Baptism in the Spirit (6)
A Sermon on John 1:26-33
Originally preached Jan. 17, 1965
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 one filled with assurance and unspeakable joy? Listen in as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks into this glorious matter of “The Baptism of the Spirit (6)” from John 1:26–33. “You can be a Christian without assurance, but you cannot be a witness without assurance,” he states. This is the work of equipping witnesses who are assured of their salvation, knowledgeable of the truth, and joyful in God’s promises. Follow the various examples from history and revivals that demonstrate the initial humility that births such an intense desire to express the joy, happiness, and peace of God. “From the depths, they are lifted to the heights,” he shares as he offers an intriguing and persuading argument for the Christian life that ought to be characterized by a joyful basking in salvation – released from the guilt, power, and pollution of sin – so that no one is found dragging themselves to God’s house, rather overflowing in joy. “A melting of the heart for joy, that God should spread abroad His love for the hearts of men,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones says. One cannot know God’s love without loving God, but it is first God who gives this ability to love. Two of the greatest tests of the work of the Spirit is a person’s desire to glorify Christ and understanding of the truth.
Sermon Breakdown
- John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. This is a central theme and promise of Jesus' ministry.
- The purpose of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is to empower believers to be witnesses for Jesus. This is seen throughout the New Testament and church history.
- The baptism with the Holy Spirit often leads to a profound sense of God's presence and glory. This is accompanied by a sense of humility, unworthiness, and assurance of God's love.
- The baptism with the Holy Spirit inevitably leads to great joy and gladness. This is seen throughout the New Testament and in times of revival. Suffering and joy can co-exist.
- The baptism with the Holy Spirit leads to a deep love for God that casts out fear. We can cry "Abba, Father" and have intimacy with God.
- The baptism with the Holy Spirit produces a desire to glorify God and Jesus. People speak of God's wonderful works.
- The baptism with the Holy Spirit leads to greater understanding of spiritual truth. People gain insight into heaven and God's purposes. Examples were given of John Flavel, Blaise Pascal, and Thomas Aquinas.
- The sermon closed with a hymn reflecting on Jesus as Lord, God, and all.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
What is the main purpose of the baptism with the Holy Spirit according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the great object and purpose of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is to enable believers to be witnesses and to bear testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ. He emphasizes this point by saying, "Every time that this is mentioned, you get that same point being brought forth, perhaps most important of all, the statement of our Lord to the disciples just before his ascension, when he tells them to tarry in Jerusalem and tells them that they are to do so because they shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon them and they shall be witnesses unto him." This witnessing capacity is the primary reason for the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
What are the main manifestations or evidences of the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several manifestations or evidences of the baptism with the Holy Spirit: 1. A sense of the glory and presence of God that makes faith become a living reality 2. A sense of awe, humbling, and awareness of unworthiness 3. An exceptional assurance of God's love 4. Joy and gladness that is "unspeakable and full of glory" 5. Love to God that rises in response to His love 6. A desire to glorify God and Christ 7. Enlightened understanding of spiritual truth
He emphasizes that these manifestations are not worked up emotionally but are given by God through the Spirit's operation.
Is the baptism with the Holy Spirit only for certain special people according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly argues that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is not confined to certain special people or limited to specific historical periods. He states: "This is not something according to the teaching of the scripture or according to the subsequent history of the church, which is confined to certain people. I mean by that that it's not of necessity confined to certain people. It's not only something experienced by great preachers or great leaders, not confined to the apostles, not confined to some notable persons in the history of the church, but something which has been experienced by ordinary people, so called, throughout the centuries."
He specifically addresses the idea that such experiences are limited to the past, calling it a "denial of the gospel" and affirming that "this is what God's people are offered at all times, in all places. There is no limit placed upon it at all."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about joy as a manifestation of the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that joy and gladness are inevitable results of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. He describes it as a joy that persists even in the midst of affliction and persecution. Quoting 1 Peter 1:8, he speaks of it as "joy unspeakable and full of glory" - a joy so profound that believers cannot adequately express it.
He notes that this joy is a foretaste of the joy experienced by saints in heaven and is characteristic of all revival movements throughout church history. He states: "There has been nothing I say which has been more characteristic of all the great revivals in the history of the church than this desire on the part of God's people to give expression to the joy, the happiness, the peace which they'd experienced." This joy frequently manifests in spontaneous singing and praise.
How does the baptism with the Holy Spirit affect one's understanding of spiritual truth?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when a person is baptized with the Holy Spirit, they receive an enlightened understanding of spiritual truth that surpasses anything they could gain through mere study or intellectual effort. He calls this "the highway" to understanding Christian doctrine and God's purposes.
Lloyd-Jones provides several examples, including John Flavel who claimed to understand "more of the life of heaven" in one such experience than in all his reading and discussions, and Thomas Aquinas who, after a profound spiritual experience, stated that "such things have been revealed to me that all I have written seems as straw."
The preacher emphasizes that this enlightened understanding isn't just for personal enjoyment but is given so that believers can be effective witnesses, stating: "You can't be a witness unless you know... You must be ready at all times to give a reason for the hope that is in you. So the spirit does this. He gives a kind of luminosity. He gives a clarity of understanding and of apprehension."
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.