Questions About Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on John 1:16

What does "grace for grace" or "grace upon grace" mean in John 1:16?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "grace for grace" or "grace upon grace" refers to the abundance of blessings that flow to believers from Christ's fullness. It suggests layer upon layer of grace - an overflowing measure of God's favor and blessing to those who believe in Jesus Christ. The phrase summarizes "all the blessings that come to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" as they are unfolded throughout John's Gospel. This fullness represents the complete sufficiency of Christ to meet every need of the believer.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the final action Christ took in virtue of His fullness?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church and individual believers as the final action Christ took in virtue of His fullness. He states, "the last action which our Lord took in virtue of his inherent eternal fullness, was to obtain for us this blessing of the baptism of the Holy Ghost." This was the culmination of Christ's redemptive work that began with leaving heaven, continued through His death and resurrection, and was completed when the glorified Christ received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit to bestow upon His people.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the statement that "the Holy Ghost was not yet given"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the statement "the Holy Ghost was not yet given" (John 7:39) doesn't mean the Holy Spirit didn't exist or wasn't active in the Old Testament. Rather, it refers to the degree and measure of the Spirit's presence and power in believers. He quotes Puritan George Hutchison, who explained it "not in respect of his personal subsistence, but in respect of the measure of his gift and graces to be poured out upon believers." The difference between Old and New Testament believers is "purely a question of measure, of abundance" - the Spirit would be "poured forth in great profusion, in a mighty abundance, upon all sorts and kinds" in a way never seen before.

According to the sermon, why were the disciples not ready to be witnesses immediately after the resurrection?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, despite having been with Jesus, hearing His teaching, witnessing His miracles, and seeing Him after His resurrection, the disciples were not ready to be witnesses until they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them, "stay where you are until the promise comes upon you. Then and only then, will you be able to be true witnesses to me." Though they were already regenerate believers who understood the way of salvation, they needed the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit to transform them into effective witnesses who could speak with boldness, joy, and authority about Christ.

What criticism does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer about the modern church's approach to publicity?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly criticizes the modern church's reliance on publicity agencies and advertising to promote itself. He calls this approach "the final confession of bankruptcy and of a complete failure to understand the doctrine of the Holy Spirit." He argues that in the early church and in every revival throughout history, it was the transformed lives of Christians that attracted attention, not advertising campaigns. The world doesn't need more information about the church; it needs to see evidence that "the gospel is the power of God unto salvation" in the lives of believers. He states, "What the world is waiting to see is that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and it'll only see that in people."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect Old Testament prophecies to the day of Pentecost?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones connects several Old Testament prophecies to the day of Pentecost, showing that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of "the promise of the Father." He cites Isaiah 44:3 ("I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground"), Isaiah 59:21, Ezekiel 36:25-27 (promising a new heart and God's Spirit within), and especially Joel 2:28-32 (which Peter directly quoted at Pentecost). These prophecies foretold a time when God would pour out His Spirit abundantly on all kinds of people, not just select leaders - a promise fulfilled when the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost.

What relationship does Dr. Lloyd-Jones establish between Christ's glorification and the giving of the Holy Spirit?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones establishes that the giving of the Holy Spirit was contingent upon Christ's glorification. Citing John 7:39 ("the Holy Ghost was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified"), he explains that Christ had to complete His redemptive work - dying on the cross, rising from the dead, ascending to heaven, and being exalted at God's right hand - before the Spirit could be given. When Christ was glorified, the Father gave Him "as a reward for all that he had done, this gift of the Holy Ghost to give to the church his people." This sequence explains why Jesus said it was "expedient" for Him to go away so the Comforter could come.