Baptism in the Spirit (4)
A Sermon on John 1:26-33
Originally preached Dec. 6, 1964
Scripture
26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where …
Sermon Description
How is the baptism of the Holy Ghost defined? In this sermon on John 1:26–33 titled “Baptism of the Spirit (4),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers this question and addresses both the direct and indirect work of the Spirit. Great caution is given toward the tendency of Christians today to reduce everything to the ordinary but there is nothing ordinary about such an amazing divine work. The outworking of the Spirit is seen through the prophecy of Joel and the examples from the New Testament to be clear, immediate, and direct in nature, far from being rooted in the reflection of humanity. The Spirit of God bears witness to confirm the regenerated cry of a believer to God as “Abba, Father.” Dr. Lloyd-Jones greatly cautions his listeners not to confuse such extraordinary work with that of the ordinary as this is the danger of quenching the Spirit. Such clear, unmistakable, and phenomenal work of the Spirit is the third principle in this series of “The Baptism of the Spirit” from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He addresses how the problem of restraint and the Lord’s sovereignty are connected to baptism and clearly defines the outworking of such a baptism.
Sermon Breakdown
- It is possible to be a Christian without being baptized with the Spirit. Evidence is seen in disciples before Pentecost, Jesus before baptism.
- The baptism of the Spirit is something that happens to us, not something we do. It is a sovereign act of God, not under our control.
- The baptism of the Spirit is always clear and unmistakable, an experimental and phenomenal experience. The recipient knows it, and it leads to visible results.
- The baptism of the Spirit should not be confused with being filled with the Spirit, which refers to sanctification and Christian living. The terms are used differently in Scripture.
- The baptism of the Spirit is associated with an outpouring, a drenching, an overflowing of the Spirit. It is not a gradual process but a sudden, overwhelming experience.
- The baptism of the Spirit is a direct act of the Spirit, not working through means. It is an inner witness and assurance given by the Spirit himself.
- The baptism of the Spirit is primarily associated with empowerment for witness and service, not directly with moral transformation or character.
- Examples of experiences of the baptism of the Spirit from John Flavel, Jonathan Edwards, and D.L. Moody. Overwhelming experiences of the love and glory of Christ.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Baptism with the Holy Spirit According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What is the main difference between baptism with the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the main difference is that baptism with the Holy Spirit is a direct, exceptional action of the Spirit that happens to us, while being filled with the Spirit as in Ephesians 5:18 is a command for us to obey and is related to regular sanctification. He explains: "The baptism with the spirit is something that happens to us. This is the action of the Spirit within us given by the Lord Jesus Christ...The other [Ephesians 5:18] is something essentially different. We are to go on being filled with the spirit. We are commended to do so. This is within our power and direction."
How can someone distinguish between the regular work of the Holy Spirit and the exceptional work?
Lloyd-Jones explains that the Holy Spirit has both regular (indirect) and exceptional (direct) works. He distinguishes them by saying: "His work can be divided up generally like this, his regular work and his exceptional work. Or if you prefer it in different language. His indirect work and his direct work." The regular work operates through means (like Scripture, teaching, and preaching), while the exceptional work (baptism with the Spirit) is direct, immediate, overwhelming, and produces visible results and phenomena.
What are the primary results of baptism with the Holy Spirit according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the primary results of baptism with the Holy Spirit are related to witness, testimony, and service—not primarily moral qualities or character. He states: "The baptism with the spirit is always associated primarily and specifically with witness and testimony and service." He notes that even the Corinthian church, which had moral problems, was "deficient in no respect in this matter of the gifts of the spirit and the power of the spirit amongst them."
Can a person be a Christian without being baptized with the Holy Spirit?
Yes, Lloyd-Jones clearly teaches that it's possible to be a Christian without being baptized with the Holy Spirit. He states: "The first is that it is possible to be a Christian without being baptized with the spirit. I've given you the evidence for that in the case of the disciples and others, as you find it in the book of the Acts of the Apostles." He affirms that all Christians have the Spirit within them for regeneration, but the baptism with the Spirit is a distinct experience.
How does Lloyd-Jones describe the experiential nature of baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Lloyd-Jones describes baptism with the Holy Spirit as profoundly experiential and unmistakable. He says it is "always something clear and unmistakable, experimental. The recipient himself knows it and others become aware of it." He uses terms like "poured out," "drenching," "cloudburst," "overwhelming," and refers to examples like Jonathan Edwards who experienced "a flood of tears and weeping aloud" and D.L. Moody who found the experience "so overwhelming" he had to ask God to "stay his hand."
What historical Christian figures does Lloyd-Jones cite to support his teaching on the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Lloyd-Jones cites several prominent historical Christian figures including: 1. Dr. John Owen (Puritan) 2. Dr. Thomas Goodwin (Puritan) 3. John Wesley (Arminian) 4. Jonathan Edwards (American theologian) 5. D.L. Moody (American evangelist)
He points out that this teaching "cuts right across the various distinctions, theological distinctions such as arminian and calvinist."
What warning does Lloyd-Jones give about modern approaches to the Holy Spirit?
Lloyd-Jones warns against the tendency to "reduce everything to the ordinary and to talk about restraint." He cautions that this approach can lead to "quenching the Spirit." He states: "Our greatest danger, I feel today is to quench the spirit. This is no age to advocate restraint. The church today doesn't need to be restrained. She needs to be roused. She needs to be awakened. She needs to be filled with a spirit of glory."
What Biblical imagery does Lloyd-Jones use to describe the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Lloyd-Jones uses imagery from Scripture such as being "poured out" and "filled." He compares it to a "cloudburst" versus a "gentle drizzle," emphasizing its overwhelming nature. He cites Peter's quotation from Joel about God pouring out His Spirit, creating a "gushing forth" and "tremendous profusion." He also references Romans 5:5 about the love of God being "shed abroad in our hearts" as describing this experience.
The Book of John
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.