, of the gospel at its most glorious point” (285).
Jones includes an interesting discussion on the nature of evil. He notes, “The world does not believe in angels or in devils. That is one of the main causes of its troubles” (299). He adds, “We must get rid of the notion of abstract evil: there is no such thing. Evil is a personal being. There would be no evil in the world if there were no evil persons” (300). Notably, he confesses that “Some of the greatest saints have been plagued from time to time by horrible doubts” (302). He concludes, “Self is the last enemy. It is self that causes most of our troubles” (357).
I always enjoy reading Jones. He is slightly dated in places, mostly because some of the relevant issues have shifted since his time. But his reverent, practical, and pastoral handling of Scripture makes him a great spiritual guide. In dealing with such a crucial text, he draws on his best skills in assisting the reader. I encourage you to read anything he wrote. This volume will bless you!
Rating: 4
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