The Spirits Witness with Our Spirit
A Sermon on John 3:8
Originally preached April 3, 1966
Scripture
8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Sermon Description
What is the greatest hope in this life? In this sermon on John 3:8 titled “The Spirit’s Witness with Our Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches that the Bible tells that the great truth is that Jesus has died to forgive sins and bring about redemption. All believers can and should know with full assurance that they have indeed been saved and are now children of God. This is unlike false religious systems that teach that one can never have true and final assurance that they have been saved. This is in contrast to God’s word that teaches that true joy in this life requires that one knows God. Believers do not have to go through life plagued by doubts of God’s love for them, but all can rest in the peace that God has sent His only Son to die for them and cleanse them from all sin. True religion produces a firm and steadfast knowledge of God that worships God in spirit and truth. Part of the gift of salvation is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit of God works to bring all believers to a deeper and fuller knowledge of God, His love, and His plan for their lives. All believers can know that God loves them because God has revealed Himself in Scripture and in His Holy Spirit.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by introducing the passage from John 3:8 which talks about the wind blowing where it wishes. This is a metaphor for how those born of the Spirit act.
- The sermon then introduces Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, who came to Jesus seeking to understand how to advance to Jesus’ position. Jesus tells him he must be born again.
- The sermon emphasizes that no one can save themselves through works or actions. Jesus had to die and be resurrected for anyone to be saved and pardoned from perishing.
- The sermon then focuses on the new life Jesus provides to those who believe in Him. Jesus came not just to forgive sins but to give abundant life.
- The sermon talks about the many tests in Scripture to know if someone is truly a child of God. The current test being discussed is a sense of communion with the Trinity, specifically the Holy Spirit.
- The sermon contrasts the sinner who only knows the convicting power of the Spirit versus the believer who knows the communion and fellowship of the Spirit. Communion means being delivered from a spirit of bondage and fear.
- The sermon emphasizes the importance of having assurance of salvation and a personal knowledge of God as His child. This is the highest gift of the baptism of the Spirit.
- The sermon clarifies that the witness of the Spirit is not a vague feeling but a specific message from God addressing us as His children. It is hard to put into words but more certain than any other experience.
- The sermon then transitions to discussing the results and tests that come from the assurance of the Spirit. The first result is a spirit of rejoicing.
- The sermon quotes several passages showing rejoicing and joy as a mark of a Christian, especially rejoicing in the midst of trials and tribulations. False joy disappears in trials but true joy remains.
- The sermon emphasizes that true joy is in Christ and the cross, not in circumstances. It is a joy too deep for tears.
- The second result is praise and thanksgiving, which is also emphasized throughout the New Testament. This is not just superficial but comes from the depths of the heart.
- The sermon contrasts the praise and thanksgiving of Christians versus the somberness of the religious. Christians know they owe everything to the grace of God.
- The third result is resting in God and His promises. Even when joy is blunted, there is a depth of trust in God's love and care. Christians can be content in any circumstance through Christ.
- The sermon closes by quoting Philippians 4:6-7 and emphasizing the peace of God that passes understanding which keeps our hearts and minds. This is the blessed experience of the child of God.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Holy Spirit's Witness: Questions and Answers
What does it mean that "the Spirit bears witness with our spirit"?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit is the highest form of assurance for the Christian. It means that "quite apart from all we feel and all that we can deduce from the scriptures, there is an immediate and a direct witness given to us by the Holy Ghost." This isn't merely a vague feeling of happiness but a specific experience where God directly communicates to us that we are His children. It is similar to what Paul describes in Romans 5:5, "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
How does Lloyd-Jones distinguish between true Christian joy and counterfeit joy?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that true Christian joy persists even during trials and tribulations, whereas counterfeit joy disappears at the first sign of trouble. He states, "False joy goes out through the window the moment you're in trouble... But when the tribulations come, when the trials come, you're utterly cast down." In contrast, genuine Christian joy enables believers to "rejoice in tribulations in the midst of them," as Paul describes in Romans 5. True joy is "a joy which is unspeakable and full of glory" and is "too deep for tears."
What is the difference between religion and Christianity according to the sermon?
According to Lloyd-Jones, religion is "always a task, it's a burden, and it's a knowledge of God that makes one fear. Religion always depresses, always makes unhappy." He describes it as "a conglomeration of Old Testament religion and mystery, religions and paganism, all amalgamated into a horrible system." In contrast, Christianity produces joy, peace, and assurance. He notes that when "Martin Luther understood in a flash the doctrine of justification by faith, he began to sing. He was filled with a sense of joy. This is New Testament Christianity."
Why does Lloyd-Jones criticize Catholicism in this sermon?
Lloyd-Jones criticizes Catholicism because he believes it promotes "the spirit of bondage" rather than assurance of salvation. He states, "Catholicism doesn't believe in assurance. You'll never be sure. That's why people have to pray for you even when you're dead and pay money for indulgences and to light candles." He argues that "the whole priesthood system depends upon an absence of assurance," which he considers "the antithesis of the New Testament teaching" that believers "are meant to have assurance and knowledge and certainty still in this world."
What are the key tests of genuine spiritual life according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several tests that demonstrate one is truly born of the Spirit:
- The spirit of adoption - crying "Abba, Father" with a childlike heart
- The Spirit's direct witness with our spirit that we are God's children
- A spirit of rejoicing that persists even in tribulations
- Continual praise and thanksgiving flowing from a grateful heart
- Resting in God and His promises even when circumstances are difficult
He describes these as "invaluable as tests, because they are absolute proofs of the fact that we are born again."
How does Lloyd-Jones describe the peace that comes from resting in God?
Lloyd-Jones describes this peace as "the peace of God which passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). It's a peace that persists regardless of circumstances, allowing the believer to say with Paul, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am therein, and therewith to be content." He calls it "one of the most glorious, blessed experiences that can ever come to a human being in this world of sin and shame, of trial and of tribulation." It means trusting God even when you don't understand what He's doing, saying, "You'd sooner be in the hands of God in the dark than anywhere else in the midst of blazing light."
What does Lloyd-Jones say about assurance of salvation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones firmly believes that assurance of salvation is something all Christians should experience. He quotes 1 John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye might know that ye have eternal life," emphasizing "we are meant to know it. We are meant to enjoy it while we are still in this world." He considers this assurance to be a direct gift from God through the Holy Spirit's witness, and argues that "anything short of that is rarely the spirit of bondage."
How does Lloyd-Jones explain the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Lloyd-Jones equates the baptism with the Holy Spirit with "the sealing with the spirit" and describes it as the Spirit's witness to believers that they are God's children. He calls it "the highest gift in the baptism of the spirit" that is "far and away above any particular gifts you may receive." He describes it as "this certainty, this assurance that makes one a living witness and gives one power to witness and to testify to him and to the word of his grace." He clarifies that while it may be accompanied by spiritual gifts, it may not be - the essential element is the assurance it brings.
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.