Nature of the Spirit's Witness
A Sermon on Romans 8:16
Originally preached Feb. 3, 1961
Scripture
16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Sermon Description
When is a Christian sealed by the Holy Spirit? Through the teachings of Jesus Christ and the New Testament writers, the Christian knows that salvation comes by trusting in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. But when is a believer confirmed by the Holy Spirit and what is this experience like? In this sermon on Romans 8:16 titled “Nature of the Spirit’s Witness,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones dives into these questions, quoting examples from the Bible and Christian theologians. He says that not all believers undergo the feeling of being sealed by the Spirit. Some believers do not feel that singular moment where they experience a period of spiritual elation or a time of intense connection to God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says these moments are not necessary for a person to be a Christian. After all, the disciples were believers before the Spirit came upon them at Pentecost. In his sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the sealing of the Spirit is a tool used by God to prepare Christians when perhaps a time of temptation or persecution is coming. He concludes by saying that God may send these believers the gifts and empowerment necessary to weather the time ahead.
Sermon Breakdown
- The witness of the Spirit is experimental and leads to joy and love for God. It is not non-experimental as some claim.
- The witness of the Spirit may or may not be accompanied by gifts and phenomena. It is not defined by them.
- The intensity of the witness of the Spirit varies but it is always unmistakable and unique. We should not standardize or limit it.
- The witness of the Spirit is not permanent or once and for all. It can be lost through sin or neglect and needs to be maintained. But it can also be repeated.
- The witness of the Spirit is available to all believers but not given to all. Some conditions that may lead to receiving it include:
- Taking action for God’s glory (self-denial, overcoming temptation, etc.)
- Seeking and longing for it
- Before or after trials or difficulties
- Before death
- The witness of the Spirit is a direct act of God in addition to His general work of regeneration, conversion and sanctification. It is the highest form of assurance.
- The witness of the Spirit confirms what we already know in ourselves – that we are children of God. It does not make us children of God. We must already be believers.
- The witness of the Spirit should not be confused with the general work of the Spirit in a believer or with gifts like tongues, healing, etc. It is distinct.
- The witness of the Spirit gives great joy, power, and boldness to witness for Christ.
Sermon Q&A
How Does the Holy Spirit Bear Witness to Believers According to Lloyd-Jones?
What is the witness of the Holy Spirit according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the witness of the Holy Spirit is a direct, distinct work where the Spirit himself bears testimony alongside the witness of our own spirits that we are children of God. It is the highest form of assurance a Christian can experience in this world. It's not something we deduce from the Spirit's general work in conviction, conversion, or sanctification, but rather is "over and above all that" - a separate, direct testimony that confirms our relationship with God.
Can someone be a Christian without having the witness of the Holy Spirit?
Yes, Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that a person can definitely be a Christian without having this witness or assurance. He states, "You can be a Christian without having this assurance of your salvation." He explains that if you are aware of your sinfulness, rely entirely on Christ's work, and can say "my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness," then you are a Christian, even if you lack the full assurance that comes with the Spirit's witness. He strongly rejects teaching that suggests every Christian must have this assurance.
What is the difference between having the Holy Spirit and experiencing the witness of the Holy Spirit?
Lloyd-Jones makes a clear distinction between having the Holy Spirit (which all believers have) and experiencing the witness of the Holy Spirit (which not all believers experience). He uses Christ's baptism as an example - Jesus was always the Son of God and always had the Spirit, but at His baptism He was "sealed" in a special way. Similarly, Christians have the Holy Spirit from conversion (as Romans 8:9 says, "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"), but the witness or sealing is something additional that comes "on top of all that" - a special authentication and empowerment for service.
Is the witness of the Holy Spirit an emotional experience?
Lloyd-Jones firmly insists that the witness of the Holy Spirit is definitely experimental (experiential). He criticizes modern writers who claim it is "non-experimental," saying, "the whole object and intention of this assurance... is that we might be made sure that we are children of God." He points to Acts 2 and the disciples at Pentecost as clear evidence that it's experiential. He notes this experience always leads to "great joy and a great love to God" that is "unspeakable and full of glory," though the intensity of the experience may vary significantly from person to person.
How long does the witness of the Holy Spirit last?
According to Lloyd-Jones, this witness is not "once and forever." He states, "I've never heard of any case where it was once and forever." The experience comes and may go, and some believers may experience it only once in their lifetime. However, "once you've had it, the memory of it will remain with you as long as you live. You will look back to it as the greatest day in your life." This witness can be lost through sin, grieving the Spirit, or quenching the Spirit, but it can also be repeated many times throughout a believer's life, as was the case with George Whitefield.
Who typically receives this witness of the Holy Spirit?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that while this witness is "open to all" believers, not all believers experience it. It tends to come to those who are focused on obedience rather than experiences - "mind your work more than your wages." It often comes to those who have: - Taken some special act of self-denial for God's glory - Had victory in a terrible conflict with temptation - Shown special faithfulness in God's service - Been mourning for it and longing for it - Experienced a spirit of heaviness or bondage - Been facing an imminent great trial or difficulty - Just passed through a significant trial - Are approaching death
The Book of Romans
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.