The Gifts of the Spirit (2)
A Sermon on John 1:26-33
Originally preached Feb. 7, 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
As with every controversy in the church, one side pushes and another side emerges and wants to push back equally hard. It is difficult to find the right balance in the midst of such controversy. The gifts of the Holy Spirit—and specifically whether or not signs, wonders, and miracles should be expected in the church—is one of the most controversial topics of the past fifty years. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones not only boldly enters into the controversy, but he strikes the right balance in the midst. In this sermon on John 1:26–33 titled “The Gifts of the Spirit (2),” Dr. Lloyd-Jones continues his response against those Christians who argue that the gifts of the Spirit ended after the apostolic age. He deals with common objections, noting the lack of biblical evidence, as well as the flaws in argumentation. The balance by Dr. Lloyd-Jones is struck as he objects to Christians who say miracles would be more common if only the church had enough faith. Moreover, the church needs to “claim” these miracles. Soberly, Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws attention to the sovereignty of the Spirit and rejects any ability within humanity to “claim” a special and unusual work of God. Listen and learn about the sovereignty of the Spirit and the need for Him to work today.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon examines John 1:26-33 which discusses the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is meant to be a defining characteristic of Jesus's ministry and the church.
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives power to witness and share the gospel. This was essential for the early church and is still needed today.
- Some argue the gifts of the Spirit were only for the early church, but Acts shows the gifts were for Gentiles too. The gifts were meant to continue.
- The argument that the gifts stopped because they weren't mentioned in later epistles is flawed. The epistles were written for specific issues, so their silence does not prove the gifts ended.
- The idea that the gifts ended with the apostles is unbiblical. 1 Corinthians 13 refers to the eternal state, not the completion of Scripture. The church has always needed the Spirit's power.
- The fact that Paul, Timothy and others were sick at times does not prove the gifts had ended. Healing was not promised for every illness. God allows sickness for His purposes at times.
- History shows the gifts continued for centuries. Claims of their ending with the apostles are dubious and limit God's power. While claims should be tested, the gifts are still possible.
- The decline of the gifts was due to the institutionalization of the church, not God withdrawing them. The church quenched the Spirit, preferring reason and philosophy.
- The gifts are under the Spirit's control. They cannot be claimed or demanded but are given as He wills. While revival and gifts are always possible, the Spirit is sovereign over them.
- Both the belief that the gifts ended with the apostles and that they must always be present in fullness are unbiblical. The truth is they are possible, but under the Spirit's control.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About Spiritual Gifts Today?
What were the key characteristics of the apostolic age according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the apostolic age was characterized by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of spiritual gifts. He states that John the Baptist prophesied this would be "the outstanding characteristic of the age of the Lord Jesus Christ." The early church was a "pneumatic church," filled with the Spirit, where signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts were common occurrences that enabled believers to be effective witnesses in a morally degraded world similar to our own.
How does Lloyd-Jones refute the argument that spiritual gifts were only for the apostolic age?
Lloyd-Jones refutes this argument in several ways: 1. The claim that gifts were only for Jews is contradicted by Acts, where miracles were performed among Gentiles (Acts 14, 16, 19). 2. The argument from silence (that gifts aren't mentioned in later epistles) is dangerous as epistles were written for specific problems, not as complete theology textbooks. 3. The examples of Timothy, Trophymus, and Paul's thorn in the flesh don't prove gifts ceased, as healing was always selective and under God's sovereignty. 4. Church history shows spiritual gifts persisted beyond the apostolic age in the lives of the Church Fathers. 5. Evidence exists of miraculous gifts during the Protestant Reformation and among figures like John Welsh and the Scottish Covenanters.
What does Lloyd-Jones teach about claiming spiritual gifts?
Lloyd-Jones strongly opposes the notion of "claiming" spiritual gifts. He states: "We must never use the word claim. That's a word that should never be used. It's incompatible with sovereignty. People say, claim this gift. Claim healing. You cannot claim healing." He teaches that gifts are given according to the sovereignty of the Spirit who "giveth to every man severally as he wills." We can "supplicate" or ask for gifts, but never demand or claim them, as this contradicts the Spirit's lordship.
How does Lloyd-Jones compare spiritual gifts to revival?
Lloyd-Jones compares spiritual gifts to revival in that both are subject to the sovereignty of the Spirit. He explains that revival "by definition, is not something permanent. It is something that comes and goes." Similarly, spiritual gifts cannot be manufactured or guaranteed by human effort. Just as we cannot decide when revival comes, we cannot determine when or which spiritual gifts will be given. Both are manifestations of the Spirit's sovereignty, often occurring unexpectedly and in unlikely places or through unlikely people.
What conclusion does Lloyd-Jones reach about spiritual gifts in the modern church?
Lloyd-Jones concludes that spiritual gifts "in the sovereignty of the Spirit are always possible." He rejects both extreme positions: that gifts were only for the apostolic age or that they should always be present in their fullness. He suggests that gifts diminished in church history not because God withdrew them but because the institutionalized church "quenched the Spirit." He argues gifts are "especially needed in times of declension" and have "generally characterized some new work on the part of the Holy Spirit." When confronted with claims of spiritual gifts today, believers should neither reject them outright nor accept them uncritically, but "test" them according to scriptural guidelines.
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.