Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Assurance of Salvation: Questions and Answers

What are the two main ways to obtain assurance of salvation according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, there are two main ways to obtain assurance of salvation:

1. Assurance by deduction - This is obtained "by means of a process of deduction" where you start with specific statements in Scripture (such as "He that believeth on him is not condemned" from John 3:18), and then ask yourself if you believe. If you do believe, you deduce that the promises in Scripture apply to you.

2. Direct or immediate assurance - This is "the highest form of assurance possible to men in this life and in this world." It isn't deduced or reached through a process, but is "given to you immediately and directly" by the Holy Spirit who "beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16).

What are the dangers of relying only on the first type of assurance?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out several dangers in relying only on assurance by deduction:

1. It can lead to "a mere intellectual assent" - people might simply say they believe in order to gain a sense of security without true faith.

2. He warns that even "the devils believe and also tremble" - belief alone without transformation is insufficient.

3. There's a risk of "a mere playing for safety, a decision to say certain things in order to put ourselves right."

4. Without examining the evidence of a changed life (sanctification), one might have a false assurance.

As Lloyd-Jones states, "the scriptures themselves are very careful to warn us not to rest on that alone."

How does the Holy Spirit give direct assurance according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Holy Spirit gives direct assurance in two main ways:

1. Through Scripture: "Perhaps the commonest way of all is that he takes a certain word of scripture. You may have read it a thousand times, you may know what it says, but it's never until this moment that that has rarely spoken to you. Suddenly the Spirit takes a word and he brings it right to you."

2. Directly to our spirit: "He sometimes does it directly by just speaking to one spirit in a way that no one has ever been able to put into words. But he just makes an impression upon the spirit. He is a spirit and he impresses our spirits."

This direct assurance gives believers "an absolute personal sense that our sins are forgiven" and "a personal knowledge of God's love to us in particular."

What evidence does Dr. Lloyd-Jones provide that this direct assurance is not limited to the early church?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides two main lines of evidence that direct assurance is not limited to the early church:

1. Biblical evidence: "There is not a single statement in the whole of the New Testament which tells us that that was confined to the early church only, not a single one. Indeed, there is the exact opposite. The promise is unto you and to your children and to as many as are afar off."

2. Historical evidence: He references "the great history and the great story of revivals of religion" throughout church history. He states, "There has scarcely been a century, but there has been some kind of revival of religion. God has again poured down his spirit." He also mentions the "abundant testimony of this kind of thing happening to individuals, even when the church in general was not being revived."

What are the effects or results of receiving this direct assurance from the Holy Spirit?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, receiving direct assurance from the Holy Spirit produces several effects:

1. An absolute personal sense that your sins are forgiven
2. A personal knowledge of God's love to you particularly
3. A personal knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ - "a felt Christ"
4. Great joy - "a joy unspeakable and full of glory"
5. A sense of eternity - "a foretaste of eternity" and "the earnest of the spirit"
6. Detachment from the world - realizing "that he's but a pilgrim and a stranger in this world"
7. A great love for God - "The moment you feel this love of his to you, you love him in return"
8. An intimate relationship with God as Father - "crying, Abba, Father"

How should believers seek this direct assurance according to Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several practical steps for believers seeking this direct assurance:

1. First, "realize the possibility" - understand that this assurance is available and "be content with nothing less than it"

2. Seek it through obedience - "You seek it by obeying him. Who is he that loveth me? Even he that keepeth my commandments."

3. Ask God for it directly - "Ask him to manifest himself to you. Pray to him to do this. Plead with him like a lover."

4. Persist in prayer - He quotes Hudson Taylor's prayer: "Lord Jesus, make thyself to me a living, bright reality," and encourages believers to "never cease to offer it until you know him, until he has manifested himself to you."

5. Believe the promise of Christ - "I will manifest myself to him." Lloyd-Jones encourages believers to trust that Christ will fulfill this promise.